The apprehension of a Nepalese man who tried to cross our southern border illegally last November near McAllen, Texas, makes the very unsettling point that border security could be a life-and-death matter for our citizens.

The man in question was found to be infected with a particularly deadly strain of tuberculosis known as XDR, which can be almost untreatable.

This strain had been seen only once before in this country prior to last November.

It is gratifying that the Nepalese man was apprehended and placed in quarantine, but the great unknown is how many more similarly infected individuals may have slipped across the border undetected.

Border security is certainly better now than it was a few years ago, but the real question should be: Is it good enough?

The fact our border is still more porous than it should be is certainly not lost on the likes of al-Qaida. Are terrorist sleeper cells here already that used this entry point?

For the health and safety of our citizens, border security must be an integral part of needed immigration reform.

— Daily News,

Bowling Green, Ky., March 10


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