quote:
The wall is not the only answer.

Yes I believe it should be built. But other things should be done as well.

I believe the military should be given the task of securing the border. If securing the border is not a task for them what is? It is more important than using them to impose our will on other countries. It is the most important facet of the defense of this nation.

Everify needs to be used for everyone. Including citizens. If someone enters legally and has a 24 month visa then at then end of 24 months their employer should not be allowed to pay them until they get a new visa. If a new visa is not granted then they must return to their home country. Failure to do so results in immediate deportation and their being listed with everify as not being eligible to ever enter the country again. When the visa expires then they also would be ineligible to obtain housing, wire money, and their drivers license would be suspended.

If caught inside the country after this deportation the penalty is death.

These combined actions would severely reduce the illegal invasion. They money spent on them getting EBT, housing, medical care, educating their children will easily pay for the program.

This seems to be among the most well-thought out posts - and pretty much represents my own views on the topic (except for the instant execution opinion)

I did not see any substantive reasons for why the wall should not be built.

I would have liked to see substantive discussion about eminent domain and access to the river. These are the only objections I have any real sympathy for. I'd have like to see someone round out the details of those objections.

Objections based on cost are laughable = my opinion. Anyone who thinks the USA would not save more than 25B in one year in the reduced impact on our schools, and medical, prison, police services will need to provide more than their opinion to convince me.

Objections based on "Mexico will pay for that wall" are merely campaign quibbling. It is a stupid statement when left unexplained. I didn't like the statement because it gave too much instant rejection based on its incompleteness. But it is correct - Mexico will 'pay' for the cost in tariffs, reduced (to them) trade advantages, cost of caring for their own citizens rather than off loading that cost to us, etc. It was still a stupid campaign slogan - but every slogan in any typical campaign is stupid. "You can keep your plan - you can keep your doctor - costs will be less' is the most egregious in recent memory.

Attributing the problems associated with illegal aliens to VISA overstays needs more development. I could be convinced with proper substantiation. MY OPINION = visa overstays are not the ones clogging our schools, prisons, medical services. Those able to get a valid visa are not the ones joining street gangs, committing mayhem, overloading our schools, clogging our prisons, working for cheap labor picking strawberries, etc. Again - I COULD BE CONVINCED to change my mind on this, but it takes more than someone's opinion to do it.

I know - this thread has pretty much played itself out - I thought I'd be back earlier yesterday than I did and be able to respond more fully to each response. Scheduling at MDA was hours behind and got back too late (too tired) to respond last night.

This is only to avoid the charge of 'post shite and never return' which I abhor. No need to respond to me with slogans and crap - substantive input will be appreciated but anything else will be ignored.

Thanks again to all who responded.