In the late 90's there was a substantial appropriation passed for a substantial increase in the border patrol agents, but the administration did not require the expenditure to hire and train any where near the number authorized. There was hardly a recruiting program.
Some local LE agencies were contacted on almost an informal basis in an attempt to find Spanish speaking officers who desired to make the shift to the Feds, but only a small % of the authorization was spent. Lots of noise and no action.
But "we" did end up with a budget surplus!!!!!! "Happy Days" in the Past!!!!
http://www.libertylobby.org/articles/immigration.html
"Tidal Wave of Aliens Aims at Southwest
• An expected influx of illegal aliens could wreak havoc on America's unskilled laborers.
By The SPOTLIGHT Staff
The estimated 5 million illegal aliens -- primarily Hispanics living in the border area of Texas -- may soon be joined by 600,000 jobless and homeless illegals from Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador.
Another 280,000 immigrants from the four Central American countries have already made their way to the U.S. southwest, according to researchers at CID-Gallup of Costa Rica, a subsidiary of U.S. Gallup Organization.
The research, requested by the U.S. Information Agency, finds that the largest number of Central American illegal immigrants -- 180,000 -- will come from El Salvador, which has an adult population of 3 million. Next are 170,000 from Honduras with 2.26 million adults; another 170,000 from Guatemala with 6.1 million adults; and 88,000 from Nicaragua with 3.3 million adults.
The influx of Central American immigrants will have a major effect on the U.S. job market. Immigrants in general with less than a high school education drive down wages and push up unemployment for unskilled U.S. laborers, especially Hispanics and blacks, George J. Borjas, a professor at Harvard University, testified at a recent hearing of the House Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims.
"The Costa Rica researchers interviewed 1,000 randomly selected would-be immigrants from the four Central American countries. They discovered that many of the Hondurans and Nicaraguans mistakenly thought they could come to the United States regardless of their legal status in the wake of Hurricane Mitch in early November.
"The Clinton administration decided not to deport any Nicaraguans and Hondurans if they were in the U.S. illegally before Dec. 30, 1998. The deportation stay remains in effect through June 2000."
Read on ... 14 years .... plus.