Most people go home after work on Fridays. Not the U.S. Congress - it stays behind and slips legislation by at the last minute, hoping to get things pushed through before election season starts.

Last Friday night it was immigration reform. The proposed reform: a fence.

In the end, the measure to start construction on a 700-mile stretch of fence was passed 80-19 (with only Sen. Edward Kennedy abstaining).

This is a good first step. This is a problem at home that has gotten out of hand. This free flow of people illegally entering the country is a threat to our security and our resources.

Trust me, I've heard all the arguments in the book. "They do the work Americans won't do" is my favorite. Have you asked Americans? Do you know they won't do it? Have you given them the chance to do it?

Come on a journey with me, and let's take a look at the cost of illegal immigration.

In Arizona alone, illegal immigrants cost taxpayers $1 billion annually in school expenses, welfare, medical care and anchor babies.

Seventy-five percent of the drugs in the United States come from Mexico, while $80 billion is spent annually on the failed war on drugs. Illegal immigrants make up 30 percent of our prisoners, costing us $1.6 billion annually.

"Ryan, they do hard work and pay taxes they shouldn't have to, right?" Maybe, but $56 billion is sent back to Mexico every year by illegals enjoying free health and medical care.

Is your blood boiling yet? It should be, because this is a huge problem that would free up a lot of money being thrown down the drain, literally.

Speaking of where this money goes, throughout all the debate and discussion I've heard on this topic, I have not once heard anyone ask the big question: why do Mexicans have to risk their lives and the lives of their families to sneak into the United States for a better life? Anyone?

The answer from the left would be the "lack of resources" in Mexico, and how the United States has stripped it of its power by being the only superpower in the region. They would be wrong (again).

Mexico has a huge natural resource many don't think of: oil. Anyone remember the huge new oil fields Mexico found off its coasts? Probably not, because Vicente Fox doesn't want it to be known. No one has asked what the Mexican government is doing, nobody has asked what Mexico can be doing to help its impoverished people, and no one asks Mexico to help its citizens create a better life for themselves in their own country. If Mexico had a stable government that was doing its job, immigration would not be a problem.

But for now, a fence will have to do. I know it's not a permanent fix, but at least we're heading in the right direction. In addition to money for the fence, the bill includes $380 million to hire 1,500 more Border Patrol agents and money to build detention facilities to hold 6,700 more illegal immigrants before they are deported. All of this will only help the United States, and until Mexico starts to help itself, we are the only ones we can depend on.

Ryan Spencer is a senior in hotel and restaurant management. Please send comments to opinion@spub.ksu.edu.