There's only one reason not to build the 700-mile-long barrier that is an integral feature of the new immigration legislation being hammered out in the Senate.

It won't work.

Most of the coverage in recent days has been about the guest-worker program, the amnesty milestones, points for the better-educated and higher-skilled and other aspects of the Senate version of the bill.

To the border hawks all are conceding this barrier. I'm pretty hawkish about the border, but the wall won't work, no matter how well-designed or built. Construction would be economically and physically feasible, say experts. But it will simply make the trip more dangerous for the illegals while only partly reducing the flow. So I believe the other policies in the immigration bill need to be adjusted, and by that I mean made tougher.

And yes, let me say it from the center of Manhattan, that the tide of immigrants from Mexico, Central and South America needs to be checked. There is little wrong with these mostly hardworking people except that they are here illegally and sometimes burden local governments and taxpayers. The illegality of their presence worries me the most.

As one of my ENR colleagues has written, most of the 12 million illegals in this country were able to walk here (many at great peril and cost) and cut to the front of the line ahead of other people waiting to come to the U.S. according to the rules. I happen still to believe in the rule of law as a touchstone of our civic life and government, so this bothers me.

The wall won't help.

This isn't Israel. That country's barrier sealing portions of the West Bank lands controlled by the Palestinian Authority give the Israeli security forces the chance to catch suicide bombers trying to sneak across every day, or almost every day.

The U.S. is too sprawled, too never-endingly transcontinental, with stretches of border comprised of badland, mountain, forest or hard-baked desert crust. The formidability of the terrain is our wall. You would need to build three times the linear miles of barrier, and patrol it heavily, to turn back the impoverished people trying to sneak here. Every year a city population the size of Buffalo sneaks in, and another the size of Denver is apprehended trying. Our wall will make their journeys more perilous but won't stop it.

I want the flow of humanity stopped or dramatically slowed, so that some hundred thousand or so can be let in legally. So that we can control who is let in and how. And know who they are. And that doesn't make me a nativist or Know-Nothing. Some of the people who want the wall (http://adweek.blogs.com/adfreak/ ) are.

I just don't think the wall will do what it is designed to do. So if it survives the legislative compromise, I'd like to paraphrase Ronald Reagan and say right now:

“Mr. President, don't build this wall.”

It won't work.

Aug. 8 2007

The hair trigger comments by Learch and Charles Bashaw are perfect examples of why Americans are hated the world over. In essence, these two individuals would have a country that says to the world: If you cross that line illegally we will kill you. It is obvious that Learch can only think on these terms since you are USMC. You should be old enough by now to understand that socio-economic problems are not only solved at gunpoint. But you would expect that kind of comment from someone like yourself. Just for your edification, it is not great but greet-spell check before you post comments.

Armchair racism reeks of laziness and ignorance. Charles' knee jerk reaction to Mr. Riquelme's comments says much about your existence as a human being. Do you go home after work and seethe in anger over what is wrong with the world? You only have to pick up a history book and read about the masses of people who came to this country at the turn of the last century. Many, such as the Irish, took the worst jobs and lived in squalor. Irish neighborhoods were the worst of the worst-look into the history of Lockport Illinois and the construction of the I&M canal. Mr.Bradshaw, do you have any of these ancestors in you past?

My prescription to these individuals is to enroll at a local community college and take several classes in international business, foreign affairs and culture. Doing so will give you an idea as to why people are flocking to this country. You may even be able to provide some intelligent dialogue. Try not to think at a level that parallels the cartoon characters from "King of the Hill".

Douglass Calahan

June 19, 2007

I say build the wall. The wall is not a "this will stop everyone" solution. If the wall only cuts the number of corssings by 5% that can add up to millions of people over the life of the wall. Our government has gotten away with avoiding its responsibility long enough. The wall was promised (proposed) in 1986, it became law in 2006. Stop breaking the law an build the wall!

Christopher

June 19, 2007

I fully agree with this article. The rule of law is the most important and enduring representation of the United States. Our immigration policies need to be reformed, but the wall at best, is a folly. Our country is too big and the flood of illegals is too great.

George Broaddus

June 19, 2007

First, they are not immigrants, that implies legal status.  They are illegal aliens many of whom are felons. If we do not try the wall, we will never know if it will work or not.  However, to not construct the wall is to compound the problem.  By the way, the illegals in every case burden local government. Personally, I could care less if the wall would make their journey more perilous. You sir, are very wrong on this issue.

Alfred L'Eplattenier

June 18, 2007

I agree. The wall will not prevent people crossing the border. We would be better off helping our neighbors in Mexico create an economy to solve the issues that are the cause of the migration. The people of Mexico are coming here for for a higher quanlity of life. Which means better pay as well as living conditions. If we can some jump-start their economy and once built keep it stable, then and only then will the people of Mexico stop coming to the U.S.

Michael

June 18, 2007

Those coming by plane at least had to obtain a visa to get here. They may subsequently overstay but at least the US government knows that they are here and who they are.

Mark Lazarre

June 18, 2007

If it makes it more perilous then it may make it more beneficial to go through the proper channels.

David

June 15, 2007

Also a lot of immigrates come by plane. They just fly in for vacation or whatever and stay. So they wall would not really work.

Ed Desobry

June 15, 2007

I agree with your argument that we shouldn't build a wall. As long as there is work in the U.S. the immigrants will continue to arrive. You can count on the illegal immigrants will continue to flow in the Unites States. No matter how tall or long and guarded you build this wall it will not stop the problem.

I believe one way to defeat the illegal immigration issue is on the businesses who hire illegal immigrants. These businesses should be accountable. For too long now big business have not been verifying their I-9 forms and looked the other way so they can hire cheap labor.

Jose

June 15, 2007

As a long-time resident of Texas, and a frequent traveler to Mexico, as well as the former wife of a Mexican citizen, I have no desire to see this wall built. The easy and pleasant path accross the border is one of our long-time assets. Don't destroy our illusion of freedom which this represents.

Marcia Roberts

June 15, 2007

Comment: For Mr. Riquelme,

Sir,

I just love it when the real Mexican Opinion reveals itself. I am sure you will be one of the first to charge across the border to take it back. We will be there to great you.

Learch
USN
USMC

June 15, 2007

The Berlin Wall is a symbol of freedom that came into being only when it was taken down. BUT...that was a country divided. Borders were establish to create jurisdictional boundaries between groups of people. That border is not necessarily to keep peoples apart.

The Great Wall of China worked but the cost to the country was great because it failed to be stimulated to grow and therefore they lived in the past.

Those from Mexico coming into the US are doing it illegally. When caught they need to be sent home. Wall, fence, armed guards or tooth picks... There needs to be a separation that keeps illegals out and a system that lets in those who follow the rules.

R. Ivy

June 15, 2007

more perilous means less attempts! what's missing? And, if the wall was rigged with automatic weapons pointed towards the south(Mexico), it would eliminate the influx of illegals. Problem solved.

As for Ricardo's vacuous comments, it was the Spaniards who kicked your ass, not the Americans. See you at the wall!

Charles Bashaw, Sales Representative
Skyline Steel
Rancho Cordova, Calif.

June 15, 2007

Your comment that the wall will not work is, in my opinion, short sited. The wall is the first step into the illegal immigration problem. The heavy burden by federal and local governments will only go up exponentially if the legislatures allow the illegals to stay and bring their family (as some would like). Once the wall is completed, only then can enforcement be ramped up along with heavy fines to employers and individuals knowingly hiring illegals.

Ken Taylor
Owner
CAD by Ken, Inc

June 12, 2007

I've heard that in the Mexico-US border, there is an advertisement in the Mexico side which says: "End of the Mexican Republic, only regarding Guadalupe-Hidalgo Agreement in 1848." This means that beyond, north of the fence, those lands once were Mexico...hence as Mexicans we are not the intruders...you are the intruders..and sooner or later the things always return to the original owners... sooner or later...even though you build a wall...

Ricardo Riquelme