An idea whose time has come…again?
By James Abbott
The debate today on immigration is not a recent issue in the United States. Since the inception of this country many debates have taken place over this divisive topic. What is the solution to the current immigration problem? Why is it common to hear from the mass media that it is impossible to locate and deport the 20 million illegal aliens that are currently residing in the United States today? Maybe the adage that we have all learned from our high school history teachers, that “we learn from the mistakes of the past” is relevant; and in this particular case, the “successes of the past.”
After World War II the United States was subtly invaded by millions of illegal aliens from Mexico. An article in the New York Times stated, “The rise in illegal border-crossing by Mexican ‘wetbacks’ to a current rate of more than 1,000,000 cases a year has been accompanied by a curious relaxation in ethical standards extending all the way from the farmer-exploiters of this contraband labor to the highest levels of the Federal Government.”
This massive wave of illegal aliens greatly concerned President Eisenhower. Labor corruption and a growing dependence on low wage labor were some of the critical issues that needed to be addressed.President Eisenhower assigned Joseph Swing to head the Immigration and Naturalization Service and “Operation Wetback” began on June 17, 1954. The operation involved various Southwestern states including: California, Arizona, Texas, Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. On the first day of “Operation Wetback” in Texas 4,800 illegal aliens were caught crossing the border. Further attempts since the inception of the operation had decreased by about one fourth. Collaborating with local police agencies border patrol agents began to locate illegal aliens using politically incorrect methods such as profiling Mexican looking people and patrolling predominately Mexican neighborhoods. With only 750 agents working throughout the Southwest apprehending hundreds of illegal aliens a day and captured 50,000 illegal aliens within a month and a half. Over 475,000 illegal aliens took note and began to repatriate themselves to Mexico.
Another concept used by the INS was to ship, bus, and transfer by train the illegal aliens 500 miles south of the border in order to decrease repeat border crossings. In one year 1.3 million illegal aliens were repatriated to Mexico.
What are some of the lessons learned from this successful immigration operation? The cost of supporting 750 agents is minimal. Federal agents should collaborate with state and local law enforcement officials. Profiling is an effective tool that should be promoted and agents should search communities where the problem is most prominent. Illegal aliens should be sent deep into southern Mexico to discourage repeat border crossing. The most important lesson of all is that once illegal aliens realize that the American people are serious about enforcing immigration laws and the deportation of illegal aliens, the majority of them will repatriate themselves. An aside from “Operation Wetback”; if immigration officials would fine those who employ illegal aliens throughout the country, almost every illegal alien would repatriate himself due to the fact that employers would immediately halt the hiring of any illegal alien. The fines collected from belligerent employers will easily provide the necessary funding for such a program.
If we look to the success of historical immigration solutions such as “Operation Wetback” we will be able to find the answers to the current immigration problem in our country today. By putting in place many of the concepts utilized by this operation we will be able to save our nation.
Notes:
John Dillin, How Eisenhower solved illegal border crossings from Mexico, Christian Science Monitor June 6, 2006.
Fred L. Koestler, Operation Wetback, The Handbook of Texas Online, Accessed July 23, 2007: http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/OO/pqo1.html
John Dillin, How Eisenhower solved illegal border crossings from Mexico, Christian Science Monitor June 6, 2006.
As Abbot says, “By putting in place many of the concepts utilized by this operation we will be able to save our nation.” However, many of the core issues have shifted since the Eisenhower era. According to the http://pewhispanic.org/newsroom/releases/release.php?ReleaseID=37 Hispanic Center, unlike 1954, today over 80% of “Hispanic” illegals have at least one other family member in the United States, a key to finding work. Similarly, while agriculture is still a major employer for illegals, they follow regional employment demands: construction, “hospitality” and other service work and manufacturing. All of these areas face depressed wage scales and challenges for low skilled US-born workers, while boosting profits for corporations. Many of America’s farm labor problems would easily be solved by capital-investment programs in technology.
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