A fence may work well in some places, but the California border (and Arizona and New Mexico borders, for that matter) don’t have the Big Bend/Rio Grande separating them from Mexico.
Completely different situation from Texas.
I don't mind having a guest worker program for certain industries, but that doesn't mean bringing the whole family. When a legal immigrant shows up they have to be able to support themselves and the illegals get a pass.
In the meantime the two governments collude to sucker literally millions out into the desert southwest into some of the most dangerous terrain around. There they are fleeced by "coyotes", held captive by smugglers, and killed by violence or the elements.
One - Big Bend has only 118 miles of border and it's not solid mountains.
Two - How the heck is a river a problem? Most of the land beside the river is flat desert or flat grasslands.