Mary Holton

ENG 1201-503

Joyce Barnes

November 3, 2019

U.S.-MEXICAN BORDER WALL

(Kirstjen Nielsen, Dept. Homeland Security & members of law enforcement agencies)

Is the “Border Wall” helping stop the influx of illegal immigrants from Mexico and the Mexican

Cartel’s drug trade? The above picture gives the impression that the Department of Homeland

Security and President Trump have the support of law enforcement agencies in building of the

U.S.-Mexican Border Wall. This is not entirely accurate. This topic has caused very strong

responses not only along political party lines, but amongst law enforcement agencies,

neighboring countries as well as families, neighbors and friends. There is no way to look at this

dispassionately. I know my own feelings about this topic are very strong in favor of the wall. We

need the “Border Wall” to help protect our country and citizens.
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I have two reasons for wanting the wall to be built. One is as a teenager living in South Texas (I

lived there for 5 years.), I came close to being accosted by some young Mexican males, who

were swimming across the Rio Grande River from Mexico toward a girlfriend and I, who were

on the Texas side of the river at South Padre Island. The only thing that stopped them was the

shotgun we had with us. The second reason is that I have a niece who became involved with a

young Mexican she met at school. Unfortunately, she did not realize until after their second child

was born that he was a member of the Mexican cartel. She has since cut ties with him, but we

live in fear that he (who is now in Mexico due to outstanding warrants), his family or his

associates will try to kidnap their three sons and take them to Mexico.

As you can see, I have firsthand knowledge about this issue, and some very real concerns which

have formed my reasons for supporting the building of the “Border Wall”. I also know that this is

a very controversial topic for everyone. My own sisters and some of my high school friends have

serious concerns about this project. They are concerned about what this will do to the

environment, and if it will be effective in the long run.

In doing my research I decided to interview, via email, one of my sisters (Mrs. Debra Quist, lives

& works in the Port Isabel, Texas community) and my best friend from high school (Mrs. Gina

Cross, is of Mexican descent with family still in Mexico, and has lived most of her life in South

Texas) to obtain their views on this issue. Their opinions concerning this issue are similar, but at

the same time vastly different. My friend feels that the wall, although not continuous along the

border has been effective in the areas where it has been built. My sister feels that wall is an

ineffective waste of money.

One of the top reasons for building the U.S.-Mexican Border Wall was to help decrease both the

number of illegal immigrants and the amount of drugs from entering the U.S. each day.
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Additionally, the intent was to help prevent those involved with human trafficking from taking

U.S. citizens (especially children) out of the U.S. The numbers of illegal, or undocumented,

immigrants that have been apprehended by Border Patrol Agents this year alone are staggering.

In an article from March 26, 2019, Border Patrol Agents apprehended approximately 3970+

illegal immigrants, the highest number since President Trump took office. And in June 2019

over 100,000 immigrants from Central America were taken into custody at immigration

facilities. These numbers are not encouraging.

(Photo taken 9/23/2019 of immigrants trying to enter U.S. illegally.)

One of the biggest issues that has developed due to the controversy over the wall is the

separation of children from their parents in the immigration facilities. Where these children are

concerned there is also much criticism of the treatment they are receiving. There have been

reports of unclean living conditions, overcrowding, unwashed children and clothes, inedible

food, and lack of medical care when needed. Should viewers believe these reports? Are these

reports accurate? Or are they politically slanted to show the worst? These families were warned

that they would not be allowed in to the country and that the facilities they would be housed in

were dangerously overcrowded, but they came anyways. The parents have put their children in

this situation, not the U.S. government or her agents.

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The above mentioned are the children shown on the nightly news, but what about the children

that immigrants have left behind in their home countries? What kind of treatment are those

children receiving with no parents there to care for them? In one article it tells of a father in

Honduras who withdrew his children from an American run school so he could “join the illegal

caravan in hopes of a better future.” (Cannales, “I’m a US citizen…..”) The school learned a few

days later “that his children appeared on the news about a week ago as now being held in the

Honduran capital……where they will now be placed in an orphanage.” (Cannales, “I’m a US

citizen….”) The father “continues marching onward to the United States.” (Cannales, “I’m a US

citizen….”)

There is no way to look at the issue of the wall without looking at the immigration issues,

especially when they affect families. Unfortunately, parents and their children are separated

every day by ICE agents. Parents come to America and give birth to their children, which makes

the child an American citizen. That being said, the parents are still illegal, or undocumented,

which means they risk daily being deported back to their country of origin without their child.

My sister works for a school and she has had to console students whose parents have been

deported leaving them behind with family and/or friends, or even worse at the mercy of

Department of Children Services. My sister gives an example of a parent whose visa expired, but

they were unable to get an extension, even though their child was in the hospital seriously ill.

This is when immigration laws become harsh and amoral. Laws need to have compassion as

well.

The drug trafficking trade has not slowed down, just shifted to areas where there is no wall yet,

to ports of entry and to tunnels. Although the Border Patrol Agency tries to add additional patrols

in the areas where there are gaps in the wall/fences, to apprehend anyone trying to transplant
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illegal drugs into the country. Some research found that the wall was intentionally built in some

areas to force illegal activity into the ports of entry. This allows Customs and Border Patrol

Agencies a safer way to stop criminal activity. They have more back up if they need it, which

deters potential gun battles.

The areas of along the border where there are gaps in the Wall are supposed to be manned by

Border Patrol, but this is not always the case. In the interview conducted with Mrs. Quist, she

speaks of two separate occasions where she “walked up to these gaps and touched the wall.” She

states both times there were no agents in the area.

Unfortunately, just like the West Bank Wall in Israel, criminal activity seems to have moved to

other locations, and the criminals have found other means of getting their product into the United

States. In San Diego drug smugglers have started using everything from jet skis to pleasure

yachts to transport their product into the United States. They have also implemented a tunnel

system into the city. These new methods have caused the government agencies to for specialty

teams, like the “Tunnel Rats”, to help stop the influx of illegal activity. The over all feeling by

these agents is that as long as there is a demand in the United States for the drugs, the smugglers

will find a way to get their product thru the barriers.

This issue has become a hot topic for politicians. For years politicians have promised to do

something to deter the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants across the border, but nothing was

done. Finally, once Trump was elected the wall began to be completed and this issue became a

huge battle ground for Washington. The battle became so heated that it was one of the issues that

caused the government shut down at the beginning of 2019. In the interviews with Mrs. Cross

and Mrs. Quist, both subjects were asked if they felt that the controversy was politically
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motivated. Both said yes, but one, Mrs. Quist, felt that it is more an issue because people are

uninformed which added to the political debate, or division.

In doing research an issue was brought to light that had never been considered. It is the issue of

“Racism”. There are those who feel that white Americans want the wall to keep out “brown

skinned” Mexicans. The fact that there is currently no wall, or plans to build one, at the Canadian

border is to some a loud statement that the wall is racially motivated. This is a very disturbing

thought, but very possibly true to an extent. Even in the 1980’s there was evidence in South

Texas that the rights of Mexicans were open to interpretation by the whites. White parents forbid

their daughters from dating any boy that was even part Mexican. Families disowned their

children for being involved with a “wet-back”, made no difference that the young person was

born in the United States. Mexicans were/have been/still are subjected to some of the same racial

prejudices that African-Americans are forced to live with daily.

There are also arguments against the wall due to environmental issues. In some areas, the local

residents claim that the wall has caused devasting floods on both sides of the border. Some have

been caused by concrete being poured in the wrong spots causing blockages to cisterns and

underground drainage ditches. The increase in flooding in other areas is still undetermined

currently. Much of the environmental concerns are still speculation on the part of the

Environmentalists who are against the wall. It may be years before the affects to the environment

are known or seen.

There is also concern that the wall will affect the wildlife in certain areas by interrupting

migratory paths of animals, which may affect mating habits of these same animals. Some of

these animals are already on the “Endangered Species” list, as sad as it would be the terrible fact

remains that some may become extinct before this century is over. If wildlife is affected, then so
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will the plants in these areas as some depend on the animals to help them survive. Much of the

concern over the wildlife in the area around the wall is speculation by those opposed to the wall.

Another issue is the wall’s affect on what is called the “Third Nation”. This is the area between

the borders. This was a new concern that had not been considered. Areas like the Tonhono

O’Odham Indian Reservation, whose land is cut in half by the wall. This makes it impossible for

these Indians to reach some of their sacred lands, and to visit family members who live on the

other side of the wall. So once again a culture that has lost so much, is losing even more of their

land and heritage. This is concerning, as the Native Americans have already lost so much of their

heritage, but how can this situation be avoided? The safety of the United States and her citizens

must be a priority.

Now for the biggest argument over the border wall…. the cost of the wall. The evidence that has

been found has the cost anywhere from $8 billion to $70 billion to build it. These figures include

the purchasing of the land needed to build the wall. These figures do not include maintaining the

wall. The cost of maintaining the wall will be several 100 million each year. The annual costs

include maintenance and staffing of Border Patrol Agents.

The above picture shows the areas where the gaps have been left open leaving less area to be

patrolled by agents, and fewer places for criminal activities to take place. Some of the gaps are
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due to the terrain of the area, which prevents the wall being built. These areas are also

impassable by humans. This does allow agencies to focus manpower in the areas they are needed

the most.

Everyone talks about the cost of the Wall, building, maintaining, and manning it, but what does it

cost us to support these illegal immigrants? They come here with no place to live, no jobs, and

the citizens of the U.S. must pay for their care. They are given welfare, medical care, all of

which comes out of taxpayers’ pocket. Illegal immigrants are even provided shelter, food,

medical care, and legal services after being apprehended by ICE and Border Patrol agents. Most

illegals, if they make it past the border without being stopped, must live in homeless shelters

until they can reach their family members already in U.S.

(Mother & daughter waiting to enter overnight shelter)

The reasons that immigrants have for coming to the United States must be respected: better lives

for themselves and their children, after all that is why the Pilgrims came to America. They just

need to do it the right way, legally. Yes, the legal process is long, and there are no guarantees

that immigrants will be granted entrance into the U.S. Ultimately everyone needs to remember

that the United States is founded on a democracy of laws that are in place to protect all her

citizens. If the government starts looking the other way and ignoring immigration laws were will

that leave this country?

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Unfortunately, along with those that are searching for the “American dream”, a criminal element

also comes into our country preying on those that are weak and too sick to turn them away.

Those are the ones the wall is meant to keep out more than any other group. Maybe someday

there will be a cure for drug addiction and then the Cartel will be put out of business. Some day

the perverts that deal in human trafficking will fall off the face of the Earth, and there will no

longer be a need fear for the safety of the children and women of the United States.

Although the evidence does not fully support the argument for the border wall, it is needed. Even

with all these facts and information presented, the argument that the wall is needed is still a valid

argument. To date this has been the most effective measure taken by the government to curb the

flow of illegal immigrants and drugs into our country. Personal experiences and concerns for the

safety of family have forged the firm belief that the wall is needed. This process has raised more

questions that need answered if Americans are ever going to be able to agree, or at the very least

compromise, on a solution to fix the problems along the U.S.-Mexican border.

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Works Cited
Ainsley, Julia and Courtney Kube. "Daily border crossings by undocumented migrants hit 13-year highs."
correspondents-Depart. of Homeland Security; Dept. of Justice; National Security & the Military,
2019. <www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration>.

Ayala, Elaine. "San Antonio activists are cringing, wondering who will follow Kirstjen Nielson." San
Antonio Express-News 9 April 2019.
<https://www.expressnews.com/news/news_columnists/elaine_ayala/article/San-Antonio-
activists-are-cringing-wondering-who-13751683.php>.

CANALES, JENNIFER ZILLY. I’m a US Citizen Living in Honduras. Here’s What I Think About the Caravan. 3
December 2018. <https://stream.org/us-citizen-living-honduras-think-caravan>.

Cross, Dorothy Regina "Gina". Employee of U.S. Fish and Wildlife; Mexican heritage; friend, pro border
wall Mary R. Holton. 2019.

Dear, M.J. (Michael J.). Why Walls Won't Work: Repairing the US-Mexico Divide. Oxford University Press,
2013.

del Bosque, Melissa. "Back to the WAll." Texas Monthly December 2018: 58-72.
<https://www.texasmonthly.com/>.

Ellicott, Val. "IMMIGRATION POLICY." CQ Researcher. 22 July 2019. <http://library.cqpress.com/>.

Getmansky, Anna, Grossman, Guy, Wright, Austin L. "Will a U.S.-Mexico border wall reduce crime?
Here's what we know from Israil's West Bank." 9 October 2019. Washingtonpost.com.
<http://go-gale-com.sinclair.ohionet.org>.

Hesson, Ted. Politico. 12 2 2019. <https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/12/border-security-

spending-deal-1163709>.

Karlin, Mark. "Fencing the Southern Border of the United States REflects American Racism." Ed. Louise
Gerdes. Gale, a Cengage Company, 1 January 2014. <http://go-gale-com.sinclair.ohionet.org>.

Quist, Debra. Dean of Curriculm, Port Isabel Schools, Port Isabel, Texas; sister, anti border wall Mary R.
Holton. 2019.

Rick Jervis, Daniel Borunda, Vicky Camarillo, Rafael Carranza, Daniel Connolly, Hannah Gaber, Diana
Garcia, Julia Gavarrete, Alan Gomez, Daniel Gonzalez, Jack Gruber, Harrison Hill, Sandy Hooper,
Bart Jansen, Mark Lambie, Pamela Ren Larson, Sean Logan, Aa. "One deadly week reveals where
the immigration crisis begins — and where it ends." USA TODAY 1 October 2019.
<https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/2019/09/23/immigration-crisis-migrants-us-
mexico-border/2022670001/>.

Solis, Gustavo. "Drug smuggling, and the endless battle to stop it." USAToday 2018.
<https://www.usatoday.com/border-wall/>.

Stewart, Cameron. "BORDER WALL STONEWALL." Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints. Australia: News
Limited, 12 January 2019. <http://go-gale-com.sinclair.ohionet.org/>.
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The Wall. Prod. Kathy, Lozano, Emmanuel, Susong, Josh Kieliszewski. USA Today Network, 2018.
Documentary.

"Trump's Border Wall." n.d.

<https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/Images/2017/3/30/e0592703367748bfa66d9d63b23ef91
9_6.jpg>.

Vittert, Liberty. "Trump's border wall--how much it will actually cost according to a statitician." 2018.
<www.foxnews.com/opinion/>.