Border Security Amendments Today!

[Heracles 417]

Exactly! Why do so many people try to figure out how the Mexico--USA border could be secured? It's so simple, a caveman can do it! The Chinese built a 3000-mile long wall; the Russians effectively sealed the Iron Curtain, and even somebody as dumb as I am could easily make the border inpenetrable with just a couple Billon dollars.

Forty-two years ago we already landed on the Moon, but cannot build a fence? Are you kidding me?

Bingo...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The great wall of America?

Sounds like a multi billion dollar waste of money...

[sjr09 155]

The great wall of America?

Sounds like a multi billion dollar waste of money...

Funding multi billion dollar programs for illegal's! Now that's a waste of money!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Funding multi billion dollar programs for illegal's! Now that's a waste of money!

The suggestion was for a cross nation border fence. I propose that this is a colossal waste of money and the least effective way of dealing with illegal immigration.

[Moonandstar 6]

The suggestion was for a cross nation border fence. I propose that this is a colossal waste of money and the least effective way of dealing with illegal immigration.

Although a physical wall is probably a bit excessive, (with today's technology there's no excuse for not having a better method) a wall of some sort (such as the one sousuke suggested) is a much-less waste of money than what is required over the long term to maintain all these illegals, and what its going to cost to find, detain and deport them, especially should they just decide to hop the border again. I dont care what anyone says, having "undocumented" population within a country will ultimately destroy it, not help maintain it. That is, after all, why anyone has citizenship with any country.

Edited May 31, 2010 by Moonandstar

[lostinblue 1,989]

If you are not willing to secure the border then do away with all required visa's.I am sure there are 100 million Chinese that would like to live here in the US. It is racist to keep them out just because they don't have a common border. Why keep out all the disadvantage people in africa. That is a bit racist also ....keep the black man out. A few hundered million african's would love to be here also. Why does this undocumented hispanic population get a free pass .

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I thought we were all on the same page that enforcing employment law is what needs to happen, not building silly walls that we can't realistically enforce.

If there's no reason for people to cross the desert (which is, in essence a natural barrier), then they won't do it.

Building walls, fences or what have you creates diplomatic issues in much the same way as conducting military exercises or mobilising troops near international borders; and seeing as how the entire issue of illegal immigration is rather sensitive to say the least - pissing off a country that the US has outsourced large amounts of its manufacturing base to would seem rather silly.

[sly_wolf 199]

The vote on these critical amendments is scheduled for today at approximately 10:00 a.m.

Senate Scheduled to Vote on Border Security Amendments Today!

The Senate is currently considering H.R. 4899, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill. True immigration reformers in the Senate recognize that the increasing violence and illegal immigration on the U.S.-Mexico border is a serious situation that must be addressed. Despite this, President Obama cut funding to many of the law enforcement agencies tasked with combating drug violence and trafficking, and ensuring border security.

For over a year, lawmakers have been calling on the president to deploy National Guard troops to the border. Obama finally responded this week with the announcement that he would send 1,200 troops, but as Senators Kyl and McCain responded, this “is a weak start and does not demonstrate an understanding of the current situation in the region.” Senator Cornyn stated that “The President must make border security a priority, not an afterthought or an empty talking point.”

True immigration reformers in the Senate have offered the following amendments that will be voted on today:

• Senator McCain and 10 cosponsors have offered Senate Amendment 4214, which would provide for 6,000 National Guard troops to support and secure the southern land border of the United States.
• Senators Kyl and McCain have offered Senate Amendment 4288, which would appropriate $200 million for a law enforcement initiative to address illegal crossings of the Southwest border.
• Senator Cornyn and 3 cosponsors have offered Senate Amendment 4202, which provides resources for federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who work on the frontlines of the U.S.-Mexico border every day. More specifically, Senator Cornyn’s amendment will fund six important priorities involving border security, which include border security and technology, state and local law enforcement, southwest border taskforces, border enforcement personnel, detention and removal activities, and ports of entry.

Together we can show Congress what the American people truly want when it comes to immigration reform. Please act now to make sure that these critical border security amendments pass in the Senate today!

Click here to contact your Senator.

Oh goodie! Are they finally going to build a wall between Canada and the US

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The suggestion was for a cross nation border fence. I propose that this is a colossal waste of money and the least effective way of dealing with illegal immigration.

It sure is. Especially when one considers that somewhere in the range of 40% of today's illegal alien population arrived here legally and just failed to leave. The great big wall isn't going to fix that. The great big wall is really nothing but political grandstanding to show that we're willing to "do something".

As was said earlier in this thread, go after the source of the problem, the economic incentive - i.e. the employers and exploiters of illegal labor - and the symptoms will pretty much treat themselves.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

As James Carville has discovered in Louisiana, your feelings about government inaction change when the danger is close to home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfNd9DCgAcE

Edited May 31, 2010 by Sofiyya

[Ban Hammer 13,336]

very good video. ranchers/farmers often put things into a perspective many can understand.

[sjr09 155]

I thought we were all on the same page that enforcing employment law is what needs to happen, not building silly walls that we can't realistically enforce.

If there's no reason for people to cross the desert (which is, in essence a natural barrier), then they won't do it.

Building walls, fences or what have you creates diplomatic issues in much the same way as conducting military exercises or mobilising troops near international borders; and seeing as how the entire issue of illegal immigration is rather sensitive to say the least - pissing off a country that the US has outsourced large amounts of its manufacturing base to would seem rather silly.

Obviously you have never lived in Arizona or know jack about the Sonoran Desert "natural barrier" hundreds pass through the desert everyday! Get real.

These pictures from the immigration border crossing area shows what people in that area put up with, but which those farther away cannot quite comprehend unless they see it. Those making laws to accommodate such influxes do NOT live in areas where they encounter the proof of the reasons why objections to massive influxes of illegals are growing.

This layup is on an 'illegal super highway' from Mexico to the USA (Tucson) used by human smugglers. It is located in a wash area approximately ¼ of a mile long just south of Tucson

We estimate there are over 3000 discarded back packs in this layup area: countless water containers, food wrappers, clothing , and soiled baby diapers… and as you can see in

The trash left behind by the illegals is another of the Environmental Disasters to hit the USA Had this been done in one of our great Northwest Forests or Seashore National Parks areas there would be an uprising of the American people…….. but this is remote Arizona-Mexican border Out of sight, out of mind.

This evidence needs to be seen by our whole nation.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

How many people die crossing that desert? It's not exactly a cakewalk is it. If people are prepared to die to get into the US, a wall isn't going to deter them. If you enforce the employment laws, there will be no reason to migrate.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

The trash left behind by the illegals is another of the Environmental Disasters to hit the USA Had this been done in one of our great Northwest Forests or Seashore National Parks areas there would be an uprising of the American people…….. but this is remote Arizona-Mexican border Out of sight, out of mind.

This evidence needs to be seen by our whole nation.

The odd thing about it is that the Dept of the Interior has designated some areas as so environmentally sensitive that the border agents can't enter them to enforce the law, but the illegals enter them without impunity to commit crimes against each other and to defile the land. Private landowners can't protect their land from intruders for fear of losing their property to them in an ACLU lawsuit. I own land in El Paso, TX, so I'm one of them

[Sofiyya 1,687]

How many people die crossing that desert? It's not exactly a cakewalk is it. If people are prepared to die to get into the US, a wall isn't going to deter them. If you enforce the employment laws, there will be no reason to migrate.

The Mexican government encourages desert crossings by publishing and distributing a pamphlet with tips on how to do it. I'm sure that one of the reasons they want us to keep giving amnesties to their trespassers is to cut back on their printing costs.