Editor,
One element crucial to US Immigration reforms is building a physical structure – “the Wall,” which I previously did not support. I see it now as a crucial advantage that will assist regional security within the C4 nations, Puerto Rico and Panama, and will particularly assist Mexico, currently flooded with criminal-terrorist organizations and economic refugees. It removes the incentive for this northward flood that will assist the US and Mexican governments in regaining security and economic control, stabilizing both nations.
The northern Triangle, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, had over 28,000 per month net human flight in 2017 due to extreme gang violence – drugs, sex trafficking and extortion – with child militant conscription, and pronounced government corruption with the concomitant economic disintegration always associated with this type of conduct.
El Salvador is losing 800 persons per day to this flight. US Boarder Patrol and ICE actively interdict economic refugees from diverse regions, including Africa and India, not fleeing from war or terrorism. Removing the relatively easy access to America will help stabilize this loss of otherwise law abiding “human capital,” thus supporting those nations’ growth and development.
The Mayan civilizations’ final destruction occurred in large part due to a prolonged and profound multi-year drought. Climate extremes from global warming assure this will recur, making a future mass migration certain. A physical structure will provide a substantial barrier and deterrent that the use of technology and additional security personnel cannot provide. Cost of such personnel will additionally keep escalating, including benefits and retirement, and such militarized “law enforcement” should not be available for use within the internal United States. We are already hyper-militarized under the single DHS and need to regain state authority in use of law enforcement and priorities.
Laura L. Coker