Some folks criticize our elected officials in Washington for being a “do-nothing” Congress.  And, with a 9% approval rating, who can love ‘em?  But I’m more afraid of my rights (and my pocketbook) when Congress acts than when it doesn’t.

Well, it appears that, at least once in a while, the “do-thing” Congress does something in spite of itself:

Washington - Some 1.3 million illegal immigrants have left the United States since Congress failed to pass comprehensive immigration reform in the summer of 2007. If the trend continues, according to a new study, the nation’s illegal population will drop by half in the next five years.

I’ll believe the scenario described in the second sentence when I see it.  But, still, there’s more good news.  Even the so-called “token” efforts at enforcement by DHS (and I happen to be one of the few people who think Michael Chertoff is doing his best under very difficult conditions - conservatives claiming he’s in bed with Mexico and liberal advocacy groups screaming he is tearing mammas away from their babies) seem to be having some effect:

Moreover, reports the Center for Immigration Studies, young Hispanic immigrants began heading south before the nation’s economy did – a clue that what’s driving the new outmigration is a stepped-up border and workplace enforcement, not a souring US job market.

It should be noted that the group releasing the study is staunchly anti-illegal immigration, and others cited question the reasons for these numbers (the economic downturn is suspected by many).  But there does not appear to be any dispute that fewer illegals are here now than last year. 

The story repeats what has long been believed: There was a surge of illegals into the country when Congress was considering a “path to citizenship.”  When folks like us helped defeat the amnesty bill, the “undocumented workers” started to go home.

And despite the snide criticism of Chertoff and DHS, the numbers are there:

When the Senate fell short on its last vote on comprehensive immigration reform in June 2007, the takeaway message for politicians on both sides of the issue was this: Secure the borders first. Since then, the Department of Homeland Security has beefed up security along the southern border and reported a spike in the deportation of illegal immigrants – 285,000 in fiscal 2007 – and nearly 100 employers of illegal workers facing jail sentences and very substantial fines, also a record.

Record enforcement numbers.  Interesting.  Who says illegals can’t be deported?

Moreover, Chertoff claims that, by the end of the year, the Border Patrol will be twice the size it was when President Bush took office.  This blog will attest to the fact that I am no fan of “Jorge” Bush (as some call him) when it comes to his immigration performance, but I am not one to ignore facts shoved in my face.

In fact, Chertoff says it’s getting better on numerous fronts:

“We’ve seen a turn of the tide in terms of illegal immigration,” he told the House Homeland Security Committee, citing a “substantial” decline in apprehension of illegal immigrants crossing the border and reports that remittances through Mexico and other countries in Central America from the US are declining.

The story notes that even immigration advocates have observed more people leaving and fewer coming.

So perhaps, like a broken clock, even Congress critters can get it right once in a while.  And to think:  All they have to do is to do nothing.