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Essay on the wall being built on the southwest border.
I'd just like to share an essay I wrote for a class. I'm very passionate about proper rights for immigrants and humans in general. I think this new proposal for a 700 mile wall is BS. I also enjoy writing and reading about politics. Please feel free to discuss. This is an expository, so it is all based on fact. There is little opinion in it.
The Great Wall of Mexico
On Thursday, October 26th 2006 President George W. Bush signed a bill into law ordering the construction of an additional 700 miles of fencing around the southwestern U.S. border; the so-called super fence is made to reduce illegal border activities. Congress has shown that to build and maintain the fence for at least 25 years it would cost approximately $49 billion (Hendricks). This new bill was the alternative answer to a guest worker program that would help illegal immigrants obtain work in America. Mexican citizens would be able to obtain a visa for up to 3 years and secure employment in the U.S., and once their work was completed they would be sent back to Mexico. Many republican politicians in congress decided against the migration worker program. Instead they undividedly agreed with the approval of the construction of the new super fence. There are many liberal groups who are opposed to the idea of splurging all of the homeland security?s funding on a new fence to keep illegal Mexicans out.
Hundreds of Mexicans cross the U.S. border daily to try and find new work in order to feed their family or search for a better life. More than half the illegal immigrants in the country today are attributed to not only Mexicans; non Mexican Latin American citizens make up as much as 24% of the total illegal immigrant population as of 2005 in the U.S. (Moreno). Due to the fact that even though wages for illegal immigrants are poor compared to American citizens in America they still make far more than in their own country. Whenever a certain area becomes too populated and jobs begin to decrease immigrants will move to wherever there is more work. Areas in the Mid West are now starting to house many immigrants because California is already saturated. But the political leaders of America are well aware of the growing problem and are eager to stop it.
Before the new bill for the super fence was introduced into congress President Bush was proposing to implement a guest worker program. In this program a Mexican citizen would be able to obtain a three-year work visa to perform jobs that Americans did not want. Once complete with their visa they would be sent back to Mexico. It would also allow current illegal immigrants to be able to gain temporary citizenship after they had paid a fine (Fears). The plan faced heavy critique and doubt. Many Republican members of congress opposed the bill and suggested using more money to increase border patrol and tighten homeland security. A statement from Mexican President Vincent Fox and 27 other Organization of America States members was sent to congress about their opinion of passing the act. They thoroughly expressed that they wanted the bill vetoed and deemed the proposal: "a unilateral measure that goes against the spirit of understanding that should characterize how shared problems between neighboring countries are handled and that affects cooperation in the hemisphere" (Fletcher, Weisman).
Many speculations of actual cost to build the wall were debated in Congress. Initially the Congressional Research Service estimated the project to cost anywhere from $2 billion to $4 billion back in 2006. Since then the congressional report has changed to $49 billion for the construction and maintenance of the fence for 25 years. The $49 billion does not include the amount money needed to secure private land all along the border, and the cost of labor if done by a private contractor (Fears). Congress passed a budget bill of $34.8 billion for homeland security to help with the costs of the plan. At least an estimated $23.1 billion is meant for border security resources and $1.2 billion for the fence and accommodating technology (Hules, Swarn). The current funding only allows the U.S. to build approximately 370 miles out of the 700 proposed. Speculation as to whether the whole structure will be built is ample. The hopeful span of the bridge would be from California all the way to Texas. With $1.2 billion they will only be able to build to Arizona. The fence will be a double layered steel fence with multiple security cameras and towers spanning across the great structure (Fears). Both political parties are split as to why the bill was passed and what needs to be done in the future with it.
Republican congress members state that this new endeavor is well worth the effort and money required to fulfill the goal; while democrats believe that the new bill is an atrocious answer to the illegal immigrant dilemma and a waste of precious funding. Right wingers are placing the importance of border safety on par with the danger of terrorist attacks. They believe that any new threat can approach form anywhere at any time, and that it is better to adhere to caution when it comes to the United States safety. In contrast, most democratic politicians express that the passing of this plan is faulty due to reason of the election being just twelve days away when the bill was signed. Bush met heavy resistance in his new idea of a guest work program for Mexico, and was therefore not able to fully pursue the possibility of making it come true. It was better to remain safe and pursue an objective that republicans were fully supportive of. A simple argument the democrats pose is what good will a 700 mile fence do along a 2,000 mile border? The guest work program has not been totally ruled out of the question either.
Bush still feels strongly about making sure it happens, but he will wait for a more opportune time to introduce it.
The situation of illegal immigrants in the United States of America is not a new subject. But due to such drastic increases in illegal immigrant population officials called for action. While the new plans for the great wall of Mexico are still in its infant stages there is still no clear answer on the immigration problem. The issue of proper funding for the project has not been addressed fully either. Billions have been given to complete the project, but the forecast of money needed to fulfill the project is far beyond what was expected. Regardless of what politicians may discuss amongst themselves; more illegal aliens will come to America. The self-proclaimed land of opportunity is as inviting as ever. So enticing that people are willing to die to reach the land they hear so much about.
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