I don’t know about you, but I’m old enough to remember Tex Beneke (played saxophone for the Glenn Miller Band) singing a charming little ditty called "The Little Man That Wasn’t There." It went something like this:

I was thinking about that the other day when I heard supporter after supporter of the proposed Senate bill S. 1348 on "comprehensive immigration reform" trumpet the safeguards of the bill. Safeguards spelled out in what would happen to current illegal immigrants and future guest workers if they violated the requirements of the bill. That is, if and when it becomes law.

Now if you’ll forgive my language, we used to call that pissing in the wind when I was a boy, meaning that if anyone thinks that the Feds can actually enforce such a law, then he or she’s unrealistic, impractical, a day dreamer.

Here’s why.

To deal with an illegal immigrant who violates this — or any other law, for that matter — you first have to (1) identify him or her and (2) determine his or her whereabouts. Where illegal immigrants and guest workers are concerned, both are virtually impossible.

So let’s say an illegal immigrant decides not to register under S.1348 for whatever reason. What can the Feds do about it? Nothing.

Or suppose a guest worker refuses to return home for the specified period of time required. What can the Feds do about that? Absolutely nothing.

Or suppose an illegal immigrant refuses to become proficient in English. What can the Feds do about that? Again, absolutely nothing.

OK Tex, may I hear one more refrain?

Sure:

Think about it.