Southern Border Barriers

Donald Trump’s extreme decision to build a wall along the United States’ southern border is a sudden yet radical approach to the immigration problem that many have been attempting to solve for years. His decision will affect many lives, and will change quite a few relationships, that the United States currently have in regards to trade, agriculture, and economy. The addition of a physical barrier, that actually separates the United States from the rest of its bordering countries, is not a wise move to make because the barrier makes the United States seem isolated, or separated, from the rest of the world. Building a wall along the Mexican-American border will not be effective if it is put in place. A wall will harmfully damage the environment,

The problem is that even with literally hardened borders, this wall will not be able to stop anyone who wants to come overseas via boats, through planes, or even underground. One barrier will lead to the introduction of other entry points as people find more ways to get into the country. Using past history as an indication for the future, Reed Karaim writes in his essay Building Walls, “ After all, the Berlin Wall fell, the Romans eventually abandoned Hadrian’s wall, the Manchu finally conquered China, and even the massive fortifications of the French Maginot Line…were rendered ineffectual when the Germans simply went around them” (Cucinella, page 33). This quote shows how there is always an alternative, no matter what barriers are put in place. Whether they be physical walls, such as the Berlin Wall or what Trump wants to do with his wall, or a blockade, such as the one used in France, the barriers always seem to be taken down, ran through, or proven ineffective. Also, according to Ali Noorani, the executive director of the national immigration forum, adding this wall is going to “unnecessarily damage our relationship with Mexico”. All these points are signs that show that the building of the wall is not going to be effective enough to make a large enough change, and will also be a waste of time and

Therefore, there is no chance, when it is built, that it will be effective. In not building the wall, the United States will not only save almost a total of at least $25 billion, but that money can be put towards other uses not only limited to the immigration crisis. Along with the environmental risks, as well as no true end to the immigration problem, in building the wall, America is not going to progress, but may even regress because of wasted efforts on something that is ineffective in solving the issue that needs to be addressed. Making this wall is going to cause a separation internally, which may eventually lead to more problems arising in the