Won't a wall, supposing it's somewhat effective at mitigating unlawful entry over the surface, simply encourage even more risky behavior such as (more?) tunneling and/or attempts at entering via the Gulf?

Also, for cat lovers out there, you might want to note this detail that just adds to the suffering this will perpetuate:

Concern is shared with environmental advocates who say structures will run through public lands, habitats of endangered plants and species like the Ocelot, a spotted wild cat.

Finally, wouldn't the more modern, humane, and fiscally responsible solution to this whole issue be migration reform such that people can more easily, legally enter the country? More people become citizens, more tax revenue, governments' budgets may still be tight but more manageable (supposing they continue to insist on avoiding taxing businesses more).

Don't get me wrong, though, I realize a big part of why it's not being addressed that way is related to fearmongering, with another big part being exploited migrant labor.

[–] rockSlayer@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago

Fun fact, we closed the southern border because of racism in the 1800s. Before then, people could travel freely, and it wasn't a problem in the slightest.

[–] SheeEttin@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

Considering that most illegal immigration happens by people overstaying a visa, not crossing the border, this is mostly performative.

Or at least that was true a few years ago. I don't know if it's changed at all.

[–] Varyk@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

Looks like a legacy baby hands decision, not a biden decision: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/jun/30/joe-biden-forced-build-donald-trumps-border-wall/

TLDR: This is a 2019 law passed by Congress during the baby hands administration. The Biden administration has been pretty careful not to overstep other branches of government(I think as a direct response to how flagrantly and harmfully baby hands used executive action), and while Biden returned wall money taken from the DoD, the rest of the wall money was explicitly designated by Congress for building the border wall in 2019 and Congress will not cancel that legislative order(wall funds), despite Biden asking Congress to cancel the 2019 wall funds law since arriving in office in 2020.

This post is misleading, the money is being legally used for a legislatively required purpose and any federal laws are being broken legislatively by Congress as a result of baby hands in 2019, not the Biden administration.