The cheerful paintings of flowers on the tall metal posts on the Tijuana side of the border fence between the U.S. and Mexico belie the sadness of the Mexican families who have gathered there to exchange whispers, tears, and jokes with relatives on the San Diego side.
Many have been separated from their family members for years. Some were deported to Mexico after having lived in the United States for decades without authorization, leaving behind children, spouses, siblings, and parents. Others never left Mexico, but have made their way to the fence to see relatives in the United States. With its prison–like ambience and Orwellian name—Friendship Park—this site is one of the very few places where families separated by immigration rules can have even fleeting contact with their loved ones, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Elsewhere, the tall metal barrier is heavily patrolled.
So is to be the wall that President Donald Trump promises to build along the border. But no matter how tall and thick a wall will be, illicit flows will cross.
Undocumented workers and drugs will still find their way across any barrier the administration ends up building. And such a wall will be irrelevant to those people who become undocumented immigrants by overstaying their visas—who for many years have outnumbered those who become undocumented immigrants by crossing the U.S.–Mexico border.
The border, and more broadly how the United States defines its relations with Mexico, directly affects the 12 million people who live within 100 miles of the border. In multiple and very significant ways that have not been acknowledged or understood it will also affect communities all across the United States as well as Mexico.
The idea disclosed by the President of the United States has left the public in a state of bewilderment. Does Donald Trump have any idea about how absurd the idea of raising a wall in between America and Mexico to solve the woes of immigration sounds? Although the people of the States are hopeful of Trump abandoning his absurd campaign, the President’s intentions seem to take no turmoil and he continues to think that 1300 mile-long wall will resolve all the issues that are currently prevailing. However, let us understand the issues that won’t be resolved even if a wall is built.
1. Undocumented immigrants already prevail in the States: While President Trump is living in a euphoric state believing that building a wall in between America and Mexico shall resolve all the immigration problems, he remains unaware of the real issues. According to the Department of Homeland Security, most of the immigrants prevailing in America are the ones that travel to the country through air or water with a licensed visa but overstay their visit. There have been many actions taken in the past to resolve the issue; however financial and technical issues have always meddled in between the legal procedures. Definitely raising up a wall isn’t going to solve this issue.
2. Terrorist invasion isn’t going to stop: According to the President’s “brilliant” plan, the terrorists shall be thwarted once the execution of building of the wall takes place. However, according to the evidence gathered by Homeland Security Department, there are no traces of terrorists crossing the southwest border, no terrorists have ever found to have entered the US through Mexico. As a matter of fact, the act of terrorism that has ever taken place in the US after the 9/11 incidents are all from within the country and rarely anyone having found of Mexican relationship.
3. Mexican Immigration was mainly because of economic issues: President Trump really needs to understand that economy has played a huge role in the past for the increase of immigrants in the country. The recession that took place in the year 1980 was the reason behind creating a chaos of Mexican invaders in America in search of employment and shelter rather than any other agenda. Now, when the situations in Mexico have altered entirely, the citizens of the country do not plan on entering to the US at all.
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