By Tom Fitton

According to documents uncovered by Judicial Watch, at a time when the United States faces an illegal immigration crisis and a war on terrorism, Bush administration officials directed Border Patrol agents to withhold  information about a marked increase in illegal immigration caused by President Bush’s immigration agenda.

Border Patrol

“Do not provide statistics on apprehension spikes or past amnesty data.”

This is what Border Patrol agents were told in a January 2004 memo obtained by Judicial Watch in May 2005, entitled “White House Approved Talking Points.”  At the time the memo was crafted, President Bush had just announced a new “temporary worker program” for illegal immigrants.  If the president’s initiative were to have negative repercussions, Bush administration officials seemingly reasoned, the public must not know.

This is hardly the stuff of open, honest and responsible government. 

The memo, obtained by Judicial Watch through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, relates to a Border Patrol survey initiated in January 2004.  Following a high-profile speech by the President on January 7, where he floated what amounted to an amnesty program for illegal immigrants, Border Patrol agents began asking randomly chosen illegals caught at the border if they were trying to cross because of the president’s proposal.

In less than three weeks the Bush administration abruptly shut down the survey.  Border Patrol agents were ordered not to discuss its early findings with the press.  The government, of course, never issued a report on the survey or its findings.

Judicial Watch immediately filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Department of Homeland Security to get to the truth in the matter.  When Homeland Security resisted, we sued, forcing the release of 1,000 documents, including the aforementioned talking points memo.  In reviewing this information, it is easy to see why the Bush administration was adamant about keeping the surveys secret. 

Here are some more disturbing survey findings the Bush administration tried to keep from you:

1. President Bush’s “temporary guest worker” program was broadly interpreted as an amnesty program by illegal immigrants from Mexico. 
2. Early results from the Border Patrol survey indicated President Bush’s proposal did, in fact, lure greater numbers of illegal immigrants to the U.S.  Approximately 45% of respondents crossed illegally based upon rumors of a Bush amnesty program.
3. Approximately 63% received Mexican government or media information supporting the notion of a Bush administration amnesty program.
4. When asked if they would seek amnesty if offered, 80% of apprehended illegal immigrants answered, “yes.” 
5. More than 60% of those apprehended had previously entered the United States illegally, some as many as six times.
6. Approximately 66% desired to petition for family members to join them in the United States.

The survey data, when combined with anecdotal remarks, presents a clear picture of the chaotic state of our nation’s borders and the likely damaging results of the president’s amnesty proposal.  Illegal immigrants are crossing our borders again and again without fear of any repercussions.  They intend on staying in perpetuity, and bringing their friends and families with them.  Some, undoubtedly, are conspiring to do us harm.

In his January 7 speech to the nation, President Bush told the American people that first and foremost, “America must protect its borders.”  Following the attacks of September 11, he said, “This duty of the federal government has become even more urgent.”

While correctly identifying the problem, the president’s solution is baffling.  How can we ensure border security while, at the same time, allowing illegal immigrants to cross our borders and then providing them with pseudo-citizenship when they get here? 

The Bush administration stonewalled Judicial Watch in court for almost a year to make sure the negative impact of the president’s proposed amnesty program would remain a well-kept secret from the American people.  Bush administration officials withheld information from the American people they knew would be embarrassing.

Well, now the truth is out. 

Tom Fitton is president of Judicial Watch, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational foundation that fights government corruption and judicial abuse.  For a copy of Judicial Watch’s “Border Patrol Survey Analysis,” log on to www.judicialwatch.org.