AMERICAS BORDER FENCE

By Andrew Ohmann

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The nations unauthorized migrant population increased by more than 3 million between 2000 and 2005. That is a jump of nearly 33 percent, according to the 2005 Current Population Survey. Blocking illegal immigrants with a border fence will benefit the U.S. The construction and enforcement of Americas border fence would promote jobs for legal citizens, increase our economy and it would keep us safe. One major reason for a fence is to increase the number of jobs available for legal citizens and up the pay scales. Illegals take our jobs because they will work for lower wages. Its not a crime for employers to have to raise wages to get people to do certain jobs, says Stein, at the Federation for American Immigration Reform in an article by R. Karaim on CQ Researcher. Legal U.S. citizens demand a higher wage for their work than illegals do. U.S. citizens take pride in their work and should be paid for it. Stein goes on to say, If people here illegally had to leave wages would rise and employers would suddenly have to have incentives to provide things like healthcare again. I believe that blocking illegals would cause increased wages and the offering of more incentives to hire and keep U.S. citizens as staff. What can be done you may ask? U.S. businesses need to stand up for their own citizens and stop using illegals. In the article Americas Border Fence by R. Karaim he says, Both supporters and critics of the border fence agree that as long as U.S. businesses continue to hire illegal immigrants for higher salaries then they can earn at home, the workers will risk their lives to enter the U.S. I firmly believe that U.S. businesses need to stop hiring and treating illegals too good so they have no reason to enter the U.S. and stay. Since Karaim says that illegal immigrants surge to larger economic forces chiefly globalization, and the sellout by U.S. policymakers to powerful business interests, I believe we (U.S. businesses and policy makers are the reason why illegals come. Karaim also found that illegals are driving down U.S. wages, draining the state and federal treasuries by collecting government payments to which they are not entitled and contributing to

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rising health-care and law enforcement costs. We need to kick the illegals out and regain our own workforce. Another reason for a fence is that illegal immigrants are eroding and degrading the economy and costing the U.S. government money. Illegal immigrants use and abuse services that they technically really do not deserve. R. Karaim found that illegal workers are less likely to have health insurance then U.S. citizens and because their children are more likely to need special assistance in school. They dont have health insurance or education opportunities for their family and kids so they come here and get all the benefits that our tax dollars pay for. With average incomes significantly below the national average, Karaim discovered, most states indicate illegal workers pay less in state and local taxes then they collect in services. In my opinion, this really pisses me off, they are using services that I pay for and may need to use but cant because they use them and abuse them. Illegal immigrants cost businesses and the U.S. more than is saved by their use. A center for immigrant studies report put the net cost to the federal government for services provided to illegal immigrants such as Medicare, food stamps, subsidized school lunches, federal aid to public schools and increased costs to the federal court and prison systems at about $10 billion annually. Statistics show us that illegals cost us more than they actually save us. They take benefits away from our own poor who need them. They also are the cause of increased crime rates. I believe that they find the living conditions in our prisons better than their own back home. The Federation for American Immigrant Reform estimates that just in the areas of schooling, medical and incarceration, illegal immigrants cost local government $36 billion a year. I think that amount of money is ridiculous. Illegals are costing us a lot of money because they use and abuse services like healthcare and commit more crimes which add up the legal costs. R. Karaim found that most economists agree illegal workers are a net cost to local government especially in communities. They cost the community money by receiving free services and usually abusing them.

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Here are a few facts about the construction and enforcement of the border fence. The fence is coming along but will take a while to finish. According to R. Archibald in the New York Times, The Department of Homeland Security is ahead of schedule in building some 700 miles of fencing along the Mexican border. Homeland security is motivated to tighten border security and block illegals. I have to wonder if they are really moving along as fast as they could. The Obama administration says that they will continue efforts to finish up the fencing to get close to the 670 miles of fence that has been identified. Is it not nice to know that the president of the United States is committed to protecting our borders? It is all a lot of politics. Elections are coming soon are they not? The building of the border fence has many benefits for us. Several benefits I have already told you by bringing up some of the issues. There is still a lot of questions out there about the fence and if it would really work. Scioli, an FBI Agent, says, Yes, Ive heard people say show me a 14-foot fence and I will show you a 15-foot ladder. I say, if people want to get over the fence they still will but it will take time and they will be shot or hurt in the process. A fence will not stop people; it will slow them down though. Odie, an Ex-marine, believes that the comprehensive approach that the border patrol is taking sounds impregnable. I believe that the fence and enforcement will keep them out and decrease numbers trying to come in. In 1992, the border patrol made 1.2 million apprehensions along the border. The fence is working and increased border patrol is working also. Dan Stein, president of the Federation for Immigrant Reform (FAIR), sums it all up when he stated, A fence is a clearly proven technology that, when deployed properly and used in conjunction with other enforcement strategies, clearly works. The fence needs to be constructed and enforced to protect the quality of life for U.S. citizens. We need to block out the illegals so that U.S. citizens can get jobs, our economy can rebound and we can all feel safer.