I want to see "significant and measurable progress"

AFP: US security chief strives to expel all illegal immigrants---

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said his department aims without exception to expel all those who enter the United States illegally.

"Our goal at DHS (Homeland Security) is to completely eliminate the 'catch and release' enforcement problem, and return every single illegal entrant, no exceptions.

"It should be possible to achieve significant and measurable progress to this end in less than a year," Chertoff told a Senate hearing.

Thousands of "Mexicans who are caught entering the United States illegally are returned immediately to Mexico. But other parts of the system have nearly collapsed under the weight of numbers. The problem is especially severe for non-Mexicans apprehended at the southwest border," Chertoff explained.

"Today, a non-Mexican illegal immigrant caught trying to enter the United States across the southwest border has an 80 percent chance of being released immediately because we lack the holding facilities," he added.

"Through a comprehensive approach, we are moving to end this 'catch and release' style of border enforcement by reengineering our detention and removal process."

Chertoff's remarks in favor of returning "every illegal entrant, no exceptions" appeared to conflict directly with the US policy toward illegal Cuban migrants.

Though Cubans picked up at sea are returned to their country, those who reach US soil by air, sea or ground are allowed to stay and work -- a fact Cuba says encourages dangerous illegal emigration attempts.

What about the millions and millions of illegals already in this country? They need to be returned to their countries and barred from ever entering the US again.

We have been invaded. Now we need to expel all who have participated in the invasion.

It doesn't matter if someone is working. The negatives and costs of illegal aliens far overwhelms any "good" rendered by their presence. We have more crime, more disease, more division, and less America thanks to illegals. Let them improve their own countries.

I won't hold my breath, though. The Democrats are all for open borders and the Republicans, of late, with few exceptions, have turned blind eyes to the borders. Tom Tancredo, representative from Colorao, is just about the only representative of the people who has consistently spoken out against illegal immigration. President Bush basically encouraged illegal aliens by his continual comments about "guest worker programs."

I hope Michael Chertoff can get the job done. At least he is addressing this.