We need a border fence, and more
Sixty-five countries have built security fences and other barriers to protect themselves from large scale migration and the infiltration of terrorists. Fences do not guarantee security, but they are an integral tool for securing borders.
In 2006, Congress acknowledged the need when it approved the Secure Fence Act. The legislation called for secure double-layered fencing along 700 miles of the border, augmented by manpower and technology to maintain overall control. Notably, both Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton voted in favor of the Secure Fence Act.
A decade later, the bill’s promise remains unfulfilled. Given the growth in worldwide migration and the emergence of new terrorist organizations, it is essential that the fence be completed and other security structures — including a wall where appropriate — be fully implemented.
While completing the fence is vital, we must not lose sight of the fact that our porous border is not the problem; it’s the symptom of the problem. Instead of enforcing our immigration laws, we provide incentives for people to violate them. Under the Obama administration, those incentives have become more enticing — on purpose.
While virtually everyone acknowledges that jobs are the primary magnet for illegal immigration, we do virtually nothing to prevent illegal aliens from working here. The Obama administration has abandoned meaningful enforcement against employers who hire them. Congress refuses to make E-Verify mandatory for all employers, despite the system’s proven track record.
The administration has also made it clear that it will not enforce immigration laws, unless an illegal alien has been convicted of other serious crimes. In addition, some 300 jurisdictions around the country shield illegal aliens through a variety of formal and informal sanctuary policies. Other jurisdictions readily provide the full panoply of taxpayer benefits and services.
If we truly want to control our borders, we must not only have physical barriers that make illegal entry difficult, we must also discourage illegal immigration by making it clear that it will never be rewarded.