Operation Wetback
How Eisenhower beat back illegal immigration successfully (and why politicians today don’t).
In 1954, Ike appointed retired Gen. Joseph “Jumpin’ Joe” Swing, a former West Point classmate and veteran of the 101st Airborne, as the new INS commissioner.
Influential politicians, including Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson (D) of Texas and Sen. Pat McCarran (D) of Nevada, favored open borders, and were dead set against strong border enforcement, Brownell said. But General Swing’s close connections to the president shielded him - and the Border Patrol - from meddling by powerful political and corporate interests.
One of Swing’s first decisive acts was to transfer certain entrenched immigration officials out of the border area to other regions of the country where their political connections with people such as Senator Johnson would have no effect.
Then on June 17, 1954, what was called “Operation Wetback” began. Because political resistance was lower in California and Arizona, the roundup of aliens began there. Some 750 agents swept northward through agricultural areas with a goal of 1,000 apprehensions a day. By the end of July, over 50,000 aliens were caught in the two states. Another 488,000, fearing arrest, had fled the country.
By mid-July, the crackdown extended northward into Utah, Nevada, and Idaho, and eastward to Texas.
By September, 80,000 had been taken into custody in Texas, and an estimated 500,000 to 700,000 illegals had left the Lone Star State voluntarily.
Aside from the un-PC name, I doubt they would have the will to do this today. More importantly, the corruption in the political class is so endemic, it’s the biggest roadblock to immigration controls. Too many politicians are not only letting it happen, they are encouraging it.
Welcome to Can-Ameri-Co. Our very own answer to the EU. That is if more people don’t wise up and stand for an independent America.
Posted by on 03/27 at 04:56 PM
Listen up folks !!!! We have that MAN in Tom Tancredo. Go to his site & you’ll see what I mean. http://www.teamtancredo.com Tom For President.
Posted by on 05/13 at 09:34 AM
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