Three Border Patrol agents were assaulted this week during separate incidents, underscoring the danger faced by men and women of the Border Patrol and the ongoing need for the construction of a border wall. President Trump’s 2016-campaign platform revolved heavily around the idea of constructing a barrier along the U.S./Mexico border, but even with public support, the president continues to face resistance from Congress, policy analysts, and even late-night TV hosts.
Since taking office, Trump’s proposal has been mocked and called unrealistic, despite the fact that dozens of other countries around the globe have been building border walls for years. It seems that these countries understand that “good fences make good neighbors,” but why can’t the U.S. Congress?
Border walls enhance a nation’s sovereignty and are important for both public safety and national security, which is why at least 65 countries have constructed border walls since the end of World War II, while facing minimal opposition for doing so. Western nations such as Spain, France, and Israel have all constructed border walls to protect their sovereignty and security. Others, like Turkey, India, and Saudi Arabia, have publicly criticized Trump’s immigration policies, yet ironically, all have constructed border barriers themselves to block the flow of migrants crossing their borders illegally.
Domestically, the open borders lobby, and their allies in Congress, continue to ignore the advantages of a border barrier. Simply put, a country cannot remain a country without having secured borders. While there has been much resistance to the wall already, Majority House Leader Kevin McCarthy recently introduced a bill that would fully fund the border wall, making it essential for Congress to seize on this opportunity. With large-scale illegal immigration and smuggling of drugs and other contraband, it is imperative to build a barrier that can secure the Southwest border.
The border wall isn’t free, but it certainly is an essential component of a comprehensive strategy for shutting down illegal immigration. With illegal immigration costing U.S. taxpayers some $135 billion annually, a one-time expenditure of between $15-$25 billion on a border wall is a drop in the bucket when compared to the yearly cost of illegal immigration. The wall is a sound investment that will yield significant long-term benefits and savings.