[solved]Should the United States Build a Wall between Mexico and the U.S.

Extra Credit Optional Assignment (up to 3 points) – Students who have already earned the maximum extra credit points should not complete this assignment.

Topic:

Should the United States Build a Wall between Mexico and the U.S.

Issue (This review was extracted from the website below)

Donald Trump promised supporters that he would build a wall between Mexico and the U.S. he on the country’s southern border. The President was convinced that Mexico would have to pay for it, saying he wanted to construct a barrier to keep out illegal migrants.

The President stated that he would build an “impenetrable, physical, tall, powerful, beautiful, southern border wall” between the US and Mexico.

In controversial speeches, he branded Mexicans “rapists” and “criminals” who were bringing problems into the United States.

The policy proved popular with voters in some heartland Republican areas as Trump unexpectedly swept into the White House.

Trump said 1,000 miles of wall will secure the 1,900-mile border and natural obstacles will take care of the rest. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2179808/donald-trump-wall-mexico-border-cost/ (Holly Christodoulou and Richard Wheatstone)

Assignment

Respond to the president’s claim with at least two secondary sources.  What managerial ability could be discussed in support of your point of view?

Should the United States Build a Wall between Mexico and the U.S.?

The debate surrounding the construction of a wall between the United States and Mexico has remained a contentious political and social issue. Proponents argue that such a wall is necessary for national security, immigration control, and drug interdiction. Opponents, however, view it as an ineffective, costly, and ethically questionable measure. A critical examination of the evidence suggests that building a physical barrier across the southern border is not a sustainable or effective solution to the challenges it purports to address.

Advocates of the wall often cite border security and illegal immigration as primary justifications. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has reported that physical barriers can deter illegal crossings in high-traffic areas (CBP, 2020). Former President Donald Trump claimed that a wall would reduce illegal immigration and drug trafficking (Trump, 2019). However, evidence shows that most undocumented immigrants enter the U.S. legally through ports of entry and overstay their visas rather than crossing the border unlawfully (Pew Research Center, 2019). This undermines the argument that a wall would significantly reduce illegal immigration.

In addition, drug trafficking is often used as a rationale for the wall. Yet, data from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reveals that the majority of drugs are smuggled through legal ports of entry using vehicles or hidden compartments, not through open desert areas (DEA, 2020). Thus, a wall would likely have limited impact on stemming the flow of narcotics into the country.

From an economic perspective, the cost of building and maintaining a border wall is substantial. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates the wall’s construction and upkeep could cost over $20 billion (GAO, 2017). In contrast, investments in advanced surveillance technology, improved port infrastructure, and increased personnel have been shown to be more effective and cost-efficient strategies (Congressional Budget Office [CBO], 2019).

Ethically and socially, the wall symbolizes division and xenophobia to many Americans and international observers. Human rights organizations argue that it violates the rights of asylum seekers and endangers migrants by pushing them into more hazardous routes (Human Rights Watch, 2018). Moreover, environmental groups have raised concerns about the wall’s detrimental impact on wildlife migration and protected habitats along the border (Sierra Club, 2020).

A comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of migration, such as economic instability, violence, and corruption in Central America, would be more humane and effective. Policies that support foreign aid, legal immigration reform, and bilateral cooperation offer long-term solutions that a wall cannot provide.

In conclusion, while the desire to secure national borders is legitimate, a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico does not address the complexities of immigration and drug trafficking. It is a costly and largely symbolic measure that fails to achieve its intended goals and raises serious ethical and environmental concerns. A balanced, strategic approach rooted in technology, policy reform, and diplomacy offers a more viable path forward.

References

CBP. (2020). Border wall system. U.S. Customs and Border Protection. https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/along-us-borders/border-wall-system

Congressional Budget Office. (2019). Options for securing the U.S. border. https://www.cbo.gov/publication/54988

DEA. (2020). National drug threat assessment 2020. U.S. Department of Justice. https://www.dea.gov/documents/2020/01/30/2020-national-drug-threat-assessment

GAO. (2017). Southwest border security: Additional actions needed to better assess fencing’s contributions to operations. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-17-331

Human Rights Watch. (2018). US: Border policy endangers asylum seekers. https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/12/05/us-border-policy-endangers-asylum-seekers

Pew Research Center. (2019). Facts on U.S. immigrants. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/06/17/facts-about-u-s-immigrants/

Sierra Club. (2020). Border wall. https://www.sierraclub.org/borderlands/border-wall

Trump, D. J. (2019). Remarks at the border security briefing. The White House. https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-border-security-briefing/