Every poll I've examined shows that, while some Americans might support some system of allowing illegal immigrants to earn their way into the country, a huge majority of Americans are adamant that current laws, at the very least, be enforced. Warren's critics will find themselves with few Americans, Democrat or Republican, who oppose his program.
Sheriff Warren is not alone in dealing with the illegal immigration crisis. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, jailers throughout the nation have identified some 20,000 illegal immigrants using cooperative agreements with federal enforcement officials. How many actually initiated deportation procedures is unknown. Regardless, that number is just a drop in the bucket.
The fact is that most sheriffs and police departments in America have not gone to the trouble of obtaining federal training, much less have they taken the additional step of initiating deportation proceedings against those who are illegally in the country -- which in and of itself is breaking the law -- and then violate the law while illegally here.
One reason we don't see a nationwide run on such tight enforcement is, big shock, Washington hasn't provided enough funding to educate every local law enforcement agency, nor has money been appropriated to handle the deluge of deportations that would occur should every sheriff or police chief decide to follow the lead of Warren and others who have implemented such aggressive programs.
Perhaps if Congress wanted to get back into the good graces of the American people with respect to this entire immigration issue, it could start by embracing the efforts of those like Sheriff Warren and join with the Bush administration in at least funding this effort to send "illegal illegals" back home. I know if I were running for re-election to the Senate or for president, I'd want my picture taken with Sheriff Neil Warren of Georgia. At least he's doing something about an issue that Americans want addressed.