Or so it would seem by the lack of enforcement of United States borders. I’ve heard a lot of discussion about it and I’ve engaged in some very spirited debate regarding what if anything can be done about the 11million to 20million illegals that are presently in the United States of America.The best situation that I’ve come across is one that was already implemented in the 1950s. The 1950s, you ask, did we have an illegal alien problem way back then?
Yes we did, however, we had a President who had the will and took the initiative to do something about illegals and protect this country’s integrity.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower solved the problem of illegal aliens and virtually stopped illegal immigration into the United States and the results of these efforts were felt for over 10 years in this country.
President Eisenhower cut off this illegal traffic. He did it quickly and decisively with only 1,075 United States Border Patrol agents - less than one-tenth of today's force. The operation is still highly praised among veterans of the Border Patrol.
How did President Eisenhower virually stop the flow of illegal immigration into this country?
President Eisenhower hired the right people, he resisted powerful political and corporate interests, and he enforced the law.
On June 17, 1954, what was called "Operation Wetback" began. Because political resistance was lower in California and Arizona, the roundup of aliens began there. Some 750 agents swept northward through agricultural areas with a goal of 1,000 apprehensions a day. By the end of July, over 50,000 aliens were caught in the two states. Another 488,000, fearing arrest, had fled the country.
By mid-July, the crackdown extended northward into Utah, Nevada, and Idaho and eastward to Texas.
By September, 80,000 had been taken into custody in Texas, and an estimated 500,000 to 700,000 illegals had left the Lone Star State voluntarily.
Unlike today, Mexicans caught in the roundup were not simply released at the border, where they could easily reenter the US. To discourage their return, Swing arranged for buses and trains to take many aliens deep within Mexico before being set free.
Tens of thousands more were put aboard two hired ships, the Emancipation and the Mercurio. The ships ferried the aliens from Port Isabel, Texas, to Vera Cruz, Mexico, more than 500 miles south.
The sea voyage was "a rough trip, and they did not like it," says Don Coppock, who worked his way up from Border Patrolman in 1941 to eventually head the Border Patrol from 1960 to 1973.
It’s really not that hard! It’s already been done. The question is does America have the political will to self correct or will political, special and corporate interest continue to convince citizens that nothing can be done?
President Eisenhower already solved this problem; the only problem which remains is how we wrest control of our country back from the political, special and corporate interests that are vehemently fighting to keep the illegal status quo entrenched in this country for profit and for political advantage.
