Undocumented population in United States declines ... but beware of what you ask for

Congratulations are due the Bush administration and conservative advocates for an 11 percent-drop in the number of undocumented workers in the United States.

But this number may not be a cause to cheer after adding up the price tag.

Through the Department of Homeland Security, many undocumented human beings and their families are being routed and deported. For instance, more than 100 federal agents and two helicopters were used to raid a small meat processing plant in Pottsville, Iowa.

That raid -- which subsequently violated Constitutional guarantees of due process -- rounded-up 379 workers. One federal agent was set in motion for almost every four workers. And then there were all the judges, translators and stenographers who had to make an emergency appearance to try these human beings in a matter of days.

Yes, days. If it can happen to these human beings, it can happen to you, too. Constitution be damned.

Public defenders, who also have to be paid, could not even understand some of their clients. Some Guatemalans do not speak Spanish, but an Indian dialect. So these human beings were pleading guilty to charges they did not understand. And federal prosecutors and DHS officials schemed to come up with a plan to charge these human beings with felonies, instead of simple illegal presence and deportation. You the taxpayers then have had to pay for four months of incarceration of these undocumented workers.

Accordingly, while DHS was announcing its impressive numbers, the Bush administration was unveiling another set of figures -- a nearly half a $1,000, 000,000,000 (yes, that's trillion) budget deficit for the coming fiscal year. And part of that shocking bill for our grandchildren comes from public policy that requires the use of all those federal agents who need the right kind of sunglasses and slick windbreakers, besides expenses for food, drink and whatever is required for a FED in motion.

Pottsville was only one of many ICE raids the past 12 months with many more to come. Not to be criticized for inconsistency, the Bush administration has duplicated its war on terror failure in Iraq here at home with immigration.

Of course, DHS does not assign a dollar figure to its raids and deportations. If they did, a lot of taxpayers would not be so zealous about getting undocumented workers and their families out of this country.

Staying with the fiscal impact, a lot of states are now reporting dropping tax revenue. Undocumented workers pay sales taxes, wheel taxes, property taxes and a host of other levies and fees, including Social Security contributions. So American citizens will be paying for the deportation bill with reduced government services.

Not true, you shout? The University of Arizona's study of undocumented workers showed they contributed almost $1 billion more in revenue than in government services used. The Social Security fund was going to get an extra two years of life due to the contributions of undocumented workers. Now, a new administration will have to raise the amount taken out of your paycheck for the fund.

O, well, at least we don't have to see all those dark-skinned, Spanish-speaking people anymore. Now go see how much that buys you at the grocery store.

So congratulations to Rush Lumbaugh, Marsha Blackburn, Glen Beck, Sean Hannity, Lamar Alexander and all the politicos and their enablers who have made the ouster of undocumented workers and their families into Concern No. 1 while blocking comprehensive reform.

You're winning the battle, but losing the war for a better America. Perhaps Lou Dobbs can put on a hard hat or a kitchen apron to answer complaints about homes not built on time and food served cold and late.