Daphne wrote on Sep 19, 2008 3:14 PM:They all make promises they don't keep!!! How will he put an end to illegal immigration? How will he secure the border? Why will he pardon those two criminals Ramos and Compean? They are exactly where criminals belong in prison. I find it reprehensible that Jeff Schwilk would aid and abet those criminals and actually advocate their release. The law has spoken and they were found guilty. Why should any one usurp the authority of the people? Here I thought Jeff Schwilk was such an advocate for Free Speech!! Why doesn't Jeff Schwilk close his mouth and open his eyes....there are many more issues out there than illegal immigration. My goodness with home foreclosures, gas prices, stock market lows, banks going broke, etc. why is always harping on illegal immigration. Geez man give it a rest.

Democrat wrote on Sep 19, 2008 4:01 PM:Outstanding forum! I cannot support Obama's blatant pandering to millions of illegal immigrants and the Council of La Raza. If McCain/Palin take a strong stance on securing our borders, I will likely vote for McCain. Otherwise I do like the Chuck Baldwin website (Baldwin08). Wish he was running on a bigger ticket. Nice to read a fresh perspective in the NCTimes without the partisan talking points. I wish Lou Dobbs had run for president. He gives it to us straight too!

Jeff wrote on Sep 19, 2008 4:11 PM:Thanks Daphne! (or is it Claudia Smith?) You really help make our point that our borders need to be secured and our laws enforced! Keep it up!

Chris wrote on Sep 19, 2008 4:20 PM:"Daphne" is completely wrong, of course. Illegal immigration is the number one issue for MANY Americans. It affects so many aspects of our lives, from the decay of our local neighborhoods to the faltering of the state economy. Our language and culture are constantly under assault from the foreign hordes streaming across our borders and colonizing our cities and towns then turning around to make outrageous demands. Its unacceptable and only an Obama cheerleader or other Marxist liberal would think this issue takes a back seat to any other. Kudos to Jeff for speaking the truth!! End the invasion!

Carmen wrote on Sep 19, 2008 4:25 PM:Mr. Schwilk writes, "Unfortunately, if elected, he [McCain] will likely sign an executive order in 2009 to make it happen. It's a promise he has made to the "Latino Community" repeatedly, and he hasn't changed his stance, despite his recent talk of securing the border."
By "Latino Community" in quotes, Mr. Schwilk refers to the Illegal Alien Community, its leaders and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
I am an American citizen of Hispanic heritage and I need illegal aliens here like a hold in the head.

No-Bama wrote on Sep 19, 2008 4:35 PM:Obama is a socialist alien lover who has no concern or respect for the American workers who are hurting so bad these days. His false accusations about ICE were disgusting and I know personally that ICE agents were livid when he lied to the La Raza Convention in San Diego in July, accusing them of ripping babies from their mothers. He is absolutely dangerous to our country. I went to that website for BetterImmigration and he is rated a D- on his immigration voting record. He is not qualified to lead this country. No respect for the Constitution or our immigration laws.

Hope wrote on Sep 19, 2008 5:02 PM:Daphne, only a fool would write about a case they know nothing about. I personally know Nacho Ramos. I know the Ramos & Compean families...these poor VICTIMS were unjustly incarcerated! They broke absolutely NO laws!! In fact, please tell us Daphne, what laws they broke since you think you know what you are talking about! They were attacked by a career illegal alien drug smuggler who has since been sentenced for drugs he brought into the USA after this incident.

And yes, Daphne, we have a BAD economy, a bankrupt nation, increased crimes, OPEN borders...not exactly a safe nation right now. KUDOS to Jeff for writing the truth!! The illegal aliens are part of the bigger problem. Wake up Daphne or better yet, self deport!!

miguelina wrote on Sep 19, 2008 6:13 PM:The banks who are going broke are the ones who gave subprime mortgages to people who could not and did not have to prove income(mostly illegal aliens). Why would anyone lend money to someone with NO collateral? That's asking for trouble, as seen with record forclosures. The banks got greedy, but were outgamed by greedier consumers.
The real cause of Lehmans collapse? ...

Demand is what drives gas prices. We have too many people demanding.

Let's not even get into jobs Americans have lost to illegal aliens, or the social programs they are benefitting from, without paying into them.

Illegal aliens make ALL immigrants look bad and they MUST be deported.

I was a LEGAL immigrant (and latina) and I approve this article.

Sick of it wrote on Sep 19, 2008 6:55 PM:Jeff's Forum says it all. We have been presented with a choice between Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb to vote for in November. For the life of me I cannot understand why they both are so hellbent on destroying our country and culture. The previous Amnesty has proved to be a disastrous welcome mat to the thundering hordes of illegal aliens who have since charged across our border to wait out the next green light to free citizenship. Every day I keep thinking that life as we know it is slipping away, and it is a very sickening feeling. It can only get far worse with the outcome of this election. As I was reading Daphne's blog, I kept waiting for the punchline. She must be out of her mind to think those two agents belong in prison. That is as big a travesty of justice as I can recall in recent history. They deserve immediate amnesty, and that disgusting Mexican drug runner deserves to be put away for good. Bush should have set the agents free long ago, but he hasn't got the gonads to cross his Texas buddy judge.

Buzzm1 wrote on Sep 19, 2008 8:21 PM:...YOUR MATH PROBLEM FOR TODAY......

FACTS: SOUTHWEST BORDER APPREHENSIONS
1999 1,537,000
2000 1,643,679
2001 1,235,718
2002 929,809
2003 905,065
2004 1,139,282
2005 1,189,108
2006 1,071,972
2007 858,638
2008 660,288 (ends 9/30)

FACT: Over 11 million illegals have been apprehended, at the border, in just the last ten years.....

FACT: Even now, less than 1, out of 4, illegals, are apprehended while crossing the border.

THE QUESTION IS: How many illegals have entered our United States in the last ten years????

YOUR ANSWER PLEASE.......

HINT: The answer is not 12 million



From 1987 to 1998, when there was little enforcement of our Southwest Border, illegals could just walk across the border.

Question??? How many illegals entered our country during these 12 years......

HINT.... the answer isn't 12 million.

Buzzm1 wrote on Sep 19, 2008 8:22 PM:Southwest Border Patrol Sector Apprehensions
Fiscal Year-------------2005---------2006---------2007-------2008 (ends 9/30)
San Diego------------126,879-----142,104---- 152,460--- 149,418
El Centro--------------55,725-------61,465----- 55,883----- 38,012
Yuma-----------------138,492-----118,549----- 37,992------ 7,966 *
Tucson --------------439,053-----392,074---- 378,239--- 299,635
El Paso---------------122,624-----122,256----- 75,464----- 28,716
Marfa ------------------10,532--------7,520------- 5,536------ 5,113
Del Rio -----------------68,547------42,636----- 22,920----- 19,612
Laredo -----------------75,268------74,840----- 56,714------41,160
Rio Grande Valley --134,136----110,528------ 73,430----- 70,656
Apprehensions----1,189,108--1,071,972-----858,638----660,288(08/31)

Buzzm1 wrote on Sep 19, 2008 8:24 PM:THERE WILL BE NO AMNESTY!!!

OUR ACCEPTABLE IMMIGRATION REFORM

#1. Secure the Border!!!
#2. Mandate E-Verify for ALL Employees!!!
#3. Mandate E-Verify for ANY Benefit!!!
#4. Stop the Underground Economy!!!
#5. End Birthright Citizenship for Illegals!!!
......and make it retroactive!!!
#6. End Chain Migration!!!
#7. Make English our Official Language!!!
#8. Cut Off Federal Funds to Sanctuary Cities!!

NOTHING MORE!!! NOTHING LESS!!!

Bob wrote on Sep 19, 2008 9:10 PM:Well said, Jeff Schwilk. And well said Carmen and others. Here's another hint. My wife's family (and some of mine) is virtually ALL Hispanic and ALL (as in every single one), across the country, is totally against illegal immigration, amnesty, etc.
So, exactly how many votes do barry and mcamnesty think there are in legal Hispanic voters that are pro-illegal immigration?
Hint: Not nearly as many as the lefty media is trying to make it sound.

retroactive wrote on Sep 20, 2008 12:10 AM:Let's make birthright citizenship - which I think is the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, let's make that retroactively illegal. Then we can all be illegal Americans. Then we can deport anyone we want to. The Minutemen are racists, plain and simple. We had guys like this back in Texas when I was young. Schwilk knows that immigrant workers help our economy. God knows we need some help these days too. He just doesn't like the sonorous tones of south-of-the-border music. Or maybe it is just having people around who look different from himself.

To Sick of it wrote on Sep 20, 2008 12:31 AM:Jeff's forum is going after the wrong target. The illegals are not here to destroy our country or culture. Nope, that was accomplished decades ago by the United States Supreme Court. I am sure that Mr. Schwilk remmebers the email I sent him containing the results of Engle v. Vitale. Let's see, since that outrageous decision, the U.S. has become number 1 in the following areas:
Teen Pregnancy, illiteracy, violent crime, illegal drug use, divorce, and voluntary abortions.

Common Sense wrote on Sep 20, 2008 1:02 AM:How we can still have open borders and lax immigration enforcement in this day and age, 7 years after 9/11, defies belief! Obviously the two major parties are beholden to the chambers of commerce and socio ethno-centric special interest groups like La Raza, MALDEF, LULAC, plus of course the ACLU and the American Socialist Party. Cheap labor and mass peasant migration are what McCain and his Dem buddies have allowed for decades. Scary times, but the people are awakening to the truth and demanding an end to this madness.

LadyM wrote on Sep 20, 2008 7:30 AM:Congrats Jeff on a great forum. Too bad that most in this country will follow party lines like sheep to the slaughter. I have been following Mr Baldwin for years now and he does have answers to this nations problems. Too bad the media only chooses to let us hear from the chosen two. Those chosen by the CFR, The Trilateral Commission and the Bilderberg group of globalist elitists. The American people are in for a rude awakening if they don't do their research and stop listening to the MSM. The two chosen ones are in the pockets of these globalists and they will be the ruin of this nation if either one is elected. We, The American Citizens, must take a stand now. Do we want the same old thing in DC or do we really want change. If you want change it will not come from either of these candidates.

Mark wrote on Sep 23, 2008 2:25 PM:I agree that the national media needs to cover the Baldwin campaign. This would break the boredom of the current campaign which, though it has generated interest with the McCain/Palin ticket, nevertheless conveniently dodges the immigration question which is of interest to countless Americans.