Border War's Lessons . . . and Limits

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Byline: Bruce Fein, SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The volleys of debate over immigration legislation have obscured a more important truth. No matter the law's stipulations, facts on the ground will remain largely undisturbed: millions of illegal aliens industriously working as firefighters, construction workers, agricultural laborers or otherwise coupled with a modest number of criminals or sponges.

Laws limp when they command no moral consensus. Witnesses will not volunteer evidence. Prosecutorial or judicial discretion will be exercised in favor of leniency. Thus, the nation's ambivalence over whether illegal aliens are more to be admired than to be decried will forever cripple enforcement of immigration restrictions.

About three decades ago, I served at the Justice …