PHOENIX, AZ (April 20, 2005) - Apparently the U.S. Border Patrol believes that national TV and radio stars don't have to play by the same rules as others.

Mr. Sean Hannity, a well-paid commentator for Fox News, climbed over a barbed wire fence separating the United States from Mexico yesterday at about 3:15 p.m. A few minutes later he climbed back over the fence, breaking federal law by reentering the U.S. illegally.

Mr. Hannity's border violations were videotaped by ACLU Legal Observers. The Border Patrol was contacted, but they chose not to arrest or cite Mr. Hannity for his willful violation of federal law. Likewise, Minutemen in the vicinity of the incident did not take the opportunity to turn Mr. Hannity over to federal officials, as they have allegedly done with all other illegal immigrants apprehended on the border this month.

Federal law, specifically 19 U.S.C. Section 1459(a), requires all "individuals arriving in the United States other than by vessel, vehicle, or aircraft [to] enter the United States only at a border crossing point designated by the Secretary; and immediately report the arrivals and present themselves, and all articles accompanying them for inspection; to the customs officer at the customs facility designated for that crossing point."

According to 19 U.S.C. Section 1459(e), anyone who intentionally enters the United States at a place other than a designated border crossing can be imprisoned for up to one year and fined up to $5,000. Mr. Hannity faces neither of these penalties. Individuals apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol do.

This is the very same crime that Minutemen have traveled across the country to Arizona to stop. While some may argue that Mr. Hannity's actions were not significant, he committed the same crime that all individuals who enter the country illegally commit. In fact, ACLU observers were warned that they would be arrested if they accidentally or deliberately crossed the border and tried to reenter the U.S.

Why is U.S. Border Patrol demonstrating such an obvious double standard? If the Minutemen came to Arizona to watch the border for signs of illegal immigration, why did they fail to report Mr. Hannity?

There is only possible conclusion. The Minutemen and the Border Patrol have one set of rules for television celebrities, and another for hard-working people who cross the border in search of work.

BUSH: Yes, I’m aware of the issue, obviously. WHEN I FIRST READ ABOUT THAT IN THE NEWSPAPER, about the need to have passports, particularly today’s crossings that take place — about a million, for example, in the state of Texas — I said, WHAT'S GOING ON, HERE? I thought there was a better way to do — to expedite legal flow of traffic and people. EVIDENTLY, THIS HAS BEEN MANDATED IN LAW. And so I’ve talked to Condi and the Homeland Security people about making — seeing if there’s some flexibility in the law that will allow for, for example, finger imaging to serve as the so-called passport for daily traffic…

TRANSLATION: My head hurts. Anyhow, I guess you can't expect the guy to check out EVERYthing he signs. Thank goodness he was reading "Family Circus" and stumbled across this story before disaster struck! But, wait, there's more.



SUBJECT: The working class. Nebraska, Feb. 4, 2005 at a Social Insecurity Town Hall Meeting.

QUESTION : Okay, I’m a divorced, single mother with three grown, adult children. I have one child, Robbie, who is mentally challenged, and I have two daughters.

BUSH: FANTASTIC! First of all, you've got the hardest job in America, being a single mom.

(More conversation, wherein questioner reveals she holds down THREE JOBS!)

BUSH: You work three jobs?

QUESTION: Three jobs, yes.

BUSH: Uniquely American, isn’t it? I mean, that is FANTASTIC that you’re doing that.

TRANSLATION: "Ain'tcha glad we didn't increase the minimum wage? Now, just don't try to go declarin' bankruptcy, Beeyoch."

SUBJECT: On being President. Editors' convention. April 14th, 2005

BUSH: I do find myself much happier than I’ve been in a long time in Washington. I’m enjoying myself. It’s been a fascinating experience to be the President of the country. It’s been a remarkable time in Washington.

TRANSLATION: "La-la-la-la. I can't hear all the noise outside my bubble."

How pathetic and low for the Democrats to even consider doing this...

Hannity was NEVER IN MEXICO, the fence was built 3-5 feet within the US border so when he stepped through the hole in the fence for his little demo, he never left the US. He wasn't there making fun of anything, simply documenting how easy it is to cross the border illegally.

It's not all that out of character for desperate Democrats to make completely false statements trying to implicate a Conservative who has done nothing wrong.

Mr. Sean Hannity, a well-paid commentator for Fox News, climbed over a barbed wire fence separating the United States from Mexico yesterday at about 3:15 p.m. A few minutes later he climbed back over the fence, breaking federal law by reentering the U.S. illegally.

Mr. Sean Hannity, a well-paid commentator for Fox News, climbed over a barbed wire fence separating the United States from Mexico yesterday at about 3:15 p.m. A few minutes later he climbed back over the fence, breaking federal law by reentering the U.S. illegally.