"A New Line in the Sand"

700 Miles of fencing.  $1 million per mile.  Is it worth it?  In the article David Von Drehle explains America's plan to solve the illegal immigration.  The United States decided to up the security on the border by funding a new and improved fence.  The fence that had been standing before was meek and penetrable by many standards. Von Drehle explains, "DHS aims to complete more than 650 miles (roughly 1000km) of barrier by the end of the year, built in sections by National Guard units and private contractors.  That represents only about one-third of the U.S.-Mexico border; on the other hand, the fence clearly delineates, for the first time, a frontier that was previously just a four-strand cattle fence at best."  From this statement I have to say that something needed to be done.  A "four-strand cattle fence at best" lets me know that before our country didn't really do all they could about security, but they could blame problems on illegal immigration.  I just don't think that it was right, however the U.S. is obviously taking strides in the right direction now.  They have decided to put about a billion dollars into this project, but I come back to ask the question again, is i worth it?  In my opinion it is worth the money because it needed to be done, but we cannot expect it to solve all of the illegal immigration problems.  It is inevitable that it will happen because the real problem, as Von Drehle describes, is in the country of Mexico itself.  These immigrants are trying to escape to a place with some economic opportunities to succeed, and in Mexico this is nearly impossible.  Once Mexico turns its economy in the right direction the U.S. will no longer have this illegal immigration problem from the Southwest. 

David Von Drehle

Time Magazine

June 30, 2008