Informative Essay On US-Mexico Border Fence

Running head: U.S.-MEXICO BORDER FENCE U.S.-Mexico Border Fence Dorothy Watson Axia College of University of Phoenix U.S.-Mexico Border Fence Picture this, a nice little bungalow close to the Rio Grande River, with excellent views and a multitude of wildlife. Six months later, picture that same little bungalow, and instead of the scenic view of the river, picture a 20 foot high wall of concrete posts. The migratory routes for the wildlife have been eliminated, and private property has been condemned. All this just to build a fence. Are the American people aware of the costs associated with the U.S.-Mexico Border Fence? Monetarily the amount is astronomical. Are the American people aware of the fact that during the Bush administration,
Is the expense, monetarily and environmentally, associated with the fence worth it? According to Bill Whitaker, a CBS news correspondent, it does not make a difference what type of fence is built. If there is a way around, over or through the barrier, it will be used. Car carriers are used to drive over the smaller sections of fencing. Since 2000, there have been 21 tunnels discovered under the border. (Whitaker. 2008). Some people tout the efficiency of the fence. Border patrol agent Mike Lowrie stated "This used to be a very high-trafficked area, and now it is not." He continued with, “In the Yuma Sector, we would get about 800 a day. Now, 25 maybe, or 10." (King. 2009.) Illegal Immigrant arrests have decreased in the San Diego area. (Spagat. 2007). The immigrants are crossing in areas that are more dangerous to them and have less patrol because of the terrain. The fence has not stopped immigration, only diverted it to other areas. Father John Herman, a Roman Catholic priest, blames the fence for more risky crossings in less-populated desert areas. He says "We know that the way enforcement has gone has driven many people into the desert and caused more deaths. Needless deaths. If we could only get together and work for comprehensive immigration reform." (King.
2004). Howard Berman, a member of the House of Representatives, believes that a guest worker program would be a mistake. Berman believes that this would only encourage the workers to not return home because they would be better off staying and going underground. He also believes that this would only lower the wages of the farm worker because of the abundance of immigrant workers who would arrive. (Berman. 2002.) I live in an area full of apple orchards. In the next small town is the Musselman’s plant where they produce applesauce, juice, and other apple products. A little farther down the road one can find several other companies that use apples for their products. I have been past the orchards and the factories. The majority of the workers are immigrants, legal, or not, I do not know. When a group of recent graduates, that were visiting, were asked if they would consider employment in any of these places, with a substantial amount of pay, there was a resounding “no” from the group. Asked why and the response was because it was not a job they would like to