Burning Atlanta

We, those who have watched this issue for years, have been screaming about cutting off the incentives that drive illegal immigration. It's NOT about "starving immigrants trying to feed their families," it's about the money. All we need to do is take up the "Welcome" mat and many will leave on their own. Best of all, fewer will be making the trip. And that's EXACTLY what's happening. The federal government's attempts at enforcement are an anemic joke. They're not serious about enforcement, it's a sham. If anything, the governemnt is trying to find a way to maintain a large pool of CHEAP labor to business. However, some states are stepping up to the plate and showing some spine and I beleive their efforts are having more of an impact than the non-efforts of the federal government. Anyway, we don't know exactly how much of an impact recent laws and enforcement measures are having, but we know they're working and illegals are leaving.

Good news.

Would-be immigrants may be staying home in significant numbers, a Mexican government survey says, a trend that analysts on Tuesday attributed to a crackdown on illegal border crossers, raids at employment sites and a slowing U.S. economy, particularly in the construction industry.

The third-quarter survey, used to determine the employment rate because many workers are off the tax rolls, showed a 30 percent drop from the third quarter of 2005 in the number of people planning to work abroad or to cross the border.

On the Texas-Mexico border, Raul Faustino Reyes, 28, said he is one of the many immigrants wondering whether the relatively high pay in the U.S. is worth the hassle.

Mr. Reyes had just crossed into Ciudad Juárez from El Paso after working for two years in the Midland oil industry. He said he may not cross back into the U.S. after the Christmas holidays, as he has in the past.

"The coyotes [immigrant smugglers] are too expensive, the crossing is more dangerous than ever and the hatred is scary," said Mr. Reyes, who sent money to his parents in Chihuahua City to start a ranch. "The gringos will have a hard time without our cheap labor. I think they will see through their own hypocrisy." Bullshit.

"What this poll is showing is that there is increased apprehension about going to the U.S., especially without [working] papers," Mr. Rozental said. "People hear the news about how Mexicans are being mistreated, how the immigration officials are cracking down and conducting raids, separating families and generally making life difficult."

Immigrant smugglers are charging up to $5,000 per person at a time when the chances of getting caught and losing that money are rising, Mr. Rozental said.

On the other hand, U.S. jobs pay up to 10 times as much as jobs in Mexico, and that magnet could overcome even the current intense crackdown.

"It's a bit too early to rush to judgment on this issue because this is a recent phenomenon," Mr. Rozental said. Translation: For the first time since the Eisenhower era the US is starting to enforce its immigration laws. A "recent phenomenon."

Santiago Crespo, 28, stopped in Santa Teresa, N.M., on Tuesday while on his way to Valle de Santiago, Guanajuato, in central Mexico.

He and his three buddies, all traveling from Denver, where they worked picking crops, planned to drive 14 hours straight to their hometown.

None planned on returning to the U.S. next year.

"The employers are asking for Social Security numbers, proof of ID, stuff they know we don't have," Mr. Crespo said. "I could get some fake papers, but when you don't feel welcome anymore, why return to a place where they close the door on you?"

He said he had worked in Denver for 10 years and saved enough money to open his own grocery store, and even buy a tractor so he can cultivate a four-acre plot.

Mr. Crespo was bringing gifts, including two bikes and a TV, to his wife and two kids.

"I still think I can hold out for another six, eight months and then we'll see," he said. "But the United States is not the wonderful country that it was. The people are hypocritical and don't value our sweat." More bullshit. I can't speak for anyone other than me but I'll put it this way: I appreciate the hard work ethic and honesty of anyone, but I don't appreciate people that show a total disregard of our borders and our laws. To me, that shows a contempt for this nation and that anyone who has that attitude isn't here out of love for this country but a love of money.