Every historical wall intended to keep people out was very easily circumvented... The Great Wall, the Berlin Wall... the entire perimeter of the US is 9,000 miles, the border between US and Mexico is a little over 3,000, so you’re only covering less than 1/3 of the total area. People will find ways around, or under, or over. Plus the cost is just absurd. They are talking $25 billion dollars or more. There’s a ton of better uses for that money than a useless wall.
Border between US and Mexico is 1, 989 miles not 3,000. The Berlin wall allowed estimated 5,000 breaches between 1961 and 1989. Seems that that wall worked pretty well. Cost absurd? I've read estimates that illegal immigration in 2016 costs US taxpayers more than $130b. seems like a no brainer.
So the proposed wall is actually smaller and covers less of the full perimeter of the US- I’m not sure how that supports your argument. The Berlin Wall was also separating half a city, not two countries. The cost estimates you are citing come from people “guessing” how much immigrants who use public services cost everyone- despite the fact that generally, if they are working here in the US, they are paying taxes and not collecting refunds. So immigrants pay additional taxes that the rest of us do not. They also can’t take advantage of any social programs- food stamps, welfare, medicare- due to the lack of citizenship. Additionally, most illegal immigrants initially came to the us legally, and simply overstay their visas. The vast majority of them are not walking over the border. A wall is an utter waste of funds. It’s not going to fix the stated problem (of illegal immigration) which I disagree is a problem at all, or even the biggest problem the US faces.
Your initial argument indicated that walls don't work and are to expensive. I only pointed out that history seems to refute that they work regardless of where they are deployed, and the cost savings to the taxpayers based on estimates is substantial. The cost estimates come from people guessing because nobody knows how many "undocumented immigrants " are in the country. btw the same study indicated they contribute an estimated $18b in tax revenue and other economic support. Still a no brainer. Also don't believe that proof of citizenship is required to take advantage of social programs offered in US .
Every historical wall intended to keep people out was very easily circumvented... The Great Wall, the Berlin Wall... the entire perimeter of the US is 9,000 miles, the border between US and Mexico is a little over 3,000, so you’re only covering less than 1/3 of the total area. People will find ways around, or under, or over. Plus the cost is just absurd. They are talking $25 billion dollars or more. There’s a ton of better uses for that money than a useless wall.
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updated estimate from realistic engineering perspective is $50 billion
Border between US and Mexico is 1, 989 miles not 3,000. The Berlin wall allowed estimated 5,000 breaches between 1961 and 1989. Seems that that wall worked pretty well. Cost absurd? I've read estimates that illegal immigration in 2016 costs US taxpayers more than $130b. seems like a no brainer.
So the proposed wall is actually smaller and covers less of the full perimeter of the US- I’m not sure how that supports your argument. The Berlin Wall was also separating half a city, not two countries. The cost estimates you are citing come from people “guessing” how much immigrants who use public services cost everyone- despite the fact that generally, if they are working here in the US, they are paying taxes and not collecting refunds. So immigrants pay additional taxes that the rest of us do not. They also can’t take advantage of any social programs- food stamps, welfare, medicare- due to the lack of citizenship. Additionally, most illegal immigrants initially came to the us legally, and simply overstay their visas. The vast majority of them are not walking over the border. A wall is an utter waste of funds. It’s not going to fix the stated problem (of illegal immigration) which I disagree is a problem at all, or even the biggest problem the US faces.
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Your initial argument indicated that walls don't work and are to expensive. I only pointed out that history seems to refute that they work regardless of where they are deployed, and the cost savings to the taxpayers based on estimates is substantial. The cost estimates come from people guessing because nobody knows how many "undocumented immigrants " are in the country. btw the same study indicated they contribute an estimated $18b in tax revenue and other economic support. Still a no brainer. Also don't believe that proof of citizenship is required to take advantage of social programs offered in US .