Our government can find $600 million to build a Taj Mahal of an embassy in Iraq with tennis courts, spas, pools and all the other amenities of the finest hotels. [It’s] a structure that can be destroyed in seconds in a country we are supposed to be in for the short haul.

At the same time we read that high-risk foreign nationals are being released onto our streets because of a chronic shortage of detention space.

In 2007 alone, 605,000 foreign-born inmates will be sent to local jails or prisons for crimes committed and will be released into our communities after serving their sentences due to lack of resources. Between October 2002 and the first five months of 2005, there were 45,000 such cases with citizens from countries with links to terrorism.

We have a “catch and release” program in operation where illegals are arrested and then released with instructions to return later for removal hearings. How many do you think return on this honor system? This is certainly a misuse of the “catch and release” term used by fishermen who catch and then return fish to their natural habitat, causing harm to no one.

The lack of beds and space in detention centers is cited as a reason for the release of many of these illegals. Right now there are only 27,500 beds. Six hundred million dollars could provide a lot of beds and space.

Cited also is lack of judges to hear deportation cases. Why a need for a hearing? If you are here illegally you have committed a crime and there should be automatic deportation. In cases where hearings are necessary, why not bring in retired judges as they have in many other legal areas?

Until all politicians stop bowing down to the will of employers who fill their campaign coffers and start making such employers responsible for their actions by heavy fines and prison sentences instead of a slap on the wrist every once in a while to appease their constituents, we will continue to have this problem.

Mexico and other countries have strict laws, restrictions and penalties regarding immigration into their countries. Why are we castigated for trying to enforce our own immigration laws which are much more favorable to immigration? It is time that these countries start taking responsibility for their own citizens in their own country.

Cookie McClure
Peachtree City, Ga.

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