Border Security Ike Style

I was surprised to read that 53 years ago there was problem with the border much like today. However, unlike today, President Eisenhower had the political will to do something about it. With less than half of the border patrol agents currently in service, Eisenhower virtually stopped the flow of illegals into our country.

…on June 17, 1954, "Operation Wetback" began…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 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….Mexicans caught in the roundup were not simply released at the border, where they could easily reenter the US….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.

While some of the methods used in the 50s would not be tolerated today, it is certainly impressive to see what was achieved because the political will existed to achieve it. I don’t believe that President Bush has the will to do what is necessary to seal our border. I’ve seen a lot of talk but not a lot of action.

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