- April 16, 2009 - President Obama appointed former U.S. attorney Alan Bersin to serve as border czar. This is a new position created for The Homeland Security Department. Bersin will be responsible for issues related to drug-cartel violence along the U.S.-Mexico border. The Obama administration has promised to crack down on border violence and work with Mexican authorities against drug cartels. Hundreds of federal agents, along with high-tech surveillance gear and drug-sniffing dogs, are being deployed to the Southwest. Bersin will work with international officials and their counterparts in the U.S. and border states
A: Since the 1970's (the initial public acknowledgment of mass illegal immigration from Mexico to America) every U.S. President has failed to clean up the U.S. - Mexican border. Although some attempts were made, it is clear they were not nearly enough as there is said to be beteeen 12 - 20 million illegals in America. Now it is Obama's chance to fix the problem. Americans are fed up with being called racists and bigots just because they want their country's border protected from illegal activity. So Obama gets a high grade for creating a new position specifically to handle this illegal immigration. Much more has to be done but this is a step in the right direction.

- Feb 25, 2009 - ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officials arrested 28 illegal workers at Yamato Engine Specialists in Bellingham, Washington. The workplace raid was the first under the Obama Administration. Most of the 28 arrested gained employment by using fake social security numbers and counterfeit documents. All the workers were interviewed by I.C.E. and admitted to being in the country illegally. Shortly after, hundreds of American citizens applied for these newly opened positions.
A: If Obama is serious about creating more jobs for American citizens, he should allow these raids to continue. There are approxmiately 7 million American jobs being taken away by illegal immigrants and American companies who knowingly hire illegal workers. With unemployment closing in on record highs, the theory that "illegal immigrants only take jobs that Americans don't want" simply does not hold water anymore.