What's up with this "border fence"?



The border area contains about 157,600 square miles (408,185 square kilometers), and extends nearly 1,920 miles (about 3,090 km) between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean.

Do YOU really want a fence that extends from California to the Gulf of Mexico? Do YOU want to pay for it? Will it work? NO! This is one of the most inane proposals to ever come out of our government. As stated above, it would extend nearly 1,920 miles.

There's one bright spot in all of this. On Thursday evening this week, I listened to the debate between Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton from Austin, Texas. One of these two will likely become our next president. While I've got some issues with their individual stances on immigration, neither embrace this fence plan in it's entirety.

There are probably specific places along our border with Mexico that would benefit from a physical barrier. I do think, however, that the purpose should be to interdict those individuals and organizations who wish harm to the USA, not to perpetuate the revolving door that sends back to Mexico poor illegal immigrants whose only transgression is trying to better their lot in life.

As demonstrated this week, we have the ability to destroy a satellite 130 miles up in space. I submit that we also have the capability to put in place electronic monitoring of our borders to keep out unfriendly elements without building an enormously expensive wall.

Why don't we see the same level of concern about our border with Canada? I think you can answer that question for yourself.

Illegal immigration into the USA is a complex problem, and current policy is flawed at best. Just look at the inequities caused by the "feet wet" - "feet dry" decisions about Cuban refugees. Fidel Castro's Cuba is not a paradise, but our restrictions concerning trade and travel to Cuba have only resulted in lost opportunities for the Cuban people. There are many US citizens each year who travel to Cuba via Mexico illegally to scuba dive on their pristine reefs. It's a short flight from Cancun or Cozumel. Are they breaking US law by doing so? You bet! Are they thrown into detention camps when they set foot on Cuban soil? Nope! What's wrong with this picture?



Building the border fence.