Without taking anything away from the findings posted earlier today, which are excellent, it must be said that Republicans in Congress share the blame for the immigration mess on our southern border.
The Golden Rule of Politics is that the people with gold make the rules. Historically, the Republican donor base - wealthy entrepreneurs - have been supportive of immigration as it keeps wages low and provides extra consumers to buy their wares and services.
Unsurprisingly, the GOP in Congress has been influenced by these donors. Republican candidates who have to rely on donors for campaign funding have tended to echo their pro-immigration views, if not in speech, in their evident disinterest in fixing illegal immigration.
Wealthy President Trump is not reliant on others' funding. He understands the potency of the illegal immigration issue to the Republican grassroots, whose interests conflict with those of the donor class. It is one of the reasons the Republican establishment isn't altogether fond of Trump or supportive of his efforts.
Former Speaker Ryan, poster boy for GOP immigration enforcement foot-dragging, sadly had lots of company on his side of the aisle. Newly elected Sen. Romney (R-UT) will be a GOP leader in resisting effective border control, as he was formerly a member of that open-borders donor class.
Afterthought: As bad as feckless Obama was, his lame-duck second term probably did less damage to U.S. interests than a Romney presidency could have. And I endorsed Romney, alas. Hindsight is often 20-20.
