OPINION 11 The Harbinger - March 2019
Students speak out
Build the wall?
YES. ABBY KEENE
It’s an emergency.
popular visas per fiscal year, limiting the amount of workers filling jobs so AmeriStaff Writer cans are not economically affected. If The United States Department of people enter the country without visas, it Homeland Security says there are a total throws numbers off and causes Ameriof 12 million undocumented immigrants cans to lose job opportunities. The border wall needs to be accepted in America. Fifty five percent of those undocumented immigrants entered from and funded by Congress to ensure the safety and economic wellbeing of the the southern border. The lack of security on the southern American people, and it should not be border of the United States is an emer- a partisan issue. The need for the wall is gency for multiple reasons including il- based on facts, not feelings. To clear up a common misconceplegal crossings for the sole purpose of living in the U.S. and dangerous drug traf- tion, “the wall” is not intended to be an 1,933 mile long barrier stretching the ficking. The 1,933 mile long southern border length of our southern border. Accordstretches from the Pacific Ocean in Cali- ing to Congressman Dan Crenshaw of fornia to the tip of southern Texas with Texas’ 2nd district, the “wall” will be barentry points in California, Arizona, New riers of fencing and steel, new technology Mexico and Texas. These entry points are and the addition of border patrol agents all places to legally earn asylum and enter in areas that are not covered by natural the United States on a visa or green card. barriers such as rivers, mountains and As President Trump explained in tough terrain. With the global power and opportuhis recent 2019 State of the Union address, immigrants enrich our nation and nity the U.S. has, people are enthusiastic about immigrating here. strengthen our society in With that comes many countless ways, but comEveryone is people trying to come into ing here is a privilege, the country every day, and not a right, and it must welcome, there may not be enough be done fairly and legally. but everyone visas to go around. I think Those escaping dangerous the limited number of conditions in areas such as must wait visas is smart, and makes communist Venezuela or their turn. sure there are enough jobs gang violence in Honduras for the immigrants who looking for a better life and are entering in hopes of opportunity are more than a better life. In extreme welcome into the United States. However, asylum seekers are only circumstances, I believe there should be welcomed if they follow the law and enter an expedited immigration process for those escaping dangerous circumstances at one of the entry points. Why would someone need to come and seeking asylum in the United States. here illegally? According to Texas Month- Otherwise, I believe the immigration proly, the reason comes down to numbers. cess is fair. The wall, increased technolThe government offers many kinds of ogy and border agents is vital to securing the United States. Everyone is welcome, visas, but there are only few of each. H-B2 visas are offered for temporary but everyone must wait their turn. It’s as non-agricultural workers, and are a very simple as that. sought after visa. The U.S. State Department says they offer only 66,000 of these
NO.
GRAPHICS LEAH GRINBLATAS
It’s unethical.
MARIAM IBRAHIMI
ers terrains including mountains, deserts and rivers. The president plans to argue Assistant Online Editor for eminent domain, taking private land One of the president’s main prom- for public use, in order to cut through ises on the campaign trail was that when thousands of people’s land and homes he gets into office, he will build a wall on that are on the border. Depending on who you ask, the enthe Mexican-American border. Over two years into his presidency and the people tire construction of the wall is estimated who voted for him are now searching for to cost anywhere from 8 to 67 billion dollars. Because there is no clear plan for this wall. After much negotiation, Congress, where this wall is to be placed, or what it which has the job of regulating such ex- is even going to be made out of, no one penses, compromised on a deal for 1.4 really has a concrete number for how much the wall will billion dollars cost. for 55 miles of Since Mexico fence in Texas. The notion that is not paying for This is not nearly America should have a this wall, despite enough for the what President 5.7 billion dolwall, a physical barrier, Trump claimed lars of 234 miles across its southern throughout his in steel wall that candidacy, America Trump had asked border is against has to cough up for. In early FebAmerican values and is billions of dollars ruary, the presithat we really don’t dent used, dare impractical. have. Our national I say abused, his debt is at 21 trillion executive power and counting! to declare a “NaExperts estimate that a 1000 mile tional Emergency” over the southern border in order to fund his long-prom- steel wall would take up to 11 -years of construction and labor to build with efised wall. Our nation’s very core is built by im- ficiency. The maintenance of the wall, migrants and continues to be a reason approximated to be 150 million dollars why it is well respected across the world. a year in a report by Senate Democrats, America has always been a safe haven for is another headache that taxpayers would anyone, especially immigrants and refu- have to deal with. Instead of building a wall, we could gees, to live “the American dream.” The notion that America should use this time and effort to create a bethave a wall, a physical barrier, across ter internal system for immigration. its southern border is against American Many supporters of the wall believe that values and is impractical. Mexicans are, problems the U.S. faces with illegal imin fact, not ruining our economy, as the migrants come from people who have President asserts: “They’re taking our jumped the southern border. This is not jobs. They’re taking our manufacturing entirely true because building the wall jobs. They’re taking our money. They’re will not magically remove the undocumented immigrants who are already in killing us.” Besides, a physical barrier will not the country. However, they should not stop illegal immigration. We currently be deported either. As active members have a wall of sorts that divides the bor- of our society, they deserve a place in der, so what will a longer and more ex- America. A screening protocol should be set in place that allows them to become pensive one do? The Mexico-U.S. border stretches documented, without fear of deportaacross more than 1500 miles, which cov- tion.
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