Build a fence on the Mexican border!

[arnegrim]

We need it to be secured now... if they want to come across... they can do it legally!

http://www.weneedafence.com/ (sign the petition!)

 

[ScottishJohn]

I don't really have an opinion one way or the other, I'm not really very well informed on immigration in the US, but one thing that I found amusing when looking through the link was the description of the material used to make the proposed fence as 'More rugged than chainlink'. Not so specific!

 

[arnegrim]

No... but even a chainlink would be better then what we have now...

 

[Anovah]

If we do that, should we also build fences around each state? Around each town?

 

[Marek]

If we do that, should we also build fences around each state? Around each town?

No. Why would we need to do that?

 

[Anovah]

No. Why would we need to do that?

So people will not cross state lines illegally. Why would we want to put a fence on the border?

 

[nvxplorer]

So people will not cross state lines illegally. Why would we want to put a fence on the border?

It’s not illegal to cross state lines. In fact, I believe the Constitution guarantees the right to do so.

 

[LaLaRu]

If you really want to stop illegals, then start going after the companies that hire them. Without them, there would be no reason for illegals to cross in the first place.

 

[nvxplorer]

If you really want to stop illegals, then start going after the companies that hire them. Without them, there would be no reason for illegals to cross in the first place.

Agreed, but it’s not an either/or proposition. We need to do both.

 

[PastorMikeJ]

actually razor wire is better than chain link...with razor wire we can follow the blood trail to find them...or we could do what the east germans did and mine the area around the fence...

 

[Blackguard_]

actually razor wire is better than chain link...with razor wire we can follow the blood trail to find them...or we could do what the east germans did and mine the area around the fence...

Yep, razor wire is better than barbed wire, if thats what you meant.

but one thing that I found amusing when looking through the link was the description of the material used to make the proposed fence as 'More rugged than chainlink'. Not so specific!

especially as chainlink fences by themselves are laughably bad barriars even if made of titanium.

And they should add stakes to the ditches.

But the most important thing is that it is well patrolled and maintained, as the first good rain is going to damage large stretches of this, at least in Arizona where a good deal of the border is washes. Even just a good road running along the border would do a lot of good.

They should do something like Hadrian's wall and have mile forts. What the fence site neglects to tell you when gushing over the Israeli's fence is that you could lose Israel in the expanse of the Mexican border; the Israeli fence is exponentionally easier to patrol and maintain than an American border fence would be.

 

[Glaz]

Won't they just tunnel under it?

 

[LaLaRu]

Agreed, but it’s not an either/or proposition. We need to do both.

The fence is just going to cost way too much money. Unless there are actual people guarding the fence, the immigrants can just tunnel under it, or build a platform to get over it, or just knock a section down. Then there's the cost of maintaining the fence because of wear and tear along with the weather. Plus there's the environmental impact of making the area impassable to most animals.

How are we going to pay for two thousand miles of fence? Increased taxes?

 

[MachZer0]

How are we going to pay for two thousand miles of fence? Increased taxes?

No need to increase taxes. Have every detained illegal alien to the border and have them build the fence. Free labor!!

 

[LaLaRu]

No need to increase taxes. Have every detained illegal alien to the border and have them build the fence. Free labor!!

This is, of course, assuming they're all put on trail and convicted. There's that pesky "due process" thing in the Constitution you know. You'll still have to feed them and guard them. Prisoners cost around $20,000 per year, so it's not quite free. They'll be cheaper than skilled construction workers, but these people will be unskilled and rather unmotivated. You'll also have to make sure they don't add any "undocumented features" to the wall. Then there's the materials cost, plus the cost of shipping the materials and prisoners to the middle of nowhere where most of the fence will be. Then there's the cost of deploying actual guards across 2,000 miles of fence.

Nope, still expensive. Perhaps you'll save a little bit on the labor costs, but not that much. Ironically, if you follow this plan the illegal immigrants will still be taking jobs away from Americans by working for less.

Edit: After summoning the power of the Internet, I figured the average Laborer's salary is $25,000 per year. So you'll shave off 20% of the laborer cost, but still have to pay full price on everything else.

 

[MachZer0]

This is, of course, assuming they're all put on trail and convicted. There's that pesky "due process" thing in the Constitution you know.

Illegal aliens can be detained without convictions while waiting deportation hearings. While waiting, they can be utilized in the noble endeavor to build a wall

You'll still have to feed them and guard them. Prisoners cost around $20,000 per year, so it's not quite free.

And if they aren't building the fence, it will still cost the same, so it is still cheap, and yes, free labor

They'll be cheaper than skilled construction workers, but these people will be unskilled and rather unmotivated.

Excuse me, but a lot of them are building fences already, and they can be motivated by letting them eat after a hard day's work.

You'll also have to make sure they don't add any "undocumented features" to the wall.

I don't know what an undocumented feature is

Then there's the materials cost, plus the cost of shipping the materials and prisoners to the middle of nowhere where most of the fence will be. Then there's the cost of deploying actual guards across 2,000 miles of fence.

The savings from free health care, education, and welfare fraud will more than make up for said costs.

Nope, still expensive. Perhaps you'll save a little bit on the labor costs, but not that much. Ironically, if you follow this plan the illegal immigrants will still be taking jobs away from Americans by working for less.

Think Again. Those illegals will no longer be taking away jobs from Americans because they will be out of the work force and on the "chain gang"

 

[LaLaRu]

Illegal aliens can be detained without convictions while waiting deportation hearings. While waiting, they can be utilized in the noble endeavor to build a wallAnd if they aren't building the fence, it will still cost the same, so it is still cheap, and yes, free labor

Uh, you can't force them to work if they haven't been convicted of anything yet. Again, that pesky "due process"

Excuse me, but a lot of them are building fences already, and they can be motivated by letting them eat after a hard day's work.

Yeah, conventional fences, not military-quality ones. Again, you can't force them to work if they haven't done anything. It's in the CONSTITUTION.

I don't know what an undocumented feature is

Say, they sneak in switch to deactivate motion sensors, or put in deliberate weak points or blind spots.

The savings from free health care, education, and welfare fraud will more than make up for said costs.

This is where you would normally being spouting off figures to back up your statement.

Think Again. Those illegals will no longer be taking away jobs from Americans because they will be out of the work force and on the "chain gang"

So? For each "reduced cost" laborer that is employed, one Americian isn't.

 

[Quijote]

As a legal immigrant from Mexico I'm in favor for a fence from Brownsville to Calexico

I would prefer something as big and strong as what the Israelis have built in their country along w/the ditch and razor wire.

I also support going after US businesses that knowingly hire illegals.

 

[PastorMikeJ]

but do illegals have rights?? since they aren't legal???

 

[Penny_Lane]

of course, every human being has rights.

building a wall is stupid, it is not going to change anything it is just a way to keep the illegals opposers happy

And also illegasl arent "taking american jobs", those companies are giving them the jobs ILLEGALY, if they hire illegals its because theyre willing to do the work that americans wont do for a minumum wage.