Bush - Walking tall with the Border Patrol...

So news has it that G.W. is coming down to Yuma, AZ (where Arizona
meets California meets Mexico) on Thursday to spend some time looking
at the imigration holes in the fence. You think he'd know by now. I
mean 6 years in office and he came from Texas!

Only a week or so ago, I drove through this same spot... According to
the Associated Press the Yuma section is 125 miles long. If you've
never been, it's rugged desert; some flat, some mountains but all very
hostile. So much in fact that more than 50 people died attempting to
cross in 2005 alone. However, Border Patrol estimates say they are
catching 300-450 immigrants per day in this section while even
admitting greater numbers slip through.

Driving into California I pulled into the inspection booth - basically
a toll booth with no toll. They ask "where are you coming from, do
you have any fruit?" I even had to pop the trunk this time - "Nope, no
Mexicans in there." As I drove west into the California night my mind
could only turn to wondering how many souls were out there to the
south.

Through this 100 mile section I saw a helicopter racing along the
border in the night. Presumably with night-vision cameras following
the ant lines or coyotes through the brush. Further along in the
mountains more patrol vehicles appear. Mostly vans and trucks with a
wide horizontal green stripe from front to back. Some parked with the
lights out, some in groups abuzz with activity. Finally deep in the
mountains two border patrol stations are set up on either side of
interstate 8. On any given night stadium lights blaze down onto the
patrolmen and the cars they've stopped on that lonely highway pass.
I was sleepy that night and had a way to go. Thankfully that night
they just waved me through.

I can only wonder where this will all lead us - Citizens, Americans,
Mexicans, Californians. I feel this is only the beginning though.