Are you in favor of a barrier along the US - Mexican border

[D.O.A.R.]

Who favors a barrier along the US-Mexican border, as a step to control our immigration (not to mention security) problem? Any creative ideas out there, as our government seems to be open to suggestions at this point.

[Morion]

Every attempt we've ever made at this has been circumvented in one way or another. It would just be a huge waste of money with no significant results.

[Tomas N]

If it goes hand in hand with a program that makes it easier for Mexicans who want to work in the U.S. to come over legally, I have no problems with it.

Tomas

[ReverseLunge]

As Congress debates immigration reforms, some experts say the most extreme proposal -- deporting millions of illegal immigrants -- would be a huge legal and logistical morass, and ruinously expensive, too.

But the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank in Washington, has put the cost at $215 billion over five years.

The study assumed that a crackdown would prompt a quarter of the nation's illegal immigrants to leave voluntarily, leaving 9 million men, women and children to deport.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060407/...ss_deportation

[D.O.A.R.]

Originally Posted by Morion

Every attempt we've ever made at this has been circumvented in one way or another. It would just be a huge waste of money with no significant results.

Okay, but we've never done the wall thing before, at least not one that goes on continuously for more than a couple hundred yards.

[lochinvar]

Originally Posted by D.O.A.R.

Okay, but we've never done the wall thing before, at least not one that goes on continuously for more than a couple hundred yards.

I vote "yes". And while we're at it, let's post machine guns every 100 yards to discourage wrongdoers. And let's hire those nice German people that built that one in Berlin. They have prior experience with this sort of thing, after all.

[latenight]

Originally Posted by lochinvar

I vote "yes". And while we're at it, let's post machine guns every 100 yards to discourage wrongdoers. And let's hire those nice German people that built that one in Berlin. They have prior experience with this sort of thing, after all.

you know, Germans get really sick of that sort of crap.

[lochinvar]

Originally Posted by latenight

you know, Germans get reallly sick of that sort of crap.

Doesn't mean they're not good at it...

[D.O.A.R.]

Originally Posted by lochinvar

I vote "yes". And while we're at it, let's post machine guns every 100 yards to discourage wrongdoers. And let's hire those nice German people that built that one in Berlin. They have prior experience with this sort of thing, after all.

I would go with the Chinese instead. Their wall is much more impressive.

[lochinvar]

Originally Posted by D.O.A.R.

I would go with the Chinese instead. Their wall is much more impressive.

We don't have the conscript labor required to do that kind.

[JasminaJ]

Sure we do!
I live a little over a hundred miles to the North of the Mexican border.
We would use Mexicans to build it. White people don't want the job-
panhandling and federal assistance works for them.
I'm an immigrant-how can I tell others they can't come to America for the
excellent opportunuties?
Me gusto Santa Ana!

[D.O.A.R.]

Originally Posted by JasminaJ

Sure we do!
I'm an immigrant-how can I tell others they can't come to America for the
excellent opportunuties?
Me gusto Santa Ana!

I'll assume you entered the country legally. If so, don't you have a problem with those that are not following the rules?
I don't fault those trying to improve their situation by crossing the border. At least no more than I would fault a passenger on a sinking ship from trying to squeeze into a lifeboat(with 50 others). From the inside looking out, we cannot afford to let current immigration situation continue, at least if we want to stay afloat.

[gojujay]

The current legal/immigration system has to catch up with reality. Until the extralegal labor market is integrated into the formal, we will just be putting Band-Aids(tm) on a severed limb.

[Feltan]

Originally Posted by gojujay

The current legal/immigration system has to catch up with reality. Until the extralegal labor market is integrated into the formal, we will just be putting Band-Aids(tm) on a severed limb.

Indeed. The supply and demand equation needs some balance on the demand side, or any attempt to stem the supply will be futile. While illegals come to this country voluntarily, I can't help but draw parallels to the practice of indentured servitude that was common in the early years of this country.

There seems such a possibility for bi-partisan support on this that I am perplexed that effective reform remains elusive. Republicans should be motivated based on national security and respect for current law and order, and Democrats should be motivated on the human rights and fair labor issues.

Let's face it, these illegals get abused and everyone is turning a blind eye to the problem.

Yes, I do think some sort of reasonable barrier is needed. However, it has to go hand-in-hand with a more holistic and comprehensive response to the problems that face us.

Regards,
Feltan

[Feltan]

Originally Posted by lochinvar

...And let's hire those nice German people that built that one in Berlin. They have prior experience with this sort of thing, after all.

The Russians built the one in Berlin.


Regards,
Feltan

[lochinvar]

Then let's get them on board.

Also whoever the contractor is that's building the wall around Israel.

[JasminaJ]

Wall around Israel! lololol
In answer to your question,D.O.A.R., as a little kid-5 years old, I illegally crossed the Canadian border with my family. No, I don't remember most of it. I do recall walking a long time, my family working as migrant farm help. Very hard life. I'm legal now, but can't afford the mental luxury of saying this is a simple issue. The rest of the country eats the produce from California's farmlands.
The migrant farm workers do the work. You don't get the full impact of how hard this life is-unless you see it up close. In Santa Ana, CA school district we don't require the parents to show papers for the kids to enroll in school, and have supplemented meals. This includes school nurse screenings, with the County Health Dept. responsible for health care. At the college health center where I volunteer we have at least one case exposure to "wet" tuberculosis per year. According to the CDC, these cases come from Asia.
Did you forget the Asian immigrants? They are keeping very silent-hoping no one will notice. This whole issure is mired and sad.

[Inquartata]

There are probably more cost-effective measures than a physical barrier---especially an unmonitored physical barrier---but at the same time I cannot side with those who dismiss the idea out of hand as one that "just won't work". How does one arrive at the conclusion that an idea which hasn't been tried can't possibly work? The suspicious mind immediately begins to look at the motives of those who say such things...

[lochinvar]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

<snip> but at the same time I cannot side with those who dismiss the idea out of hand as one that "just won't work".

Any idea can be made to work, given the proper amount of sweat, time, and money. Build a big enough and long enough wall and man it every 50 yds or so with M50 machine guns, and it will work. Oh, yes--don't forget to sink sensors into the ground ever few yards or so to pick up the tunnelers...

However, the efficacy of the project isn't really in question, but rather whether the cost/benefit ratio of the project is ultimately in the nation's interest. Do we really need to spend the enormous resources required? Might not the labor and capital be better spent updating our antiquated manufacturing base?

To my mind, the emmigration of jobs is far more worrisome than the immigration of workers.

[D.O.A.R.]

Originally Posted by JasminaJ

At the college health center where I volunteer we have at least one case exposure to "wet" tuberculosis per year. According to the CDC, these cases come from Asia.
Did you forget the Asian immigrants? They are keeping very silent-hoping no one will notice. This whole issure is mired and sad.

You bring up another concern with our immigration problem. In the past, immigrants went through processing centers, where among other things, they were screened medically. Not so now, resulting in 3rd world diseases being brought to our shores.

On a somewhat related topic, my wife told me about a special she saw (on 60 minute, I think) about bed bugs, and how 5 star hotels are reporting having problems with infestation. Apparently, the USA had irradicated these decades ago, but international travel has reintroduced them. Its a good thing we can't afford to stay at more than 2-3 star hotels.