By Auguste Chardonnet

 For building fence:  With big national debt/annual deficits, country can't sustain drag on economy/cost increases that follow illegal immigration.  Amnesty/other proposed fixes current illegal immigration problem can't be considered until border fence is in place, since change in laws for scheduled date could trigger massive inflow of illegals.

 For:  We shouldn't have problem building simple fence, with billions of dollars of government funds available.  Would cut off vehicle transport of illegals, forcing them to enter country by legal channels or cover hundreds of miles on foot/other obstacles  Would create thousands of construction jobs  In addition to stopping much illegal immigration, would increase number of arrests of illegal immigrants  It would help contain illegal drug trade from Mexico to US and help keep drug wars outside the US.  The wall would provide additional protection from terrorist entry into the country.

 Against building fence:  Can’t afford materials/labor cost to build fence.  Damages international view of U.S., giving propaganda weapon to enemies, who may compare the fence to Berlin Wall.  Covering that long of border will take long time to build/may not be effective.  Fence would disrupt environment/wild life, may potentially cross rivers, sanctuaries, preservations, parks, etc.

 Against:  The costs/risks to humans crossing border will dramatically increase.  Might strain relations between Mexico and the United States.  Because of increased costs/risks of crossing, illegal immigrants that pursued seasonal work then returned home may have to bring families/live permanently in the country.

 Do not want to build a wall in between Mexico and US, but have recently conceded to Republicans on Border Security.  (see current state of border control)

 Republicans want to build a large fence along Mexico to stop the flow of illegal immigrants. They also want to increase security and give border security overwhelming power

 Wants to build border fence and halt illegal immigration. Wants to "turn off the magnet" that draws illegal immigrants by creating tough employer sanctions

 Does not want to build border fence, but wants to send thousands of border patrol and National Guard to patrol border

 Wants to build fence to keep illegal immigrants out.  Says, “To not build a border or a fence on every part of that border would be an effect to yield United States sovereignty”

 President Bush signed Secure Fence Act in 2006, an authorization to build 700 mile long fence along southern border. However, Act was suspended and went nowhere.  Democrats have signed bill to enforce border control but not fence. Revealed $600 million plan fund 1,500 new border patrol agents and underwrite more unmanned aerial drones to provide border surveillance and will also avoid adding to deficit by raising fees on handful of foreign corporations that abuse U.S. visa programs to import workers from India.

 "Behold, a fence." National Review 20 Nov. 2006: 16. Gale Power Search. Web. 15 Sep  "Huntsman: Perry's Position on Border Fence 'Treasonous'" Newsmax - Newsmax.com - Breaking News, Politics, Commentary. NewsMax.com, 12 Sept Web. 15 Sept  Messerli, Joe. "BalancedPolitics.org - Mexico Border Fence Illegal Immigration (Pros & Cons, Arguments For and Against, Advantages & Disadvantages)."BalancedPolitics.org. Balanced Politics, 18 May Web. 15 Sept  "Mitt Romney Vows to Halt Illegal Immigration - KTAR.com." Phoenix and Arizona Breaking News And News Headlines - Home - KTAR.com. Bonneville International, 14 Sept Web. 15 Sept  Lai, Prenra. "Senate Democrats Concede to Republicans on Border Security."Change.org News. Change.org, 5 Aug Web. 15 Sept  Taylor, Jeff. "Gringo capitalism: beyond border control." Reason Nov. 2006: 12. Gale Power Search. Web. 15 Sep  Wolverton, Joe. "Is Border Fence to Keep "Us" In; Not "Them" Out?" The New American. The New American Magazine, 14 Sept Web. 15 Sept