"I think a wall is going to be the ultimate outcome of this debate. But I am going to get medieval on the first FReeper who complains about spending if it happens, because that wall will cost some enormous dollars."
The Israeli Wall is 403 miles long. And it has been dramatically effective at stopping suicidal terrorists, who want to get at Israel in a worse way than any Mexican wants to get into the US! Putting an Israeli Wall 5 times longer than the one in Israel, along the entire US/Mexican border, will cost about $8 billion dollars.
Border Patrol says 3 million illegals crossed the border last year, and 1.1 million were intercepted and turned back. So 1.9 million made it in, many pregnant, having babies soon after getting here, etc.
What's the per capita cost of education, welfare, etc., for an illegal alien's children? Start multiplying it out, and an effective wall will save $8 billion the first year it's up. Also, an effective wall means you don't have to massively increase border patrol, which is expensive.
I can guarantee that more like 2.5 to 3.0 million ad it in. The official BP numbers are diluted.