Illegal Aliens are Watching What the Administration Does, Not Listening to What it Says



No doubt there have been bigger wastes of taxpayers’ money, but the Obama administration’s “public information campaign,” supposedly aimed at dissuading Central Americans from crashing our borders, could certainly be classified as money down the drain.

The Obama administration’s response to the border surge (the one they assured us was over) has been to spread the word across the Central America that showing up at our borders with children in tow would result in a quick turnaround that lands them back where they started. As is often the case with this administration, their words do not match their deeds.

It’s the administration’s deeds that the latest waves of illegal aliens from Central America are paying attention to. According to the Border Patrol, which interviews the migrants who are caught (or, more accurately, who turn themselves into the Border Patrol), most believe that showing up with kids will result in them getting to stay in the U.S.  The Associated Press reports that the Central American migrants believed “they would be permitted to stay in the United States and collect public benefits, according to internal intelligence files from the Homeland Security Department.”

They believe all these things because they’re true. The vast majority are released from custody with Notices to Appear for a hearing at some future date that both the illegal aliens and the Border Patrol know will never be honored.

And, while the government is squandering your money telling would-be migrants not to come, those who have already made here are sending word back to friends and relatives in Central America (for free on social media), telling them exactly the opposite. Adding fuel to the latest wave of illegal immigration from Central America is a ruling over the summer by a single federal judge ordering Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release most of the illegal aliens being held in family detention centers – a ruling that Obama administration has agreed to comply with.

A cynic might wonder whether the administration’s “public information campaign” is actually intended to deter illegal aliens from coming to this country, or is another attempt to deceive the American people into believing they are doing something to stop mass illegal immigration.

About Author

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Ira joined the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) in 1986 with experience as a journalist, professor of journalism, special assistant to Gov. Richard Lamm (Colorado), and press secretary of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. His columns have appeared in National Review, LA Times, NY Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, and more. He is an experienced TV and radio commentator.

8 Comments

  1. avatar

    Of course it’s window-dressing. It’s a kabuki theater. It’s all done for our amusement so they can claim they’re trying hard to deter illegal immigration when of course they are encouraging it. Not deporting anyone, including criminal illegals, while showering them with benefit on top of benefit says much more than some stupid press release or flyer. Actions speak louder than words, as they say.

  2. avatar

    It is my hope that the next administration go after then court evaders and send them immediately home for violating an order to report for a formal hearing.

  3. avatar

    Anything this POS (BO) has his hand in, is not to be believed for one second, period! If ever there was a more blatant RAPE of U.S. taxpayers, than by this FLAMING INCOMPETENT, kindly enlighten me.

    • avatar

      Kyle: There’s never been a worse one, and it is unlikely there ever could be (except maybe Hillary, if there are enough low-information voters to give her a chance). In this age of instant information on everything, there’s no excuse for voters to actually choose these traitors, except direct bribery or extreme stupidity.

      Try http://www.ballotpedia.org for an amazing volume of facts and quotes at all levels of government, combat low-information.

  4. avatar

    So a federal judge ordered these illegal families to be freed from detention centers and the administration has agreed to comply with that. Translation, someone went judge shopping all over the country to find one who they were almost certain would rule in their favor and now this illegal loving administration gets to say, hey we tried but a judge went against us. Of course, when it’s a state proposing rules against illegals, they will fight that all the way to the highest court.

    And as pointed out, these illegals have court dates many years in the future and the vast majority don’t even bother to show up and no one goes looking for them and nothing happens if they are found because they are not “priority”. Plus many will have more children here and all the advocates will have their crying towels out because “we can’t separate families”. It’s endless. And don’t forget Hillary. The woman who just a decade ago was saying she was “against” illegals is now pledging to outdo this president on amnesty. I gave up on her completely then. It’s like why bother to have laws.