Perry says he supports fences in urban areas. I support all of the above depending on the terrain, where our intelligence indicates most of the traffic is coming from, etc. The objective is to secure our border. Let the experts determine how best to do it in terms of effectiveness and costs.
Fences and lock are for honest people and will not stop the determined from gaining access to US soil.
Fences or physical barriers are effective. We use them to protect military bases, nuclear plants, airports, the WH, etc. They are force multipliers, i.e., they reduce the need for personnel. Used in connjunction with sensors, lighting, drones, roads, personnel, etc., they can be quite effective. Ask the Israelis or the Indians who are constructing their own fence along the border with China or the Greeks with Turkey.
We have designs for border anti-climb fencing, some of which is already in use on the US-Mexican border. It works. The specs were included in the 2006 Secure Fence Act that was approved by Congress and signed by Bush. Obama and Hillary voted for it.
The open border types like to ridicule the idea of any fence. Some have even compared it to the Berlin Wall, which is ridiculous in terms of its purpose. Fences make good neighbors.
San Diego-Tijuana
A lone Border Patrol vehicle along with tower mounted video cameras monitor activity along the border fence between Tijuana, Mexico and San Diego Tuesday July 4, 2006, in San Diego.