Perhaps, but they're going to have to try much harder and they're going to have to actually believe it rather than just paying lip service. On Friday New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson declared a "border emergency" in four NM counties, promising a total of $1.75 million to be used for building a small fence, opening a DHS office, more officers, and the like:

The declaration says the region "has been devastated by the ravages and terror of human smuggling, drug smuggling, kidnapping, murder, destruction of property and the death of livestock... [It] is in an extreme state of disrepair and is inadequately funded or safeguarded to protect the lives and property of New Mexican citizens."

...Richardson... criticized the "total inaction and lack of resources from the federal government and Congress" in helping protect his state's residents along the border...

There's a (mainstream) liberal case to be made against illegal immigration, but it involves quite a bit more than just building a fence around a cattle yard.

And, Richardson's past actions have supported illegal immigration. Here's a quote from 1996:

"These are changing political times where our basic and programs are being attacked. Illegal and legal immigration unfairly attacked. We have to band together and that means Latinos in Florida, Cuban-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans, South Americans - we have to network better - we have to be more politically minded - we have to put aside party and think of ourselves as Latinos, as Hispanics, more than we have in the past."

John Fund's "Run for the Border" has more, including this:

But Mr. Richardson sang a different tune in late 2003, when he showed up at a rally for the "Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride" and told them, "¡Viva la raza! . . . Thank you for coming to Santa Fe. Know that New Mexico is your home. We will protect you. You have rights here."

That also points out that Richardson has asked Chris Simcox of the Minuteman Project for a meeting. And, as could be expected, the Mexican government criticized Richardson's declaration.

If the Democrats want to get serious about this, perhaps they should choose someone other than Richardson to do it. And, perhaps they should consider all the reasons why control of illegal immigration doesn't have to be just a conservative issue.

8/16/05 UPDATE: Rush Limbaugh thinks it's just for show. The AP offers no real news in "Richardson defends border emergency declaration" but does show how they might attempt to spin this. The WashTimes offers "Border-control Democrats and President Bush": "The moves are mostly symbolic... But as political theater, they are significant...". There's a roundup of reactions inside Mexico here. And, from the me-too file comes "[AZ Gov. Janet] Napolitano Declares Emergency, OKs Funding for Border".

8/18/05 UPDATE: If his past statements and actions didn't make it clear enough that Bill Richardson supports illegal immigration, this statement from today's NewsHour will:

"...In fact my state, New Mexico, is the most immigrant friendly state. We have licenses for undocumented workers. We have scholarships for them to go to our university because we want to integrate them; we don't want them out driving without insurance..."

The other person on the panel was Carlos de Icaza, Mexico's ambassador to the U.S. I'm sure he was happy to hear that NM is an "immigrant"-friendly state and that the Democrats are just as bad as the Republicans on this issue. If you read the rest of the transcript you'll see that interviewer Jeffrey Brown basically just sat there rather than asking either person even slightly tough questions. If you'd like to suggest that the NewsHour does a better job next time, use this form to send them a message.

8/19/05 UPDATE: Mark Krikorian paints a bleak picture in "Liberal Two-Step: Dems pay lip service only on border control."