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May 17, 2006

A Fence To Keep People In

I don't suppose it is entirely insightful to note that the increased militarization of our borders is likely to increase illegal immigration, at least in the short term. According to the LA Times:

Studies show that because it is harder to crisscross the border, illegal immigrants who intended to be in the U.S. for limited stretches may increasingly be choosing to bring their families with them -- and settle permanently....Mexican government surveys show that 20% of illegal Mexican immigrants returned home after six months in 1992, compared with 7% in 2000. "The net effect of the militarization of the border since 1993 has been to transform a circular movement of male workers to a settled population of families," said Douglas S. Massey, a Princeton University sociologist who has long studied the phenomenon. "Once they're here, they hunker down to stay longer." Massey and other analysts argue that if Congress tightens border security again, more illegal immigrants will put down roots in the U.S.

Via Jesse Walker at Hit & Run, who ponders whether this is, "just a really crafty way to encourage assimilation."

Significant push factors may be at play, too, which InstaPundit notes the leftist Presidential candidate is trying to capitalize on, "If Mexico goes communist, Bush won't have to do anything: they'll build a wall themselves!"

Posted by Zach Wendling at May 17, 2006 06:59 PM

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