Illustration by Josh Hagler

Unlike every other economically developing country around the world, Mexico is fortunate enough to share a border with the United States. Yes I know, we stole the land from Mexico (had to throw that in to appease the "I hate America" crowd). Regardless, hundreds of Mexicans cross over our borders illegally every day. While some come for work, many come to sell drugs, take advantage of free health care and end up in prison.

Is that a racist thing to say? By today's politically correct standards, maybe. But it's also true. We need to get serious about the border before the situation gets worse.

As many as 10 million undocumented immigrants from Mexico call America home, double the amount of a decade ago. Illegal immigrants make up a quarter of the prison population in California. And last year alone, illegal immigration cost Arizona more than three times its budget deficit.

The blame for these circumstances lies at the feet of both Republicans and Democrats. Let's start with the GOP.

Too few elected Republicans on both a state and national level refuse to address the issue. Some have spoken up in regard to putting the military on the border, but still too many of our own legislators and congressmen have refused to do anything about it for far too long.

Border control is hardly about race at all but rather about protecting American interests. However, Democrats have done a fine job of labeling the GOP as a bunch of racists for so long that most elected Republicans are afraid to bring up anything race-related. Worse still, their inactions come at the expense of working, tax-paying Americans who rightfully expect the government to prevent this nonsense from befalling our country.

Beyond the race factor, American businesses are taking full advantage of the illegal immigration problem. By getting away with paying illegal immigrants very low wages - most of which are spent back in Mexico - corporations and small businesses alike not only exploit illegals, but drive down wages for other Americans looking for work. And by paying illegals "off the books," they not only keep illegals from paying taxes but are able to avoid minimum wage laws and pay them less than what Americans would make doing the same work.

The notion that illegals take the jobs that no one else wants is ridiculous. There are always people, American-born and legal immigrants alike, who are willing to do the more menial tasks as long as the jobs are out there. After all, someone did the work before illegal immigration became such a widespread problem.

Republicans need to help put a stop to this, even if it means getting on the bad side of some of these businesses.

Despite a largely different set of purposes, Democrats have their reasons for ignoring the border situation as well, largely in hopes that illegals will pay taxes and obtain voting rights in this country. Which party do you think they vote for?

Like some on the other side, too many Democrats are putting politics ahead of the interests of Americans. Providing illegal immigrants with free health care services combined with keeping illegal drug offenders in prison costs Arizona nearly $3 billion a year. It's also important to keep in mind that federal tax dollars come into play here as well, so all Americans, not just Arizonans and our Southwestern neighbors, are getting hosed.

In turn, Democrats conveniently use these issues to advocate tax hikes. Even with the recent economic downturn, our state would still be turning out budget surpluses if not for the funding illegal immigration it receives. Instead, there is talk of raising state taxes and our own UA tuition.

All of this would be unnecessary if the federally regulated border patrol was well-equipped enough to do its job. Instead, they're continuously out-manned 100-to-1. Either not enough people seem to care, or our elected officials are simply not making us aware of the dire straits of the situation.

Enough is enough. Congress needs to address the issue immediately. Our state legislators need to prove that they're serious about attacking the problem and call for the National Guard along our borders. Illegals who commit crimes need to be sent back to their own country, rather than be detained here. Businesses that take advantage of the situation need to be sought out and dealt with appropriately.

In other words, it's time for the nonsense to stop.