READYING BORDER BUILDUP

Protecting Against The Murderous Drug Cartels Is A Bigger Priority
Than Workplace Raids

Dozens of federal agents would be assigned to reinforce agents
already in place along the border with Mexico under a plan being
finalized by the Justice and Homeland Security departments.

The plan, which has not yet been publicly announced, is an emergency
reaction to the mounting violence occurring as members of Mexican
drug cartels battle for control of drug routes into the United States.

Associated Press reporters last week wrote that they had talked with
federal officials involved with the plan. They learned that the
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, known as ICE, will shift
more than 90 officers to the area. Also, the AP reported, the Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is hiring 37 more people
for assignments along the border.

Given the urgency of the situation -- more than 7,000 Mexicans,
including soldiers and police, have been killed in the borderland
drug wars since January 2008, and killings and kidnappings have
spread across the border into the U.S. -- the plan includes
preparation for a much larger infusion of federal agents.

The AP reported that immigration officials are considering asking
Congress for approval to shift tens of millions of dollars away from
common enforcement of workplace immigration laws in order to spend
that money on a border buildup appropriate to the threat posed by drug cartels.

Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, spoke against such a request, the AP
reported, saying workplace enforcement is of great importance in
fighting border violence.

We take the opposite view. It is rare to hear of any real trouble
being caused by illegal immigrants who have jobs at innocuous
workplaces. They might have falsified their identification papers,
but only because they had no prospects for work in Mexico and
desperately needed to make a living for themselves and their families.

Members of Mexican drug gangs who cross the border, however, have
demonstrated their propensity for murder, torture, kidnapping and a
host of other crimes. The enforcement priority is clear, in our view.