Fencing the US - Mexican Border

U.S. May Expand Fences on Mexico Border

DOUGLAS, Ariz. - Much of this dusty city along the border is separated from Mexico by a fence consisting of 12-foot vertical metal bars, spaced inches apart to prevent illegal immigrants from squeezing through.

Surveillance cameras are mounted on towers nearby, and Border Patrol agents posted hundreds of feet away in the desert scrub and flowering ocotillo watch for anyone who might try to scale, cut through, slip under or sneak around the fence.

Though these fences are criticized for shifting would-be border-crossers to more dangerous and remote spots, they do make it harder for illegal immigrants to reach urban areas where they can slip into a car and head for the nation's interior to find work.

This needs to be done all along the border.

Private citizens are now taking it upon themselves to protect our borders in the absence of our Governments failure to do so.

Now, as Washington seeks to overhaul America's broken immigration policies, Congress is considering putting many more such barriers along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border, which already has 83 miles of fences.

A bill that cleared the House in December would put fences at immigrant- and drug-smuggling corridors in all four southern border states. At an estimated cost of $2.5 billion, the fences would cover 850 miles of border — roughly one-fifth the length of the Great Wall of China — though it would not be one continuous wall.

The gaps would be policed the way many remote areas of the border are already guarded now: with motion sensors, cameras, unmanned drone aircraft and Border Patrol agents.

Among other things, House legislation calls for a mostly continuous 392-mile fence from Calexico, Calif., to Douglas. The second-largest piece would be a largely uninterrupted 305-mile segment in the Texas brush country from Laredo to Brownsville, a corridor used by cocaine smugglers.

All I can say is about time.

It only took MILLIONS of illegals flooding our borders before they actually CONSIDER something like this.

Though in their defense, Congress will not do something controversial unless pressed by the public, and since public sentiment right now is we must enforce our borders, these Senators and Congressman better hope they are listening carefully. While Joe public puts up with much in our Government officials, when we are passionate about something and are ignored, we will vent our frustrations at the voting booth.

Immigrant rights groups say fences waste taxpayer money because would-be border-crossers who are desperate to earn a better living in America will always find a way around or through barriers, as evidenced by the lower sections of the fence in Douglas, where rods have had to be welded into place to patch up breaches.

Even some proponents say erecting fences, without using other border enforcement efforts, will not stop illegal immigrants.

"All by itself, it's not a magic solution," said Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which favors limiting immigration.

But the Border Patrol says fences slow down immigrants so authorities can have enough time to respond to those who try to come across. That, in turn, frees up other agents to focus on remote areas, where they already use aircraft and ground sensors.

"Fencing by itself is not effective, but not having a fence is not effective either," added Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.

That is correct.
The Fence is not a final solution, but it is a deterent, something to slow down the flow. What will be needed is further funding and manpower for border patrol agents.

The fence also will be able to free up agents to go directly to where sensors are set off, or unmanned drones see problems. It will also stop trucks and illegal alien transporters from coming across so easily.

I do not see this as a waste of money, and it is being called for by the American Citizens who pay the taxes for this to be built. We are stating where we want the money to be spent on in this. If it is a waste of money, it our money to waste.

Enforcement of the Immigration Laws to the fullest extent is needed. Quit coddling, quit pandering and enforce the laws.

Advocates for beefing up border security said a 14-mile fence near San Diego, once the country's most prolific smuggling center, shows that barriers work. The fence there is made of corrugated metal sheets previously used as landing surfaces for military aircraft. Behind it is a second fence, made of tightly woven mesh.

Within that area, the barrier is credited with dramatically reducing the flow of illegal immigrants.

Those that say the fence is a waste of money, obviously do not see this, since the San Diego fence seems to be working.

Regardless of whether it will work or not, something that is not tried will never work.

Sounding defeat or surrender, before anything is ever tried will not accomplish anything.

Rep. Duncan Hunter, a California Republican who is the leading voice in Congress for more fences, said the costs of building fences are much lower than the government expenses associated with illegal immigration, including huge sums spent on incarcerating immigrants convicted of crimes in the United States.

I find this interesting comparison that you do not see much of.

The cost of rounding up illegals, incarcerating them, and deportation hearings, transportation back to the border for deportation...ect, has more cost involved than it would be if we built a fence that kept them out.

What is easier, reinforcing and building a wall to support a Dam so we do not get flooded, or do we say it won't work anyways, allow the flooding to happen, and then do nothing to clean up the mess that happens when everything is wiped out.....

Opponents say there are some costly consequences as well. Immigrant rights advocates say fences prompt migrants to cross in remote areas where they face dangerous obstacles, such as rivers where some drown, deserts where some succumb to the heat, and mountains where some are injured or die.

Also, a large-scale fence could force immigrants to remain in the country longer, while in the past they came to earn money and then returned home, said Angela Kelley, deputy director of the pro-immigrant National Immigration Forum.

First I have no sympathy for these statements. Perhaps I am being heartless, but quit playing on the heart-strings when dealing with this problem.

Opponents need to quit diluting themselves and call it what they are, ILLEGAL alien rights activists, first of all.

So, we build walls to keep Mexican and other countries citizens from entering into the US illegally, but we have to not enforce our border security because in their attempts to break US law, they will attempt to cross in more dangerous portions where they could get hurt or killed - because of their own actions?

How about some personal responsibility here? They choose to break our laws; they choose to cross in dangerous spots where they could get hurt or killed.

I am sorry if this seems callous, but how is that OUR problem?

If a bank robber runs from the police and gets into an accident and gets killed, is that the police's fault for enforcing the laws by chasing him and trying to apprehend him?

If the criminal tries to escape, is he not responsible for his actions in what he does when trying to elude the police?

This is a rediculous assertion made by these opponents to the wall, seeking to play on our sympathies and not informing that these illegal aliens are making the decision for themselves, when to come and where to cross.

Also, if they are breaking the laws to get into the country, they are not looking to go back to their own country, so this too is a rediculous assertion.
Otherwise, why do we have millions of illegal aliens here in the US if they are only here to work a little bit and go back?

"If it's riskier and harder, people don't leave," said Kelley, who believes a guest worker program will reduce illegal crossings.

In Douglas, Louis Hahn, a retiree who tends horses on his ranch, said the fence reduces traffic through the city. But he said it is simplistic to think that a huge physical barrier will trump the economic forces that prompt fathers to leave their families and risk their lives for a chance at a better life.

"You have got to put yourself in the position of the man crossing the border and what he's willing to take," Hahn said.

Link
This has to be both a fence to decrease illegal aliens from entering this country, and a strong ENFORCED bill of how to deal with them; when they are caught, the companies that employee them, and deportation.

President Bush will be addressing America on Immigration Monday.

He will be making his case to the American public on the comprehensive overhaul of U.S. Immigration law Monday at 8PM.

Expect to hear more on a guest worker program, but let's see if we also here some real ideas and conviction in dealing with the flood of illegal aliens crossing our borders, and about border security.

By the way, for those that say they just want to work, are doing a diservice to the victims of illegal alien criminals: CRIME VICTIMS OF ILLEGAL ALIENS

See Sanity's related posts:
Fences, Ditches and Smuggling (Graphics of Border Fences)

Arizona Sheriff - Throwing Illegals Aliens in Jail

Is Brown the New Black

Georgia Governor Does What Congress Won't

Politicians Pandering to Illegal Immigrants

Immigration Bill Stalls - President Blames Reid


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Others Blogging this Issue:
Michelle Malkin, Sensible Mom, RightWinged, The Dragon and the Phoenix, Polipundit, Hillbilly White Trash, FullosseousFlap, Pardon My English, Right Wing News