[Rant on]
they have no mandate to truly get the job done.
This is a crucial fact that I think many citizens have failed to get a grip on, although I think more and more are catching on. The Border Patrol is not
supposed to stop the flood of illegals. They are just window dressing to make gullible voters think that something is actually being done. (Not the policy of the agents -- this is way above their pay grade.)
Our 'government', BOTH PARTIES, has no desire to change the status quo, they like it just the way it is.
Because of self interest on both sides of the political spectrum, and large amounts of money, neither the Republicans nor the Democrats want the flow of illegals to stop.
Left to themselves, they would not even be talking about this. However, because something like 80% of the population is alarmed at the illegal immigration problem, they are making noises in Washington like they care.
However, the bills with any chance at all to get passed would change nothing, keeping the border open for continued illegal immigration.
The key here is 'illegal' immigration. By promoting illegal immigration, business can hire good workers without having to deal with minimum wage laws, health insurance, SS, FICA, etc. etc. etc. Business makes big bucks this way, and by "solving' the illegal immigration problem politicians would kill the goose that lays the golden egg.
Watch -- if any "Reform" bill comes out of congress, it will be structured in such a way as to make sure that the flood of illegal labor continues, not matter what it may do for 'amnesty' or other issues. After all, if you bring in the illegals and make them legal, they no longer are availble for illegal exploitation, right? So you must then bring in more people who will take their place in the illegal labor pool.
I see no way for this to be stopped -- too much money and power at stake. Our politicians will absolutely NOT pay any attention to the voters on this one, except to con us.
[Rant off]
BTW -- I don't blame the Latin/Mexican illegals for any of this. If I was stuck in poverty in those countries, I would also make my way to the U.S. as fast as I could.