Is it rational to believe a fence built along the US /Mexico border will hinder illegal immigrants?

Question

I recenlty traveled to mexico city ....possibly the largest city in the world ( 25 million) . The people I met were like most people in the usa..they work , they buy homes, they raise famillies, they are religious , they are political ...and most interesting they did not express any great interest in immigrating to america. Although poverty is very evident, it is clear to me why a poor person would want to come to the usa to improve his/her life and their families.
In fact, that is exaclty why people came here in the first place...And that is why we fought a revolution....Poverty creates crisis..crime..& .revolution...Is a fence the right answer to this perplexing question?

Answer 1

So they should bring poverty crime and revolution here? And ruin our children's schools on the way towards that lofty goal?

No thanks!

They drain our resources and ruin them for our own people.

And as for effectiveness, we obviously need interior enforcment way above what we have been seeing to be fully 'effective'. However, look at the before and after crossing numbers and crime levels in the area of San Diego where the border fence there was put in.

If it weren't effective they wouldn't be bleating so loudly.

Answer 2

NOT A FENCE -- TWO PARALLEL CONCRETE WALLS

We have a huge problem and it must be addressed.

Most nations secure their border before doing anything else. It's irrational that we haven't.

And even a nation governed by chimps, if it's earning a GDP of over a TRILLION DOLLARS (Mexico) could grow a huge economy.

Washington is discussing scrapping the fence for a 40 foot, concrete double-wall system (like we build every day, here. "Pour-in-place" or "tilt-wall") And NOT just one. They're suggesting two walls, parallel, 'bout 30 feet apart with a road in between. (And may I suggest lots of lovable dogs!) Sounds pricey but can be done for what Iraq costs in a week. The US Govt already put up 1.2 billion.

On the tech-side, Boeing got a contract to provide virtual patrol. And there's talk of drilling very long, pencil thin vertical rods into the ground. They'dl set off an alarm if disturbed (like, by someone digging a tunnel)

The Sonora and Mohave deserts are nearly impossible to cross. Instead of a wall, the virtual patrol with movable human outposts every 3 to 5 miles will have to do.

If we achieve a "nab-rate" of, say 99.8% (do-able), the wall-system would be a huge success. Even 95% would be worth as much to the US as a lasting democracy in Iraq.
(Now, you Iraqi's, I'm all for a lasting democracy, just doesn't do much for our economy since we're discovering huge new oil reserves everywhere...even off the coast of Norway)

Do the Math:
Each illegal crossing costs at least $1000, FREE if done legally
Coming for money? The best pay, > $20/hr, isn't worth it.
It'd be just wierd to pay twice

Migrants interviewed say they'll try 3 or 4 times, then give up if caught every time. As it is, we catch under 10%.

Answer 3

Our forefathers fought a revolution because they were being unfairly taxed. They were tired of being forced to buy things they didn't want or need. They didn't fight a revolution so that illegals can come here and live off the working people and committing crimes. A lot of them come here because they can make a lot of money selling illegal drugs. The deadliest gangs in this country started with South American illegals.

The people who came here then wanted to work and be free. They wanted to create something here. Now a lot of people come here to see what they can get for nothing. After all, once they're here and have a baby, the tax payers will spend billions of dollars a year to support them!

I think if a fence will deter them from coming here illegally, then it's worth building. Maybe that will encourage people to come here legally.

Answer 4

The fence may not keep out all determined able bodied men. But it will put a dent in the number of pregnant women coming here to give birth. That is very significant considering that the anchor baby law often paves the way for many relatives that want a free pass to this country. If they want a revolution they need to start one in their own countries. I'd like to be able to help people worse off than the ones who are coming here. They don't have it as bad as you or they think they do. And we don't owe them more comfortable lives. Not when so many of our own are in need.

Answer 5

Thats what I want to know is how can 20 million illegal aliens pay for the up keep on America and Back in Mexico at the same time. Mexico needs to be held accountable for their actions people just say oh that's Mexico they are never required to answer to the world at large as to why they refuse to buy straving people a meal

Answer 6

NO!! The only thing that would stop the flow would be that America become as undesirable a place as Mexico to live. Then and only then will illegal immigration slow down or stop. Immigration will not stop until all the good in America is gone.

Answer 7

The idea is to force their country, (and cities like Mexico City) to try to resolve some of their demise. They need to start not relying so much on Americans to give Mexicans their dreams and make it so their citizens ban together to do things to make it so they want other than to jump the fence. It is only a deterrent.

Answer 8

moving a landfill doesn't get rid of it's stench. It's a bad comparison, but for analogy's sake it works. Moving poor to take jobs and create more poor in a different country doesn't really accomplish much. They get low-balled on wages, take jobs from Americans and don't even give a damn to thank America for it. A fence isn't the answer, a large group of men with guns shooting anything coming from that side of the border is.

Answer 9

it wont stop 100% but it will stop MOST of them
but the fence by itself wont do it....it needs to
be patroled more heavily by US troops or more border agents
and use hi-tech survelience combined with severe
criminal punsihment for illegals and those that
knowingly employ them.

Answer 10

It's PART of this perplexing issue. It's not the sole answer....no one ever said it was. But when people won't abide by borders or laws.....you have to do something.