How Eisenhower solved illegal immigration in the 1950s, and what we can learn from hi

[OrangeEmpire]

How Eisenhower solved illegal border crossings from Mexico

George W. Bush isn't the first Republican president to face a full-blown immigration crisis on the US-Mexican border.

Fifty-three years ago, when newly elected Dwight Eisenhower moved into the White House, America's southern frontier was as porous as a spaghetti sieve. As many as 3 million illegal migrants had walked and waded northward over a period of several years for jobs in California, Arizona, Texas, and points beyond.

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.

The article goes on to describe the policy they used then and what the border patrol veterans who implemented the program reccomend we do to address our current illegal immigration problem:

Border Patrol vets offer tips on curbing illegal immigration
One day in 1954, Border Patrol agent Walt Edwards picked up a newspaper in Big Spring, Texas, and saw some startling news. The government was launching an all-out drive to oust illegal aliens from the United States.

The orders came straight from the top, where the new president, Dwight Eisenhower, had put a former West Point classmate, Gen. Joseph Swing, in charge of immigration enforcement.

General Swing's fast-moving campaign soon secured America's borders - an accomplishment no other president has since equaled. Illegal migration had dropped 95 percent by the late 1950s.

Several retired Border Patrol agents who took part in the 1950s effort, including Mr. Edwards, say much of what Swing did could be repeated today.

"Some say we cannot send 12 million illegals now in the United States back where they came from. Of course we can!" Edwards says.

Donald Coppock, who headed the Patrol from 1960 to 1973, says that if Swing and Ike were still running immigration enforcement, "they'd be on top of this in a minute."

William Chambers, another '50s veteran, agrees. "They could do a pretty good job" sealing the border.

Edwards says: "When we start enforcing the law, these various businesses are, on their own, going to replace their [illegal] workforce with a legal workforce."

While Congress debates building a fence on the border, these veterans say other actions should have higher priority.

1. End the current practice of taking captured Mexican aliens to the border and releasing them. Instead, deport them deep into Mexico, where return to the US would be more costly.

2. Crack down hard on employers who hire illegals. Without jobs, the aliens won't come.

3. End "catch and release" for non-Mexican aliens. It is common for illegal migrants not from Mexico to be set free after their arrest if they promise to appear later before a judge. Few show up.

The Patrol veterans say enforcement could also be aided by a legalized guest- worker program that permits Mexicans to register in their country for temporary jobs in the US. Eisenhower's team ran such a program. It permitted up to 400,000 Mexicans a year to enter the US for various agriculture jobs that lasted for 12 to 52 weeks.

Thoughts?

 

[HotlantaVol]

How Eisenhower solved illegal border crossings from Mexico



The article goes on to describe the policy they used then and what the border patrol veterans who implemented the program reccomend we do to address our current illegal immigration problem:



Thoughts?

Sounds good to me. However, the government will need to invest serious amounts of money in improved facilities to hold illegal aliens, and their families, before the deportation hearings occur. It would be nice if the court facilities could be attached to said compound. Catch 'em, hold 'em, try 'em, and deport 'em, all in one process.

Of course, the ACLU and Amnesty will be all over this alleging human rights abuses, etc, and suing any government agency they can.

 

[OrangeEmpire]

Over 12 years Eisenhower cut it by over 95%. If it could be done then inspite of the same types of special interests that exist today, it could be done now. Congress will not do it without the American people and a President willing to lead the way.

Then one can back pedal, at that time, black people didn't even have full rights, Illegals had even less.

At that time, you could use force and harm illegals to get them out. NOwadays according to the courts, they have the same rights as citizens, so you can't. The cultures/times were way different back then.

Then you have some people who say they cannot tell the difference between a mexican and an arab.

Not that I think we have any of those people here…but to help those that need it:




(WARNING! Politically incorrect, bad, humor to follow. Not all ‘jokes’ are funny.)




(I’m not kidding, some people will be offended.)




(Remember I said not all of them are funny. Okay, so most of them aren’t)





I can understand some of the confusion…both carry box cutters…but only the Mexicans need them to work at Wal-Mart.

Here’s the easiest way to tell them apart: on Mexican TV all the women are in bikinis or lingerie, on Arab TV…what women?

It is a Mexican that brings you your #3 double taco plate with extra beans. It’s an Arab that owns the restaurant.

There are no Arabs picking lettuce.

Mexicans work on Friday.

Again, I can understand some of the confusion…both groups leave their wives home and go drinking with the boys.

An Arab hopes for 72 virgins, the Mexican is happy with the one he’s had. (his sister?)

An Arab is allowed 3 wives, A Mexican knows better.

An Arab prays 5 times a day because God has told him to do so. I Mexican goes to Mass once a week because his wife tells him to do so.

Mexicans come here in hope of one day owning a Chevy. An Arab comes here in hope of one day owning a Chevy dealership.

An Arab is proud of 1,300 years of Arab learning and culture that gave us in the west, among other things, the Zero. A Mexican is proud that he and his family made it across the river.

Some Mexicans tell you that they want California back. Some Arabs will tell you that they want Spain back. If I could get the Mexicans to take Arizona and the Arabs to take France… those are deals I could live with.

Mexicans are descendants of the Aztecs, known for killing their enemies to please their Gods. Arabs… well yeah, I can see the confusion

A Mexican lights candles to the Virgin Mary. An Arab lights off airliners for Allah.