Border enforcement is working

Washington Times:

The number of illegal aliens arrested along the Southwest border through the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2007, which ended March 31, is down 30 percent compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year, the U.S. Border Patrol said Friday.
Agency spokesman Michael J. Friel credited increased border enforcement and described the drop as part of a continuing trend in the overall decline of border apprehensions between ports of entry.
"Under the Secure Border Initiative, [Customs and Border Protection] continues to strengthen border security efforts through the deployment and integration of tactical infrastructure, proven technology and additional personnel," Mr. Friel said.
From Oct. 1 through March 31, he said, Border Patrol agents made 418,184 arrests along the nation's Southwest border -- about 2,300 a day -- compared to 594,142 during the same period last year. The Del Rio, Texas, and Yuma, Ariz., sectors experienced the greatest declines, with decreases of 68 percent in Yuma and 57 percent in Del Rio, Mr. Friel said.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff hailed the drop in apprehensions as part of the multiyear Secure Border Initiative (SBI), which is aimed at sealing U.S. borders and reducing illegal immigration.
SBI was designed to enable the Border Patrol and other elements of CBP to gain operational control of the Northern and Southern borders. Its major elements include more agents to patrol the borders, secure ports of entry and enforce immigration law; expanded and more efficient detention and removal capabilities; and a comprehensive upgrading of border technology.
But both immigration advocates and opponents have questioned whether the decline in apprehensions signals the success of the program.
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The broken widow strategy that reduced crime in New York City will work in border enforcement too. More border enforcement will lead to fewer attempt to cross. More work site enforcement will lead to more self deportation greatly reducing the cost in that area. The biggest problem in enforcing the rule of law on immigration issues has been the lack of consequences for violators. Having consequences for violations should channel migrant labor into legal programs.