A Wall Can Contribute to Border Security
A border wall by itself cannot stop illegal immigration. But in conjunction with other enforcement strategies, it can do much to stem the flow coming across the border. An example is what happened in the San Diego Sector of the border after effective fencing went up. During the early and mid-nineties, that sector was the major gateway for illegals entering from Mexico. Masses of them swarmed across the border, overwhelming the thinly-stretched Border Patrol.
But erection of the fencing and the addition of more Border Patrol agents stopped these mass entry tactics in short order. The major flow of illegal aliens went elsewhere where the obstacles were fewer. In San Diego County, said Congressman Duncan Hunter, “border fencing remains a crucial part of our effort to prevent and deter illegal immigrants and drug smugglers from entering the local community. . . . [Its] level of success illustrates that border fencing works.”
Walls and fencing may not be appropriate along some stretches of the border, but in many places they can offer a very useful first line of defense against illegal entry.
Sign up for the OV Daily Newsletter
OV Social
The area where the wall has been built has sharply reduced the flow of illegal and unskilled people from entering our country thus reducing the huge and costly strain to our healthcare system especially! We need to finish the job and continue to beef up our border patrol. I am a progressive on most issues but not concerning immigration issues! I think that our government needs to put to an end the ridiculous law that allows illegal pregnant women who give birth in the U.S.-the child has automatic citizenship rights and the benefits to go with them. We are a sovereign nation with legitimate borders and laws that need to enforced. I would like to see our government increase economic investment in Mexico and Central America thereby reducing the need for poor people with little education and job skills from coming here! We have 15 million people out of work and our hospitals in border states have been suffering far too long in having to treat these people free of charge-thereby passing the costs to us! Say what you want about the Berlin Wall-it was a great success and put a stop to people from fleeing from East Germany and East Berlin to the west. I am so glad it is no longer around and was a sad chapter in German history! We share a 750 mile common border with Mexico not several thousand miles as has been mentioned. It can work-ask law enforcement people stationed in and around San Diego where the wall is completed. It works! If we could only do something about the consequeces of illegal immigration-the large number of hispanic gangs in Southern California and elsewhere!
The wall was never meant to cover the entire distance, and where the wall was built certain property owners were able to get exceptions. Where there are gaps they will still come. And if they don't come who will pick the vegetables?
You might be right that the wall was never meant to cover the entire distance, but technology being what it is, could be a strong viable alternative to the wall. I'm alluding to heat sensors and other high tech means of detecting illegals coming across the border plus a beefed up border patrol. Modern machinery will continue to demonstrate the need for less and less pickers which will keep costs down and be more efficient. I don't buy into those who say that American don't want to work in agricultural fields-if the wages are fair and they have benefits like health insurance , Americans will work the fields! We have over 15 million people out of work. I see no reason why government in concert with unions and business can't come up with a plan to encourage the hiring of Americans-if people are paid a fair wage-they will work!
In the past, areas that cracked down on illegals, growers had trouble getting workers . With the bad economy that may have changed, but I doubt it.
Some places in the U.S. if you want food stamps.You must word for them.
With so many people out of work and looking at the government for help.Have them pick the vegetables for help.Put the people to work!
Had a hard time trying to make sense what you said and what your point was? Food stamps, if you are eligible, don't come close to feeding a family every month. We have made cutbacks over the years due to our un-
wise priorities like the war in Iraq and the waste we spend on our Defense budget over the years. The wealthy continue to get wealthier while the rest of us continue to suffer due to the Republican policies!
We need to get our people back to work, raise taxes on the wealthy to get our budget under control and cut back on the defense dept-to name just a few things we should do!
We all have cut backs.I have lost over 1/2 of my income .I am talking about getting people back to work.Times change If people are out of work and looking for government help.Give them work there are a lot of things the government can do to get people back to work.Like cleaning parks,painting intercity homes,helping the aging and so on.
There are know free rides every one how can work should work.
Raising taxes on the wealthy will put more people out of work!If the wealthy dont have money to spend.That will put more people out of work.
Yes we do need to get the budget under control but you know that wont happen with the two party system.We need to change the way washington works Vote Libertarian
You just made a case that government has a role to play to get people back to work! Libertarians, in no way advocate such a thing! They think we are wasting money by getting people back to work despite the fact these people would then be paying taxes and contributing to society ! I believe there are no free rides and if there is work available, people should find a job. When I say raise taxes on the wealthy, I'm saying that those people who benefitted greatly from Bush
tax cuts several years ago, which helped to balloon the deficit, they should be able to help in reducing the deficit that Obama inherited. The very rich did very well under Bush but for the rest of us-not as fortunate! We can get back on track-remember when Clinton raised taxes
on the wealthy in 1993? After that, we had 7 years of economic prosperity and balanced budgets! We even cut the national debt in half!
Its hard to believe now after 8 years of Bush and misguided economic policies he forced on us! I'm afraid the Libertarians just like the
Green Party on the left, will never have any clout or representation in CCongress! I do admire your convictions!
If one gets government help they should work for the help if they are able.
It is an absolute fallacy that what worked for San Diego works for the USA. The wall in San Diego worked only because the rest of the border is easy enough to pass, so the only good solution for the USA would be a solid wall from one ocean to the other.
Of course, as soon as that humongous wall was constructed, the construction of tunnels under it would start in such a massive scale that a million soldiers would have to seek and destroy them. The real effect would be that a large number of unorganized "coyotes" would become a small number of highly organized mafias with the capacity to run such specialized operations, underground, by sea and by air.
The real solution involves putting most of the people of the USA behind one solution. It involves admitting that those already inside have to be accepted in some degree, making people want to take the legal stance toward immigrants. If the war continues to be between the border patrol and a few zealots against the rest of the United States, it will never end.
When I first heard this idea a few years back, I thought it was a joke. To this day I laugh when I hear the idea. A WALL? 700 miles? How long is that southern border, three and a half thousand or so? What is stopping them from going around? going over? going under? Advocates of this do not understand one thing: these people have NOTHING. They are carrying basically their entire lives with them. They want in, they will GET in.
Stop the incentive, stop the migration. This would have to entail a way of utilizing the influx of cheap labor, or some massive economic fix. It is much more difficult obviously, but the only solution. This is a waste of money, time, effort, public forum, and an exercise in stupidity.