Exclusive: Operation Streamline: Americans Must Demand Politicians be Solution, Not Problem
Mark R. And Renee E. Taylor


Author: Mark R. And Renee E. Taylor

Date Published: 2007-07-14


 

One thing the amnesty bill has taught us is that Americans can rely only on other Americans, not on politicians, to protect America and its sovereignty.  FSM Contributing Editors Mark and Renee Taylor inform us of a border control program that does just that, and how Americans are making it work.

 

Operation Streamline:

Americans Must Demand Politicians be Solution, Not Problem

 

By Mark R. And Renee E. Taylor

 

It’s called Operation Streamline and, more than any inanimate object such as a fence or a virtual wall can do, Operation Streamline works.  How do we know?  Because unlike most of the United States, the residents of Eagle Pass, Texas, have seen a dramatic reduction in the influx of illegal immigrants since its inception in December 2005.  In the Del Rio Border Patrol Sector, not only has illegal immigration dramatically decreased, there has been a reduction in the amount of illegal drugs making their way across the border too.

 

According to the Department of Homeland Security’s press release dated December 16, 2005, “Operation Streamline focuses on aliens who enter illegally through a high-traffic area within the Del Rio Border Patrol Sector. Those illegal aliens who are not released due to humanitarian reasons will face prosecution for illegal entry. The maximum penalty for violation of this law is 180 days incarceration. While the illegal alien is undergoing criminal proceedings, the individual will also be processed for removal from the United States.” 

 

 

"ICE is committed to a seamless partnership with federal, state and local entities to ensure there are consequences for those who violate our nation's immigration laws. We will prioritize our resources to ensure those who enter illegally are removed expeditiously. Operation Streamline recognizes the critical importance of detention and immediate removal as deterrence to future illegal migration," said John P. Torres, Acting Director of Detention and Removal Operations for ICE.

 

On May 16, 2006, the White House issued a press release reinforcing its commitment to securing the border through Operation Streamline, stating they were looking to increase funding for the program, and that “Operation Streamline, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Justice (DOJ), and numerous local law enforcement organizations are working to expedite prosecution of aliens for illegal entry in conjunction with removal proceedings.”

 

The program has had great success in the Del Rio Sector, which includes Eagle Pass.  Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar stated on August 23, 2006, regarding Operation Streamline, “This operation commenced in January.  It commenced within an area of five miles of that sector.  It has now expanded to over 240 miles of area responsibility.  By bringing together the collective efforts of DHS resources, the state and locals, the judiciary down there, the marshals, and everybody else coming together by prosecuting basically to a zero-tolerance degree any entry that occurred within that Del Rio sector, we have now brought down the number of OTM apprehensions by 84 percent.  That's dramatic.”  OTM is the acronym given to “Other Than Mexican”, which includes potential terrorists.

 

Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, in the same press release, stressed a commitment to a “catch and remove” policy regarding illegal immigrants.  He further noted that President Bush made it clear that one of his priorities was to secure our border.  Chertoff said in the same press conference “there were some OTMs who volunteered to be caught because they knew they'd be released, and that's clearly been eliminated.” 

 

What happened to all this strong rhetoric from our government?  By ignoring the successes of Operation Streamline, we recently saw President Bush strongly endorsing a disastrous amnesty bill.  Democrats in Congress, with support of some rogue Republicans, were determined to reward America’s most precious gift, American citizenship, to over 12 million illegal immigrants for breaking America’s laws, the very pledges American citizens have made to each other to keep our country great and safe.  Because our citizens respect these laws, while clearly many politicians do not, and thanks to the powerful American spirit of grass roots efforts, this bill has failed.  But it took a strong grass roots opposition to the Washington power brokers to undo this potentially fatal bill…and just in time.  Where is the commitment in Washington to securing our nation?

 

We have too many Senators and Congressmen who have selfishly put the prospect of Hispanic votes and/or cheap laborers above the security of this nation.  They not only listened to the companies who lobbied for such labor, but it is obvious by the close vote that the approval (and votes) of La Raza and other anti-American groups superseded the safety of the American people too.  If it means that Juan cannot swim across the Rio Grande to pick lettuce so that we can keep gangs such as MS-13, drug runners and terrorists out of this country, so be it.  We are a nation at war and Americans are more concerned about that and their families’ futures than about whether Juan picks the lettuce.   

 

Once Washington gets serious about securing the border, the misconception that we cannot pay for the program is moot.  One only needs to look at successful business models to find said funds.  First, Washington should look at its expenditures and cut those which do not benefit a nation at war.  Funds for teapot museums and other “pork” projects, including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, should immediately be diverted to the Border Patrol to hire more agents.   We should contract with KBR, DynaCorp, Blackwater or any number of good contractor companies to send security personnel to the border, and construction personnel to build necessary barriers and fences, and add to the administrative personnel needed within the court system.

 

Build more prisons, if necessary.  Better yet, use the model of Sheriff Joe Apiao of Maricopa County, Arizona.  Tent cities and bologna sandwiches will do just fine.  Fast track illegals through the courts.  Hire judges and attorneys.  Weed out the “Johnny Suttons” within the system and replace them with patriotic American jurists more concerned with the welfare of this nation – not the welfare of Mexico.  Again, this easily can be paid for with funds diverted from pork barrel projects. 

 

It is not the responsibility of the American taxpayer to improve Mexico’s economy or to provide its citizens with jobs, health care and education.  This is the responsibility of the government of Mexico.  If the benefits of being an American citizen are desirable to Mexicans, they should abide by the process that citizens of other countries must go through to live and work here – legally.  This system worked until it became more important to politicians to pander to special interest groups, such as La Raza, for votes.

 

We are the United States of America.  We do not fly the Mexican flag.  We do not speak Spanish.  We welcome immigrants with open arms who come here legally and assimilate into our society. Washington politicians must create innovative programs such as Operation Streamline, and the American people must continue to hold them accountable for their output.  Thankfully, the American people have a healthy does of common sense and thus did not believe those politicians who made excuses for their unwillingness to deport illegal aliens. 

 

Americans must continue to demand that our politicians be a part of the solution, not part of the problem.

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FamilySecurityMatters.org  Contributing Editor Editor Mark R. Taylor served in Iraq from January 2004 to May 2005 as a civilian convoy commander. His commentary has appeared in Landline Magazine, American Daily and Townhall.com, and he has been interviewed on a variety of radio programs.  His website is www.uglypuppy.net.

Renee Taylor is the editor of http://www.greatmindsthinkright.com/, a freelance writer, photographer, home schooling mom and publicist for Joey Holiday. A former truck driver, she has devoted her time to studying convoy operations and promoting the positive image of the American Trucker in Iraq.

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Resources:

 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/05/20060515-10.html

 

http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1158351672542.shtm

 

http://www.swtexaslive.com/node/4541