Greg_Groogan's Blog

The Immigration deal cratered under the weight of  what  many  citizens saw as 12 million free rides for those whose first encounter with America involved breaking it's law.

But that doesn't mean everything in the legislative package should be kicked to the curb. There appears to be consensus on both sides of the aisle and on most main streets that beefing up the Border Patrol will be more than worth a billion or two.

30 Thousand new agents won't stop illegal entries - but it can certainly plug holes where the flow of undocumented humanity from the south is currently gushing through. That's not to mention denting more deeply the steady onslaught of narcotics smuggled daily across the border.

The Mexican government reports MORE people now leave for the U.S. every year - many of them permenantly - then die in that country. Northern migration in excess of national mortality.

So who should fill these new border enforcement ranks ? Why not give immediate and continuing preference to those who've already put their life on the line in what many still see as a war on terror. Hundreds of thousands of veterans will return from the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan. Skilled, motivated, experienced and deeply committed men and women whom taxpayers have already invested billions training.

Many of these soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines will decide to leave the military but not their commitment to country and security.

As Border Patrol Agents these returning veterans represent a genuine and potentially powerful pool of law enforcers. The nations leadership has an opportunity. Whether it is exploited or squandered could offer yet another litmus test for the get-tough rhetoric that's become standard fare from those we've elected.