The U.S. should build a fence on its southern border in order to reduce illegal immigration.

"Is this a reason to have an open border? Plenty of people come from all over the world and enjoy our freedom. The difference is they do it LEGALLY." First, the reasons are the 4 I listed. Anyways,the only reason that there are illegal immigrants is because we don't let enough people in. Only maybe 10% of those who try to get in actually get in (NPR). This means that 90% who want to get in legally can't, so they do it illegally. If we let everyone come in legally, we wouldn't have that problem. "People still can come to America.' Obviously not, otherwise everyone would come legally. "This had nothing to do with racism. From 1907 to 1911 the Dillingham Commission studied US immigration. Their studies found that too many immigrants from north and western Europe were coming to America. The Commission had 41 volumes of study on it. http://site.ebrary.com...... " No the study found that we had a lot of Eastern and Southern Europeans coming to this country. our country happened to be prejudiced against Eastern and Southern Europeans at that point in time. Hmmm... could it be, racism? "Allow me to analyze what you're saying. 'Unemployment rates were so high and the economy so low that 11 million illegals crossing the border illegally is a good thing. The reason is Americans are too high-class and wealthy to take such disgusting slop jobs that dirty, low-life Mexicans would gladly take. That's why illegal immigration is good.'" No, what I'm saying is that there is a demand for blue collar labor, such as construction careers, plumbing, welding, electricians, and certain manufacturing jobs that isn't being filled. That's where immigrants come in, most immigrants take blue collar jobs, so they fill this demand. The other "dirty jobs" I mentioned are jobs that have always relied on immigrants, as the assimilated groups could get better jobs that weren't so dirty, and the new wave of immigrants filled the gap. Of course some Americans take them, but not enough, otherwise there would be no demand. "I don't recall our unemployment and economy being in turmoil before illegals decided to show up. They can help the work force like you say if they come over LEGALLY. The difference is they're doing it ILLEGALLY. The supposed effect on the economy would be just as well if they crossed legally.' That's what I'm doing, I'm letting in everyone legally. And there have always been unemployment and economic turmoil, and often, immigrants help end that phenomenon. So, yeah, they help the economy. Saying otherwise is ignorant of supply and demand economics. Basically, if there was no way for immigrants to make money (no demand) they wouldn't come. They do come, therefore they are needed. "Your statistic said 28% of the world views us as positive NOT unwelcome. If I sat down to take that poll a border fence would be the last thing on my mind. We are still welcoming to people. It's all a matter of legality. If a terrorist walked into this country illegally would you accept him/her with open arms. Legality certainly makes a difference. If a convicted terrorist came legally or illegally, he would be thrown in jail. Under my plan though, nobody comes in illegally. In fact, a border fence would piss people off though, as it helps create our image as paranoid hypocrites. "Let's analyze. A Mexican drives to a passport office. The nearest one is 30 minutes. It takes 1 hour for him to register his passport to cross the border. It takes another half hour to drive back. He drives to the border shows his passport and has it verified. After 5 minutes he's a legal citizen of the US! So having a border fence would decrease about 2 hours and 5 minutes of a person's life. Great reason! Can you give me any proof that custom officials don't check the boats at all? Both illegals and boats carry drugs as well as citizens of America." Are you completely ignorant of immigration procedures? This would be a more accurate scenario: A Mexican drives to a US consulate, waits in line for 3 days, is denied a green card. Or even if he does get the green card, he waits in the US for 7 years before citizenship. Hmm... 2 hours and 5 minutes, I don't think so. Proof that customs officials don't check boats: http://www.lsyc.info... It's the #$%@ing honor system! "This is true but in the long run would it help? I can think of plenty of Americans who would take those jobs that Mexicans do. When you think about it it increases unemployment because Mexicans are taking jobs that others want. And how do you explain the current economic slump if they're as essential and helpful as you say they are?" The current economic slump is due to the stupidity of banks. It has nothing to do with immigrants. Obviously though, those 'plenty of Americans" aren't enough to fill those jobs. "We already have a melting pot. And the more illegals the less melting pot there is because of so much Mexican influence." Yeah, those damn illegals are destroying our melting pot by adding their culture! You're right, they definitely will destroy the melting pot by adding their culture (sarcastic tone). Immigrants from Mexico make up less than 3.33333333% of our population, this doesn't throw things out of whack, as we can still get immigrants from other countries. "The EU works because ALL members have agreed to it. Does it have anything to do with economy though? And even if it did is it really helping? Ever heard of "stagflation"? How many "illegal Canadians" do we have each year? Their economy is secure. Mexico is not." Stagflation has nothing to do with illegal immigration. The EU just shows that open borders work, it doesn't matter who agrees with it, it still works. And Canada's economy only works because of an open border and NAFTA (http://www.hsaj.org...). "Try to refute these. http://newsbusters.org...... www.vdare.com/misc/riley_wsj.htm Please don't use the stupid argument of claiming it's biased, dismiss it, and never refute it." The first is an interview, and the only valid point that it makes is that an open border is not a conservative viewpoint. Jason Riley's points for an open border only prove my point, and the interviewer couldn't stump of refute him. The second, is ridiculous, and should be dismissed not because of bias, but because the writer can't make a point without making 110 logical fallacies. It only shows why young children should not do drugs. "I wouldn't have used this argument. I agree most terrorists come from sea legally. But think of this. If a terrorist lives in Mexico by a visa he could easily cross an unmaintained US border without anyone knowing." He could already do that with Canada, so that's irrelevant. "I agree but drug dealers come from everywhere including Mexico. An open border would simply make it easier for them." Fact: More drugs come by sea, and from Canada rather than over the border. Anyways, the best solution is to legalize drugs, and regulate them, destroying the black market for them. "What evidence? You didn't show me anything pertaining to employment ratios." Evidence:http://www.townhall.com... "However, I will make a point on #2. Do you understand the meaning of the word adjacent? It means "parallel to". The DOI is planning to build the fence parallel to private property. And do you have a basis for your stereotype of the Minutemen?" Unless you like arguing with Newsweek from 2 weeks ago, I'm right, it goes through private property. Second, the Minutemen hate Mexicans, ergo they are racist. Don't have room for your list, so I will summarize. Most of these are potential negatives, or things that wouldn't occur (fake document mills?). Remember, everyone is legal in this case, everyone can come here. The potential scares either won't happen or are easily solved/ not due to immigration.