Lots of good points above, most, if not all, have some merit. The wall is not, nor was it ever intended, to be a do all, end all solution to the illegal immigration problem or the smuggling of drugs, humans, etc. The wall is, however another tool in the quiver of the USBP and, as stated below,
Originally Posted By: Harvey7I live a few miles from the border and can assure our skeptical members that our lives and safety improved greatly when walls were erected over 15 years ago.
does help reduce illegal crossings in many instances. I, too, live within a mile of the Rio Grande as the crow flies (on the right side of the wall
) and often shoot on a friend's private shooting range within 4000 ft. of the Rio. (on the wrong side of the wall), and can agree with Harvey7's assessment of the wall. All of the border patrolmen I have occasion to speak with are in agreement that the wall does assist them in their job.
I also witnessed the Bracero program of the fifties & 60's (IIRC) and it was a beneficial program in that it provided legal farm workers which were badly needed at the time by area farmers.
There is a huge difference between the legal and illegal immigrants of then and now.
Regards,
hm