I am all for the elimination of illegal immigration, and I can't understand anyone native to this country who doesn't. That being said, I think these statements are more bark than bite. All you have to do is take a ride down to the local Home Depot at the morning rush hour to see how deep this problem is. I simply don't think that the resources exist to address this problem in this way.

There are two problems with an expulsion-oriented approach to illegals. First, there is the scope of the problem and the prohibitive expense. We can't even control the Iraqi-Syrian border with tanks, satellites and planes; how are we going to control the Mexican border? Let's not forget, that's not the only place they come in, either.

The other problem is that there is no reason for these aliens, once expelled, to not try again. It is very hard to create a disincentive for someone with almost nothing to lose, without draconian punishments. Frankly, I sympathize with these people, even while I reject their right to enter this country unnaturalized.

I think there is a far better solution, and I'm not the first one to propose this: Instead of going after the aliens, we should go after the people who employ them. THESE people have something to lose. Not only that, but the fines collected from employers of illegals could create a self-funded program.

People haven't discussed these employers enough. In my opinion, they are the true scum. They are willing to betray their own country to gain a advantage over their competition. Since the practice has become widespread, it's now impossible to be something like a contractor without relying on cheap illegal labor.

Let's help them out. By creating an economic disincentive against employing illegal immigrants, we make it feasible to return to paying American citizens reasonable wages. Under such a plan, a patriotic landscaper can remain in business without resorting to low-level treason; in fact, those who do violate these laws should be pushed out of business.

If we can sharply curtail the number of people willing to hire illegals, then we can count on a reduction of the number willing to come here in the first place. This is much more managable, and what remains could be addressed in a more traditional expulsion-oriented manner. It's about supply and demand. What's the alternative? A Great Wall of America.

Like I said, I sympathize with the immigrants. At the end of the day, I would like to see nice high quotas for immigration into this country. I think it's healthy for us, and everyone wins. Illegal immigration, on the other hand, is a security risk, and a way to avoid paying a decent wage to an American citizen. In the end, we need to decide how many people come here, and stick to it, whatever it is.