The cost and size of the border surge, and why it's dumb.

A few days ago, the CBO issued a report showing that the current Senate comprehensive immigration reform would save the US $197B over a decade, and $700B over two decades.  Of course, you can count on Republicans to screw the pooch.

Now they've decided to add onto the comprehensive immigration bill an estimated $30B to $50B for extra border protection, doubling the size of the border patrol to around 41,000 agents -- that's larger than the FBI.  That's on top of the $18B already being spent on all immigration-related activities.  According to Senator Lindsey Graham, it'd be enough for one agent every 1000 feet, 24 hours a day.

DHS Report, Sept 2012

So, Republicans are considering doubling an agency -- border patrol -- and spending an additional tens of billions of dollars for what amounts to a shrinking population crossing the border.  Maybe that makes sense in Washington DC, but from where I'm sitting, it looks dumb.

On top of that, if bringing in more aliens into legal citizenship means increased GDP and lower deficits, why spend $50B to try and thoroughly block others from coming into the US?  Essentially, the surge of naturalized aliens would help compensate for the Social Security and Medicare shortfalls of the baby-boomer retirement.

Instead, Republicans are arguing for more spending and lower tax revenue.  Hey wait...same old, same old!