Special Report: Who owns the border?

Tue, 12/28/2010 - 11:03pm

A Normandy-style fence in the Palominas area stops vehicles from crossing the border but does little to block foot traffic. (Beatrice Richardson • Herald/Review)

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To some southern Arizonans, the line between the U.S. and Mexico is just imaginary. Others believe it should be a fortified barrier. Either way, the border is again a flashpoint in American politics, with the spotlight shining on Cochise County.

The Herald/Review and our sister Wick Communications newspapers in southern Arizona have prepared a special report examining our region’s complex border issues. As an introduction, we review the history of border relations and how we got to this point. Additionally, this special project focuses on:

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anon on Sun, 01/02/2011 - 2:59pm

Title: Illegal immigration will stop

Illegal immigration will stop when we start really taking action against
employers of illegals. Anything less is just talk.

Langer on Sun, 01/02/2011 - 11:22pm

Title: Absolutely

E-verify needs to be mandated for ALL employers. Crooked employers need to be
prosecuted instead of simply fined and prison should be mandated for anyone
convicted of illegal hiring.

Currently employers are being audited electronically and if caught hiring
illegally simply fined so they can do it again. If they’re caught several
times they are then required to use the temporary worker visa process. That
just encourages re-offending because they aren’t prosecuted so don’t face the
possibility of prison.

In the meantime unless they have serious criminal records the illegal aliens
are turned loose to find new crooked employers. (Somehow it seems to me folks
in power may be trying to build up a voter base and proving themselves to be
just as crooked as the employers.)

Folks hiring illegal gardeners, nannies and housekeepers need to face severe
consequences too.

Read about it here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/10/us/10enforce.html

ckidz05 on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 2:02pm

Title: WHAT

I cannot believe our esteemed (sarcasm) past Governor Janet Napolitano has
the audacity to begin efforts to secure AFGHANISTAN’s border and deny we have
a problem. Too bad you can’t impeach an appointed position!

Ran Talbott on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 5:15pm

Title: It’s good that you can’t

It’s good that you can’t believe that, since Napolitano never made any such
denial.

Too bad no one ever taught you who can be impeached, or why, though.

ckidz05 on Sat, 01/01/2011 - 4:31pm

Title: Ran

Yes… you are right! She has such deep concern and commitment to securing
our borders she feels it necessary to continuously vetoe ANY attempt to take
action! “66] Secretary of Homeland Security and former Arizona governor Janet
Napolitano testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that she had “deep
concerns” about the law and that it would divert necessary law enforcement
resources from combating violent criminals.[67] (As governor, Napolitano had
consistently vetoed similar legislation throughout her term.[2][33])” I am
also very impressed by her professionalism in researching the bill before
expressing her emphatic disdain for SB 1070. If and When she actually
suggests an attainable plan to act… I will retract and rethink my opinion.

Ran Talbott on Sat, 01/01/2011 - 10:23pm

Title: So, in a nutshell: you have

So, in a nutshell: you have nothing to back up your claim, and decided to try
to distract attention from that with arm-waving.

ckidz05 on Sun, 01/02/2011 - 12:53pm

Title: Mr. Tallbot… I believe your

Mr. Tallbot… I believe your remarks would be taken more seriously with some
constructive comments regarding the issue rather than dismissing another’s
opinion. I try to look at both sides and would welcome any information you
may be able to provide that may influence my opinion. I would love to be able
to trust our government with our security, however, at this time I have not
seen much to assure me. I live 20 minutes away from the border and have since
1965. As I am sure alot of us would agree… so far the violence is only
getting closer and endangering many innocent victims.
http://video.foxnews.com/v/4481918/exclusive-with-homeland-security-secretary-janet-napolitano/

butrflybreeze on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 9:22am

Title: Make a Change

I agree with all of the posts here. I think these posts demonstrate that
pretty much everyone is tired of the border issue. I am a lifelong resident
here, and I am in shock the way we have catered to the people of Mexico.
Businesses hire illegals, stores put everything in Spanish, we have water set
up throughout the desert making it easier for them to pass through,and when
they are picked up they are shipped back with no consequence. Meanwhile we
have U.S. citizens being victimized right and left by drugs, cartels, theft,
brutality, and murder. When our governor finally had enough and enacted a law
that would help deter and detect illegals, Arizona was boycotted! I know that
some people don’t mind the illegals, but lets be truthful, it is usually the
people who have relatives that live in Mexico and a Mexican heritage. Now, I
do not have a problem with Mexicans, but I do have a problem with illegals no
matter what the nationality. Stay in your own country an fight to make it
better.

marciensv

on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 11:55am

Title: Illegal means criminal

I am tired of hearing people say that the illegals are hard working and only
want a better life. By entering this country illegally they are showing that
they will break any law to benefit their WANTS. They steal and if confronted
you risk your own life. If they do work. They do not pay taxes which is a
crime. And if they don’t work they are stealing from the government. Once
here they continue to break law after law. That was just like the dream act.
The people responsible for any children suffering are their own parents. We
didn’t bring them here illegally. Instead of those young adults blaming
others. They need to look their parents in the face and say. Why did you mess
up my life? And the parents need to step up and accept responsibility for
their illegal actions.

WW2 Marine Veteran on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 5:13pm

Title: marciensv message

marciensv: My view is: The Illegals come across looking for free handouts and
generally succeed. They know the USA is an easy target for their efforts.
This has been going on for years and I see nothing stopping them. Another
problem is: members of Illegal drug cartels coming across pushing their drugs
to a population looking for their products. These drug cartel members will
not hesitate to kill anyone who gets in their way. Remember the rancher
living in Arizona? I believe he was killed by a member of the drug cartel.