The Border Fence

     The new border fence construction along the U.S. Mexico border has brought numerous speculation on whether it will be effective. The fence will cost the U.S. billions of dollars to make and be nearly 700 miles in length.  This fence on its own is not a solution to the immigration issues and in an economic disaster that the U.S. is enduring now; many think this fence will not work. "A 2009 Government Accountability Office audit found that the fence – still unfinished – had cost $2.4 billion to build, and would require another $6.5 billion to maintain over the next 20 years." (Heining) The U.S. is putting billions of dollars into a project that has not yet proven successful. Advancements have been made in border security over the years but will such a big project be the final solution to the end of illegal immigration across the U.S. Mexico border. The fence doesn't recieve the support necessary to be successful in the long run. This fence comes with a large price tag and is not an effective solution to illegal immigration.
     The border fence is just the first step in a long process to end illegal immigration. This fences' success involves more technology then just an 18 foot high barrier. The U.S. puts in millions of dollars into border security yearly but still immigrants find a way in. With the fence comes more radar and cameras put into place. These cameras and radar towers won't come cheap either therefore this single project turns into a series of steps. This fence also calls for more personnel in the border patrol department which also will come at a price. The U.S. previously had a virtual fence in place but it was not found to be effective. "Homeland Security Secretary Micheal Chertoff talks of the fence as just one facet of a more comprehensive strategy to secure the border. The fence is intended to compliment, not replace, extra agents, surveillance sensors, inland checkpoints and technology"(Holstege) This fence won't stop illegal aliens on its own therefore it is a waste because other then slow Mexicans down the fence won't stop them directly on its own. The process is very detailed and after the U.S. has already wasted a billion dollars on a virtual fence who knows if this new fence won't turn out being a waste either. In a time of economic despair the fence comes with too much risk in the circumstances that it could be a waste. Failure is not an option with this fence and the added money for services to go along with the fence is far too much for the fence to be worthwhile in the long run.
     The fence is solely just a way to slow down Mexicans from entering across the border. With tons of Mexicans crossing the border each day how effective will this new fence really be? Mexicans can easily find a way over the fence. They pay smugglers and climb ladders daily a new taller fence will only call for it to take longer for them to cross the fence. It must be quite simple for a Mexican to climb the fence and take no time at all if immigration is such a problem. The new fence just makes the feat a little more difficult for Mexicans to get over. The U.S. is putting money forward to a project to slow Mexicans from getting over the border but how can we be sure it stops them from getting across. The will to find better work and a better life hasn't stopped Mexicans before and this new fence will only make things more challenging. "The fences are high enough to deter would be illegal immigrants. But Border Patrol and Immigrant aid centers report that people are devising ways to scale the fences, be it by two by four ladders, tree limbs or rope- and some are injuring themselves in the process."(Holstege) The new fence may be stronger and higher but Mexicans find away across each and everyday. This new fence may be no more effective then the one that already exists.
     This fence has been in the works for nearly four years. It was brought into law during the Bush administration and why the fence isn't finished is remarkable. How important is the fence on the U.S agenda if it is taking this long. The fence clearly isn't of importance therefore the idea needs to be canned and construction cancelled. "According to staff at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), only 34.3 miles double-layer fencing has been completed along the Southern border. Most of that fencing, 13.5 miles, is in Texas, while 11.8 miles are in California and 9.1 miles of double-layer fencing are up in Arizona."(Sen. Demint) It has been 4 years and half of this fence hasn't been completed. This is unacceptable for the U.S. government. This was backed by Obama when he was a Senator and now as president he should still be supporting the project. Year after year this plan has been stripped down by amendments. The scrutiny has become much less because the fences' details have fallen apart since the project started. "The Government Accountability Office (GAO), Congress’s investigative arm, reported in early 2009 that only 32 miles of double-layer fencing had been built. That means under President Obama, only 2.3 miles of it has been built over an entire year." (Senator Demint)This is ridiculous a plan once backed by Obama in his Senator days now is falling apart due to lack of support. Now the U.S. is spending pointless money on a project that may never be completed. There is no way this project could possibly take this long and have such little done.
     Overall, the fence won't have the success the U.S. is hoping for. The money needed for the fence is far to great when the fence and technology that already exists is allowing mexicans across the border daily. The fence will not be effective in the ways necessary therefore being a waste. The fence will only help do what previous technology has done by slowing down Mexicans. The fence is not a solution to the on going problem of illegal immigration. This fence doesn't have the support by the government to be completed.

Works Cited

Demint, Jim. "Finish the Border Fence Now - HUMAN EVENTS." Conservative News, Views & Books - HUMAN EVENTS. 17 May 2010. Web. 06 Jan. 2011. http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=37025.

Heining, Andrew. "House Approves $600 Million for Border: How Will It Be Spent? - CSMonitor.com." The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com. 10 Aug. 2010. Web. 06 Jan. 2011. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0810/House-approves-600-million-for-border-How-will-it-be-spent.

Holstege, Sean. "Longer, Taller Fencing Gives Illegal Migrants a Higher Hurdle." Arizona Local News - Phoenix Arizona News - Phoenix Breaking News - Azcentral.com. 13 Nov. 2008. Web. 06 Jan. 2011. http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2008/11/13/20081113borderclimb1113.html.