We've been writing how xenophobic the GOP is for a very long time, but it's nice when the Republican Speaker of the House, John Boehner recognizes it as well.
As Digby says: "I don't think even hardcore lefties use language this evocative to describe the xenophobes:"
As 2014 began, the president and his aides were hopeful that Republicans in the House might pass an immigration bill that Mr. Obama could support. The president was in regular touch with Mr. Boehner and his top lieutenants, who told him they recognized the need to increase border security, improve the legal immigration system and find a way to deal with the 11 million undocumented people living in the United States.
Each time Mr. Boehner arrived at the White House for an event, the president would pull him aside and ask about immigration, according to White House and Republican aides. Mr. Boehner urged patience, saying there was a “narrow path” to get something done, despite opposition in his party from what Republican aides call the “boxcars crowd,” a reference to conservative members who favor deportation for most of the 11 million.
Conservatives like Laura 'Cersie' Ingraham have made their feelings well known on which side of the immigration debate, they fall on, but it's illuminating when Boehner describes them as the "boxcars crowd." It's very descriptive, wouldn't you say?
The only thing I can think of that would placate these very angry Tea Party xenophobes is a plan that was implemented back in 1954, called 'Operation Wetback."
Operation Wetback was a system of tactical control and cooperation within the U.S. Border Patrol and alongside the Mexican government.[30] Planning between the INS led by Gen. Joseph Swing and the Mexican government began in early 1954 while the program was formally announced in May 1954.[31] On May 17th, 1954 command teams of 12 Border Patrol agents, buses, planes, and temporary processing stations began locating, processing, and deporting Mexicans that had illegally entered the United States.
750 immigration and border patrol officers and investigators, 300 jeeps, cars and buses, and 7 airplanes were allocated for the operation.[32] Teams were focused on quick processing and deportation, as planes were able to coordinate ground efforts more quickly and increase mobility. [33] Those deported were handed off to Mexican officials, who in turn deported them into central Mexico where there were many labor opportunities.[34] While the operation would include the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago, its main targets were border areas in Texas and California. [35] Overall, there were 1,078,168 apprehensions made in the first year of Operation Wetback, with 170,000 being captured from May to July 1954.[36]
Of course today's plan would be much more expansive, including the implementation of building a Great Wall of China around our entire southern border. And they would give it a very jovial name like "Saving the Children of Illegal Immigrants Act."
