My Take on Immigration: To Fence or Not to Fence

I read with interest the story by Content Producer Randy Inman titled Immigration. His point is well taken.  It is about timing and political sentiment. The border between Mexico and the United States is porous for a reason. The length of the border area in present day terms spans some of the largest states in the United States. So, today it seems the answer to illegal crossing of the border is to erect a 700-mile fence, leaving approximately 1400 miles of the border unfenced.

President Bush is expected to sign a bill that in effect okays the concept of the fence for the 700 miles, but conspicuously absent is any money to pay for the fence.  So, why now?  Of course, sentiments run high during election years and for some states like Arizona, California and Texas legislative candidates, illegal immigration is at the top of the hit parade whether pro or con. Another aspect of the “fence bill signing,” is the total lack of mention of a guest worker aspect. Maybe, because the details of this aspect are too complicated and hard to apply.

According to the people who are out there in this bleak and inhospitable field, "A fence will slow people down by a minute or two, but if you don't have the agents to stop them it does no good. We're not talking about some impenetrable barrier," said T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council. Less, we not forget several border patrol agents are appealing convictions for too rigorously policing the border.