2008 Woodie Awards
Immigration is not the biggest problem that Americans face
Michael Brandon Harris-Peyton
Issue date: 1/18/08 Section: Ed-Op
It is a sad day in United States history when some politician thinks that we can solve illegal immigration with a fence. Fences will not solve the problem. It might, however, cut through American towns, as the most recent plans for a border fence in Texas, along the Rio Grande would. The no-man's land between the fences and the border would contain the U.S.-side banks of the river, including a number of back yards and houses. Illegal immigration prevention, right in your living room. Literally.
The proposed solution to illegal immigrants simply cutting through or hopping the fence would be cameras. But you have to pay people to watch cameras, and extra government employees lead to bigger bureaucracies, and larger budgets. The whole plan is a colossal waste of taxpayer funds-funds that Congress could be wasting on its myriad of other insanely foolish ideas, like buying both evolution-based and creationism-based "science" books for our schools, in the interests of acknowledging all perspectives, regardless of how mindlessly ridiculous they are.
Another poorly thought out idea that was proposed as a solution to illegal immigration was so elegantly beautiful in its simplicity that you knew there had to be a catch-the "let's just deport all them pesky illegal immigrants" plan.
Problem No. 1: there are an estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the continental U.S.
Problem No. 2: The Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agency stated in September that the approximate cost of deporting all these people would exceed $94 billion. And in that figure, they did not completely cover the costs of hunting down and catching all those undocumented immigrants who didn't want to go back. A spokesman for the agency laid out how they arrived at that figure for CNN, and said the following:
"He said the amount was calculated by multiplying the estimated 12 million people by the average cost of detaining people for a day: $97. That was multiplied by the average length of detention: 32 days. ICE officials also considered transportation costs, which average $1,000 per person. But that amount can vary widely, the spokesman said. Some deportees are simply driven by bus across the border, while others must take charter planes to distant countries, he said. Finally, the department looked at personnel costs, bringing the total to roughly $94 billion."
The proposed solution to illegal immigrants simply cutting through or hopping the fence would be cameras. But you have to pay people to watch cameras, and extra government employees lead to bigger bureaucracies, and larger budgets. The whole plan is a colossal waste of taxpayer funds-funds that Congress could be wasting on its myriad of other insanely foolish ideas, like buying both evolution-based and creationism-based "science" books for our schools, in the interests of acknowledging all perspectives, regardless of how mindlessly ridiculous they are.
Another poorly thought out idea that was proposed as a solution to illegal immigration was so elegantly beautiful in its simplicity that you knew there had to be a catch-the "let's just deport all them pesky illegal immigrants" plan.
Problem No. 1: there are an estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the continental U.S.
Problem No. 2: The Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agency stated in September that the approximate cost of deporting all these people would exceed $94 billion. And in that figure, they did not completely cover the costs of hunting down and catching all those undocumented immigrants who didn't want to go back. A spokesman for the agency laid out how they arrived at that figure for CNN, and said the following:
"He said the amount was calculated by multiplying the estimated 12 million people by the average cost of detaining people for a day: $97. That was multiplied by the average length of detention: 32 days. ICE officials also considered transportation costs, which average $1,000 per person. But that amount can vary widely, the spokesman said. Some deportees are simply driven by bus across the border, while others must take charter planes to distant countries, he said. Finally, the department looked at personnel costs, bringing the total to roughly $94 billion."
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 13
Bill
posted 1/18/08 @ 7:44 AM EST
It may not stop them, but it will slow them down. Whats the alternative? Granting one amnesty after another? I highly resent Mexico's corrupt oligarcy,
and the general sentiment that it's up to the United States to solve the problem. (Continued…)
Steve
posted 1/18/08 @ 9:09 AM EST
I don't agree with your solution on what should be done. This is mainly because you mentioned no solution on what should be done. You did have issues with solutions that have been presented, but offered no solutions of your own. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 1/18/08 @ 11:38 AM EST
"Illegal"Immigration "is" the biggest problem that Americans face.
Most of the problems facing us today can be directly related to "Illegal"Immigration. (Continued…)
howard
posted 1/18/08 @ 1:29 PM EST
It is amazing what the naysayers come up with on the issue of illegal immigration. We can't enforce the borders, can't deport them, the list goes on. (Continued…)
Karen
posted 1/18/08 @ 4:42 PM EST
My neighbor had this dog. It kept coming over to my yard and crapping and eating my own dog's food. It created alot of tension and even would fight my dog. (Continued…)
american
posted 1/18/08 @ 6:34 PM EST
I have a solution to the problem. Currently, any pregnant woman that can make it across the border and to the emergency room will have her baby paid for by the American taxpayers. (Continued…)
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