The United States should construct a barrier on the border with Mexico.

Illegel immigration is obviously a problem. There are millions of people living and working in the United States illleglly. It hurts American workers, people who want ot enter the country legally, and compromises the security of our country. However, a barrier on the border with Mexico would not fix the problem. I try and put myself in the shoes of the illegal immigrants who somehow made it across the border. Why did they come? They came beccause they can make about twice as much money doing the same jobs they would in Mexico. If they have kids in America they become American citizens (which opens up many doors for them in the future). Along with that, living conditions are better in teh United States. Despite not having insurance, I can go to a hospital and get medical treatment if I need it. Despite not being a citizen (or knowing English) I can also send my child to a much better American school. On top of that, my own government does encourage me to go there to help stimulate our economy. If I am a poor Mexican citizen, there is an enourmous pull factor to the United States and an enourmous push factor out of Mexico. If I were poor, I would try and immigrate as well. After all, my ancestors did it from Germany and Ireland - as did many other people's as well. If a wall was up, it would drastically reduce the number of people who come across. This is true. Operation Gatekeeper was quite successful. That is true. More Border Patrol troops would also help. However, there is a group of people that wants illegal Mexicans to stay - any stay here illegally. Anyone who has a business in which the majority of their workers are illegal immigrants knows that the 12 million immigrants living "in the shadows" work for half of the minimum wage. If you own a business and a najority of your workers are illegal immigrants one of two things could happen from immigration reform. A.) amnesty is passed. The illegal immigrants are given citizenship and they now are entitled to 7 dollars an hour. You labor costs just doubled! B.) Any illegal immigrants are sent back home. Your labor pool has just been deported and the only people who can fufill your needs are Americans. Your labor costs have just doubled! Along with that, there are already 12 million illeglal immigrants in the United States. What happens to them? Are they rounded up and shipped back like Operation Wetback? Are they granted amnesty? A wall doesn't fix that. A wall only stops future illegal immigration. Even if, starting tomorrow, no more illegal immigration took place, and a wall was in place, the legitimate problems that have led Americans to call for building a wall would still be present. Somoe sort of effective patrolling of the border is neccessary. It's dangerous for people to just come across the border. There are legitimate security concerns. Along with the untold number of drugs and Mexican gang members that come across the border on a daily basis, terrorists could also come into America through Mexico. But until there are teeth to immigration laws for for illegal immigrants AND business owners the profit motive for Mexican workers and American business owners (especially in the Southwest) will trump any concerns about secure borders, assimilation, drugs, terrorism, etc. and a wall will be a big waste of time and money. Thank you! - Gib