3 Excellent Reasons to Build the Wall

Controlling the USA/Mexico border and how people can legally enter the U.S. from Mexico has been discussed since the Nixon administration.

Select History of U.S./Mexico Border Legislation

1969 – President Nixon launched Operation Intercept, calling for the inspection of any or all persons crossing the border by plane, car, or foot. The dispatching of thousands of agents worked. For the first time in history, illegal immigration via car was virtually shut down. Mexico's Foreign Affairs Secretary, Antonio Carillo Flores, complained bitterly about this legislation.

1980′s – Intermittently, border officials question people crossing the border by foot and cars. Heading south to enjoy the Mexican beaches with only a driver's license was a luxury that millions of U.S. citizens enjoyed.

1993 –  President Bill Clinton called for constructing a "Border Wall" spanning 13 miles separating San Diego, CA and Tijuana, MX. At $39M, this wall was to reduce the number of arrests for illegal entry from 100,000 to 5,000 per day for those 13 miles. Unlawful entry was found using other paths.

1996 – President Clinton signed The Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act. This act increased the fines for illegal entry, increased the number of law enforcement agents at the border, and funded more fence construction. Unauthorized access shifted from the previously used crossings to private land. Landowners began to fence their property to keep people from entering the U.S. via their land. 

2006 – President Bush signed The Secure Fences Act. This legislation promised 700 miles of a physical barrier and a virtual wall protecting the entire 2000-mile border.

2007 – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requests $12B in additional funding because the rugged terrain at the U.S./Mexico border makes constructing the previously agreed upon barrier, a fence or wall, impossible. 

2008 – The U.S. announced a mistake during construction, placing the barricade between 1 and 6 feet inside Mexican territory; therefore, we must relocate this part of the barrier immediately. Attempting to complete the barrier project within the year, Congress approved The Department of Homeland Security's circumvention of 30 years of environmental laws.

2010 – The New York Times reports: since 2006, officials found 51 unauthorized tunnels running under the border walls in Nogales, AZ, and Nogales, Sonora, MX. These tunnels served as a tool for the trafficking of drugs, not illegal entry.

2011 – DHS finishes 649 miles of barrier comprised of 350 miles of fencing to prohibit foot traffic ($6.5 million/mile) and 299 miles of vehicle barriers ($1.7M/mile). However, the $1B spent on a "virtual wall" only protects 53 miles of coverage in Arizona. DHS urged President Obama to cut the funding for the costly "virtual wall." 

2017 – President Donald Trump renews his campaign promise to build "a great, great wall" to secure the remaining 2,000 miles of the border. Executive orders increase the number of border patrol agents and Immigration & Customs Enforcement by 5,000 and 10,000, respectively.

Current Status and Effectiveness of The Wall

First and foremost, a barrier, slightly longer than 600 miles, exists between the U.S. and Mexico.

The current wall has been effective. The border wall/fence in San Diego has worked quite well. Before it was in place, in the early '90s, approximately 600K people attempted to enter the country illegally. After the barrier was constructed along with increased Border Patrols, that number decreased by 93.5% to 39,000 in 2015.

Also, in 2006, more than 122K people entered illegally in El Paso. In 2017, illegal crossings near El Paso dropped almost 75% to 25K after constructing a border wall.

Unfortunately, the current border is not entirely secure; what we have in place does not stop caravans of people from finding their way across our border illegally.

Walls Exist Throughout The World

Since World War II, 70 nations constructed border walls. Interestingly, 55 of those 70 walls were built after the Berlin Wall fell.

Some examples are:

1. India-Bangladesh;
2. Israel West Bank;
3. Northern Ireland;
4. Finland-Russia;
5. France at Calais;
6. Morocco-Western Sahara;
7. Saudi Arabia-Iraq;
8. Baghdad to separate Shiite and Sunni populations;
9. Botswana-Zimbabwe;
10. South Africa-Mozambique; and,
11. Egypt-Gaza.

Three Excellent Reasons To Build The Wall

1. The border wall will save lives by creating a deterrent and minimizing the "pull factor." A minor or a family will be less likely to make the dangerous journey (many die on this journey, and somewhere near 80% of the women are raped along the way) from Central America to the U.S. border only to face a 30' barrier or Border Patrol. Additionally, when legitimate asylum seekers cross the border illegally, they are subject to arrest. The wall would "guide" them to seek entry through the established ports of entry and prevent them from being arrested and separated from their families.


2. Although a wall is not a perfect solution to block illegal entry, a physical barrier would slow illegal crossings down. Additionally, there are almost 21 million acres of federally protected land along the southern border. Smugglers and traffickers drive all-terrain motor vehicles across this federally protected land, causing substantial damage to the environment.


3. The wall would protect the property of legal U.S. citizens. Two Mexican border cities are among the most dangerous cities in the world, and the cartel members often cross over illegally to pillage the neighboring U.S. cities. They intend to steal what they want and take the items and vehicles back to Mexico.

Construction Cost Is NOT Problematic

According to the opponents, the cost to build "Trump's Wall" is estimated at $77,000M ($77B) to construct and $750M annually to maintain the wall. The opponents agree that the annual cost of illegal aliens is $43,000M ($43B)

Using these costs, the construction of the wall would increase the costs spent on illegals by $34,000M ($34B). However, once the wall is completed, the federal savings would be approximately $33,500M ($33.5B). 

Undoubtedly, the overall cost of the wall is substantially less than the amount spent on illegals.

So how about it? Let's build the wall! It is best for all.

The Migrant Caravan: A Threat to The Citizens of The United States of America

President Trump's Assessment Was Accurate

Many of you think Trump is out of his mind and that we should welcome all illegal immigrants into our country. However, a nation without borders is... yeah when we cannot get past this truth, I stop listening to the anti-Trump dialogue. I have tried to engage in discussions with those with different views. The anti-Trump folks are often so loud and raucous that even when I do not want to listen, I am occasionally forced to hear their statements.

However, all U.S. citizens must understand that the Center for Immigration Studies shows that 21% of those convicted of crimes other than immigration between 2011 and 2016 were non-citizens. Non-citizens make up 8% of the U.S. adult population. Illegals are disproportionately represented in the penal system at 21% or 2.5 times more than their contribution to the population.

It is interesting to me that many folks within the anti-Trump group claim to be tolerant. However, it seems that the only differing views tolerated are those with the same or similar foundation and come from other anti-Trump people. It is ignorant for one to remain steadfast in their belief that every word that comes out of Trump's mouth is a lie. It seems ridiculous to immediately disregard any idea presented by President Trump merely because the idea came out of his mouth. This opposition based on pure emotion and not fact must seem like a logical plan for those who have lost the ability to engage with others using facts. Even more disgusting is the behavior of Democrats elected to the federal government.

However, I believe that Trump was accurate when he said there is a criminal element in the caravans allegedly heading for our southern border.

I believe the President was accurate when he mentioned the criminal element within the caravan, as does at least one person traveling with that caravan. Even the CBC media outlet also agrees. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - neither a right-wing nor a typical left-leaning U.S. media outlet - is Canadian. Yes, from Canada, that same country that the Democrats were so supportive of when Trump spoke directly and candidly to Justin Trudeau in the fall of 2018.

Alcides Padilla, a citizen of Honduras, awakens after sleeping among thousands of other migrants making their way to the U.S. Border. Mexican authorities set up a shelter within Mexico City's Jesus Martinez stadium. (Rodrigo Abd/Associated Press)

The Migrant Caravan Is Not Just Women And Children

There are more than 4,000 people registered with the caravan. Most have refused the work visas and such offered by the Mexican government. Incredibly, they still dare to demand that the Mexican people/government provide them with transportation to the U.S. border.

Does this even make sense to you? Unless one is ridiculous, most would agree that demanding something from a country you are passing through is a pretty gutsy move. Perhaps even what some would classify as self-entitled.

Invaders Enter A Country Without Considering The Laws of The Land

The liberal left somehow finds a way to dismiss and laugh at the label of "invader" rather than "illegal immigrant." If you consider yourself a member of the liberal left, let me briefly explore this notion from an opposing view to yours; remember, you are the tolerant one, and you welcome differing opinions.

Suppose a group of people cross into a foreign, new country and do not work diligently to assimilate and live as the current citizens of that new country. In that case, they will weaken the new country's traditions and culture. If the same folks require medical treatment, they will cause a longer delay in emergency rooms, undermine the current citizens' access to medical treatment, and weaken the overall health of the individuals affected. Also, if the illegals are school-aged, they will take a seat in the public school system and do it by surprise, which will overcrowd schools, exacerbate language barriers, increase the already incredibly high number of responsibilities given to classroom teachers, and weaken the educational system.

Do you not think that an attacking entity would be wise to weaken a nation's culture, decrease individual access to health care, and overburden the educational system? 

These specific attacks help divide a nation's unified strength into smaller factions and make it easier to overtake. I will pretend that everyone agrees. Yes, that would be a wise and brilliant way to attack without the attention of typical warring behavior.

Is it not accurate to call those people invaders, if that is correct? Again, yes is the rational answer.

The Problem With The Term Illegal Immigrant

Let's talk about the term illegal immigrant - I meant oxymoron. Immigrants enter a country legally, correct? How can one be an "illegal person that entered a country legally?" Yep, that is not possible.

Save me your emotional responses that point to the settlers of our country because if you go there, I will have to fill you in on this fact: Indigenous people called those settlers INVADERS and waged war against them. They lost, and the settlers won and developed the country, turning it into the place you call home.

Unless you are suffering from Catholic Guilt or something similar, why would you point to the conflicts between the indigenous people of North America and Western European settlers as a reason for opening the borders?

Do you want to be overrun and forced into a culture and set of beliefs that are not the ones we have been working on for centuries?

Do you believe Western European settlers from centuries ago are similar to those entering our country illegally today? Why suffer the tragic fate of being conquered without putting up some formidable resistance? Especially at the border, where this resistance is most appropriate.

What Is Your Solution?

So what should the plan be? Do you still believe we should let anyone enter our country without penalty for not abiding by our nation's laws?

I welcome fact-based replies, not extraordinarily weak ones. I would appreciate any plans that include a plausible solution to the immigration problem we are enduring. Additionally, suggestions might stop those who continue to violate the federal laws of the U.S. from gaining illegal entry into our country. Even the most pie-in-the-sky suggestions would be interesting to read and ponder.

Even though I support the plan to increase security along the southwestern border, I want to expose and present alternative strategies that may be more effective.

The best idea is one that has yet to be implemented and tried. Nothing will change if we do not have fact-based conversations about the current policies and procedures about illegal immigration.