Posted on 07/26/2005 11:33:37 AM PDT by inquest
I've felt the need to post this question as a separate thread, because most threads dealing with the illegal immigration issue cover so much ground (figuratively speaking...), that this aspect gets lost in the mix all too often. Reasonable people can disagree on what exactly our immigration policy should be, but I would hope that everyone can agree, that no matter what our policy is, whatever law that remains needs to be enforced. Even if we allow nealy unrestricted immigration, there are still going to be people whom we can't be letting in under any circumstances, and, one would think, there would need to be a way of preventing them from doing so.
Israel has demonstrated how effective fencing can be. With only a portion of the border between the mainland and the West Bank fenced off, terrorism (at least in the mainland itself) has dropped dramatically. And it has been able to build this fence for roughly $1 million per mile.
The fence in the San Diego sector of our own border has a similar price tag, except where it cuts through "environmentally sensitive" areas. Complying with various edicts and regs for those areas has pushed the cost up to $5 million per mile. Even if we were to assume that that inflated cost would apply to the entire border (which is far from likely), its 2,000 miles could still be fenced off for less than $10 billion, which is less than one half of one percent of one year's federal budget. Compared to what we're already spending in the WOT (as well as money we're burning on far less worthy things than that), this is not a budget-buster by a long shot.
I also want to make clear here that I'm not asking anyone's opinions on any of the guest-worker proposals, or on what to do with the illegals already here, or about any other part of our immigration policy. Certainly these are very worthy questions, but I just think that regardless of what everyone thinks on these things, a border fence at the very least is something we can all agree on. Can we?
No because it gives Fox or some future President a Reagan moment to say "tear down this wall".
I do support stopping all this economic aid, medical aid and taking from the taxpayers to pay for all the programs, etc.
I do, but I see it as purely symbolic in nature. I doubt we would ever build the kind of wall it would take to have a real impact.
I whole-heartedly support a border fence, with secure and limited-in-frequency border crossings.
Is it being built yet?
Sure. Good fences make good neighbors. :-)
Yes but it takes an efficient border patrol to make it effective.
We've been building border fences since 1994. Stepped up to 12 foot high fences after 9/11/2001...except that envio-nazis have used the courts to stall lots of current border fence construction (enviromental hazard, they claim).
Once easy, Illegal Immigration Now Risky:President Bush Builds 12 ft Tall Steel Fence Along Mexican Border From The Pacific Into Arizona, Plus Around Major Populated Areas In Arizona and Texas
Yes.
Yup. Preferably electric with about 40,000 volts running through it.
Yes.
You bet.
Yes, build a good fence and hire the BP agents the technology to patrol it and keep people from digging under it. Screw the environmentalists.
Variation:
2 WALLS 30 yards apart with a conrete surface in the middle. Razor wire on the top, movement detectors and electric stun guns. No judge, instant return to other side if you get to the American side.
Lets do it right.
Simultaneously, all caught on this side, returned without trial if there are no outstanding warrents. Trial and Punishment for those who do have them, followed by return after serving time. All time should have a couple years added for breaking immigration law. Possession or use of fraudulant documents as well.
Pat Buchanan called it right when he ran for prez in '96. MSM, demoncRATS and some pubbies laughed and criticized when he suggested a fence along the southern border as to stopping illegal immigration. Nowadays, that same idea is quite receptive.
I support it. All we have to do is to shut up the evironazis and the ACLU.
Living 5 miles from the Tijuana-US crossing, I not only support the fence but will help build it.
Absolutely do. Along with employer penalties.
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