October 10, 2006

MAKE THEM FEEL GOOD AND MAYBE THEY'LL STOP RAVING:

Fence Meets Wall of Skepticism: Critics Doubt a 700-Mile Barrier Would Stem Migrant Tide (John Pomfret, 10/10/06, Washington Post)

Critics said the fence does not take into account the extraordinarily varied geography of the 2,000-mile-long border, which cuts through Mexican and U.S. cities separated by a sidewalk, vast scrubland and deserts, rivers, irrigation canals and miles of mountainous terrain. They also say it seems to ignore advances in border security that don't involve construction of a 15-foot-high double fence and to play down what are expected to be significant costs to maintain the new barrier.

And, they say, the estimated $2 billion price tag and the mandate that it be completed by 2008 overlook 10 years of legal and logistical difficulties the federal government has faced to finish a comparatively tiny fence of 14 miles dividing San Diego and Tijuana.

"This is the feel-good approach to immigration control," said Wayne Cornelius, an expert on immigration issues at the University of California at San Diego.


Sheer genius.

Posted by Orrin Judd at October 10, 2006 8:32 AM
Comments

There is is, the gun control approach to stopping crime: it doesn't work but shows that the proponent really, really, really cares.

If we really wanted to control illegal immigration we would go to universal biometric identification and draconic sanctions for breaches. I mean real punishment: major jail time and forfeiture of property. Carry drugs in your car, forfeit your car, Employ illegals on your farm, lose the farm. If I were setting it up I would offer amnesty, transactional immunity and a cut of the forfeiture proceeds to whistle-blowers. Tell me that would make the employers keep the batteries charged on their retina scanners. If we can afford the silly fence, we an afford enforcement that works.

Measures which would work aren't even on the table. The whole thing is a cynical sham set up to simultaneously exploit the illegals and depress the cost of labor..

Posted by: Lou Gots at October 10, 2006 9:29 AM

I don't see how anyone who's ever seen the border after it leaves the Rio Grande would think that a fence would have any lasting impact. Although right now, it's slowed illegal crossings temporarily while the coyotes try to figure out how it will affect business.

Posted by: Brandon at October 10, 2006 2:03 PM
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