LUCKILY IT'S THE SMALL GOVERNMENT TYPES WHO OPPOSE IMMIGRATION:

Immigration Drowning In Paper (KEITH EPSTEIN, Jun 17, 2006, The Tampa Tribune)

They are called the Alien Files - or simply, the "A-Files."

There are 55 million of them, each up to hundreds of pages thick, stashed in a government warehouse in Missouri.

Though they detail no science-fiction secrets of UFO landings or beings from distant planets, they can prove an irritating mystery to those who need them most - immigration officers deciding who can stay in the United States.

The "aliens" are people from other countries seeking work permits, residency or citizenship. The records contain their applications, photos and fingerprints.

Each time an immigration officer weighs an outsider's destiny, the file must be found and shipped back and forth between 89 field offices and the warehouse.

There is so much paper, such an outmoded tracking system and so many newcomers waiting for word that just keeping up has proved impossible for immigration authorities, years of government reports show - a troubling sign as Washington weighs legitimizing millions of illegal immigrants.

Import enough Indians and spend enough money and you can reduce the backlog.

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 17, 2006 10:10 AM