Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Donald Trump's Border Wall Would Cost Billions, Experts Say
NBC News ^ | July 23, 2015 | Elizabeth Chuck

Posted on 07/23/2015 4:33:18 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Constructing an impassable wall along the U.S.-Mexico border would be a tall order — even for master real estate developer and 2016 GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump.

"From a security standpoint, it really is not an intelligent solution," said Eric Olson, associate director of the Latin American program at the non-partisan Wilson Center.

In fact, "it's ludicrous," Olson said of the idea, which has become a hallmark of Trump's campaign.

Experts estimate that building and maintaining such a wall on the 1,954-mile border, which snakes along four huge states, would cost tens of billions of dollars. And the 21,000 border patrol agents currently on duty would be "nowhere near sufficient" to keep close surveillance on all of it, said Wayne Cornelius, director of University of California San Diego's Mexican migration field research program.

"Any kind of border barrier can be climbed over, and to prevent that type of activity, we would have to have not just drones in the sky, but a lot of boots on the ground," he said.

As of now, fences or other physical obstacles cover about one third of the border, areas that can be accessed easily by foot or by car, Cornelius said. Trump wants to wall in the entire border to keep out undocumented Mexican immigrants, who he has called "rapists" and "criminals."(continued)

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; borders; illegalimmigration; immigration; trump
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-125 next last
To: 2ndDivisionVet

I’m trying to think why that is so surprising. The Congress blows money like a gambling addict and they’re shocked by this number??


41 posted on 07/23/2015 5:05:20 AM PDT by miss marmelstein (Richard the Third: "I should like to drive away not only the Turks (moslims) but all my foes.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

They don’t even mention how much enforcing the law would save, just how much it would cost.

They might as well say, “Don’t buy a house. Your mortgage will be over $1500 a month for thirty years, plus you have to pay utilities, taxes, and maintenance.” All true, but the one-sided presentation ignores any positives in owning a home - or in protecting our country.


42 posted on 07/23/2015 5:05:21 AM PDT by Pollster1 ("Shall not be infringed" is unambiguous.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mad_as_he$$

It won’t work for Texas.


43 posted on 07/23/2015 5:05:35 AM PDT by Dusty Road (")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

So what?!?!

What has it cost us in the last 20 years NOT to have had it?


44 posted on 07/23/2015 5:06:00 AM PDT by G Larry (Obama Hates America, Israel, Capitalism, Freedom, and Christianity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

So?


45 posted on 07/23/2015 5:06:20 AM PDT by papertyger (If the government doesn't obey the Constitution, what is treason?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

How Eisenhower Solved Illegal Border Crossings

http://m.csmonitor.com/2006/0706/p09s01-coop.html


46 posted on 07/23/2015 5:07:42 AM PDT by kennedy (No relation to those other Kennedys.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Changing the intrinsic nature of men’s hearts?? - EASY Just pass laws that tell them how to think and feel.

Change the climate of the earth?? - EASY Just regulate markets and industry.

Close the border between two countries? - Impossible


47 posted on 07/23/2015 5:08:09 AM PDT by nitzy (I don't vote for Republican'ts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2001convSVT

My plan to Trump to get Mexico to pay:

1) Prove Mexico aids and encourages the invaders.

2) As compensation, charge them back taxes on every Western Union transaction sent to Mexico without ID.


48 posted on 07/23/2015 5:08:12 AM PDT by varyouga
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

2 weeks worth of just deficit spending.


49 posted on 07/23/2015 5:10:53 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

NBC?
Two experts:
One; “Wayne Cornelius, director of University of California San Diego’s Mexican migration field research program.” Now there is a completely unbiased “expert”. In a pigs eye.
Second: “ Eric Olson, associate director of the Latin American program at the non-partisan Wilson Center.” Oh yeah, a border expert from the Wilson Center? The WOODROW WILSON Center? Give me a break.
NBC?
To quote a corrupt politician from Arizona, “Just build the danged fence.” Now of course that quote came from a campaign commercial and we know much we can relied on. That particular one especially.


50 posted on 07/23/2015 5:13:39 AM PDT by Tupelo (I feel more like Phillip Nolan every day.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Drones to patrol those heading toward border
Armed guards to meet and turn around when they get there


51 posted on 07/23/2015 5:15:34 AM PDT by hoosiermama (Obam5a: "Born in Kenya" Lying now or then or now?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

10s of billions - that is a deal. Once we have a real border, kick out the illegals and prevent new illegals from gaining entry, the cost saving offset from reduced education, health care, welfare, etc will be much more than the cost of creating a real border.


52 posted on 07/23/2015 5:16:33 AM PDT by rigelkentaurus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Is a country swap possible? If we could switch the NORKs with Mexico then the Chia head Kim Il Wind would build his own wall on the Rio Grande. A win - win. China could use the cheap wet back labor. Another win.


53 posted on 07/23/2015 5:16:47 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: varyouga

I think that it was also mentioned that Mexico would pay for the southern invasion in barrels of Mexican oil.


54 posted on 07/23/2015 5:16:58 AM PDT by 2001convSVT (Going Galt as fast as I can.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Sounds like a bargain, besides Trump is going to have Mexico pay for it.

Pray America is waking


55 posted on 07/23/2015 5:18:33 AM PDT by bray (Cruz to the White House)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
Donald Trump's Border Wall Would Cost Billions, Experts Say

That's going to be hard on Mexico, as Donald has vowed he will make them pay for it.

56 posted on 07/23/2015 5:19:54 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Cost Billions ! So What ! Build the DAMNED WALL...

A Large earthen wall could be build easily with a large diameter tunnel boring device such as used in building the Chunnel under the English Channel...

Sink it half-diameter — run it to dig a huge ditch throwing dirt up on the American side ... result - a Very Deep Moat and ah high wall - that could be enhance with a reverse of the process on the other side of the first wall — final result a high 40 foot wide wall 20 feet high and two 20 foot wide moats... Enhance with struts pointing out at a 45 degree angle over the moat facing the Mexican side then string many layers of concertina barbed wire on the struts... Fill the Moats with water. Bury concertina wire in the Moat facing the Mexican side. Highly automated — use a private contractor for the Tunnel drilling machines. Use the Army Corps of Engineers and Navy SeaBees for general earth moving and laying the concertina — Start at Brownsville, TX on one end — and start near San Diego on the other ... Skip sections of good existing walls and barriers - -go back and get them connected later...


57 posted on 07/23/2015 5:21:45 AM PDT by ICCtheWay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
Donald Trump's Border Wall Would Cost Billions, Experts Say

But we'll save Trillions on health care and benefits so f* 'em.

58 posted on 07/23/2015 5:22:44 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

The wetbacks are costing many billions. The billions for the border fence would be a largely one time expense. The wetbacks are a never-ending expense that disrupt the whole society.


59 posted on 07/23/2015 5:23:23 AM PDT by arthurus (it's true!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dusty Road

Yea,yea I know about the canals and the land grab it would take. I’ve heard it all. The canals are just an engineering problem. Sadly the land is going to have to be used for the good of the country. And before you tell me I don’t know what it will take - I have close relatives the it would directly impact in McAllen.


60 posted on 07/23/2015 5:23:51 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$ (Section 20.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-125 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson