In December, 2005, the House of Representatives passed a bill offering solutions to the problem of illegal immigration. The current bill includes a 700 foot long, 2.2 billion dollar wall to be constructed along the US-Mexico border. The Senate will vote on it in February, and is expected to make certain changes before attempting to pass it. Is the wall really going to happen, and follow the Great Wall of China and the Berlin Wall into history? Is it necessary and wise? The current situation does need to change somehow. But arriving at the best possible solution is undeniably going to be a great political challenge.

Since 1996, the number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. has almost quadrupled, from 3 to more than 11 million. Immigrants are increasingly willing to take their chances with the Border Patrol for under-the-table job opportunities. Most are coming from Mexico, where there simply aren’t enough jobs and money to support the population. Currently, illegal US workers send home 16 billion dollars, making it the second largest source of income in Mexico. The Mexican government stops just short of explicit support of illegal border crossing, and recently handed out 70,000 safety maps, noting potential danger zones around the border. The money is needed, and workers are finding the jobs. US employers have been consistently giving jobs to these illegal workers, who are often willing to work for less than minimum wage and under less than lawful conditions.

America is a land of immigrants, and has been dramatically shaped by each new group. But this current influx has been unregulated for years, and the system needs to shift to make things fair and efficient for all. As it stands, American taxpayers suffer, and are paying out billions of dollars every year to provide health care and social services to the immigrants, who pay no taxes. Our borders have apparent vulnerabilities and with the well-intentioned workers come drug traffickers and potential terrorists. For every illegal immigrant who enters the workforce successfully, a legal immigrant is cursing himself as he waits years for paperwork to process. The illegal immigrants themselves are not free from worries. They have to live in fear of exposure and are often exploited by less than scrupulous employers.

It’s clear that something must be done. President Bush wants a guest worker program, with temporary work cards for immigrants. Congress is divided. Hard line Republicans oppose Bush’s plan, and want absolute removal of workers and physical walls built. Some moderates, such as John McCain (R) and Edward Kennedy (D), want workers to be able to attain citizenship legally, after paying fees and passing background checks. The idea of a wall has already passed its way through the House, but it will be interesting to see if the Senate will approve of it. Historically, walls have either been largely symbolic (the Great Wall of China) or large and impenetrable (the Berlin Wall). The current version is still vulnerable. Is America ready to build of 2.2 billion dollar message telling Mexicans to stay home?

Originally published by InternationalistMag.com on January 27, 2006