Are the Gloves Coming Off at Last?

 
The White House has chided the Mexican government for the helpful maps it gives out to illegals hoping to cross the border.

As usual, Jerry Seper is the journalist covering this story:

	The Bush administration yesterday accused the Mexican government of facilitating illegal entry into the United States after Mexican officials said they would distribute maps of dangerous border areas and posters with safety instructions and other tips.
	[…]
	"We oppose in the strongest terms the publication of maps to aid those who wish to enter the United States illegally," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "It is a bad idea to encourage migrants to undertake this highly dangerous and ultimately futile effort.
	"This effort will entice more people to cross, leading to more migrant deaths and the further enrichment of the criminal human trafficking rings that prey on the suffering of others," he said.
	State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the United States would "take whatever steps it deems necessary to protect its own borders."
	"No government, including the government of Mexico, should facilitate or encourage its citizens to try to enter the United States outside established legal procedures ," he said.

Finally! Chertoff is no longer claiming it’s not a problem and the State Department has quit sweeping the problem under the rug.

Mexico, of course, is claiming “we din’ do nuthin’ so don’ blame us — it was those guys”:

	Mexico's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said the maps, which would provide details of the terrain, cell-phone coverage and water stations set up by the U.S. charity Humane Borders, would help to save lives.
	[…]
	Rafael Laveaga, spokesman for the Mexican Embassy in Washington, said the NHRC is an independent body and receives no government funds. He said the commission is working with Humane Borders in distributing the maps.

They then proceed to say since we can’t stop the rape of our borders, we might as well help those who are going to do so anyway.

Well, Mexico hasn’t changed its tune, but at least the Bush administration has.

	Mexican President Vicente Fox has called for a "status of regularization" for Mexicans illegally in the United States, which would allow them to remain as long as they were employed. He also has criticized recently approved legislation in the House authorizing the construction of 700 miles of fence on the U.S.-Mexico border and the designation of illegal entry as a felony.
	"What is not resolved by intelligent policies and by leaders is resolved by citizens. That is how the Berlin Wall fell and that is how this wall will fall," he told Reuters news agency Tuesday. "I hope it isn't even built because, if it is, it will fall."

Don’t you wonder how Fox plans to demolish the wall?

Stay tuned. And by all means, read the whole article at The Washington Times Insider.

Also look at what this angry sheriff has to say:

	Texas border sheriff yesterday demanded that the U.S. and Mexican governments investigate incursions into the United States by heavily armed drug escorts dressed in Mexican military uniforms "before someone gets killed."
	Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr., who heads the Texas Sheriff's Border Coalition, said a growing number of suspected incursions and violence aimed at the area's law-enforcement officers is making the border "a pretty dangerous place."
	"We have tried everything we know to make the federal government aware of the problems at the border and how they have affected us," said Sheriff Gonzalez, who has fewer than two dozen deputies to patrol 1,000 square miles, including 60 miles of Texas-Mexico border.
	"It appears our government is covering this thing up because it just doesn't want to admit there is a problem," he said. "Trade between the United States and Mexico may be more important to Washington than human lives."

The Baron's grandfather fought in the last skirmish we had with Mexico. Let's hope we haven't come full circle here.