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I have mixed feelings. I want a border that is fully hardened against incursions and to turn away every single person with a bogus asylum claim from south of the border, which in my view is every single person with an asylum claim from south of the border. Nonetheless, framing it as being about the spread of Covid has always seemed like a dirty trick, a way to get around the preference for open borders that many in the bureaucracy seem to hold. On one hand, this trick is fine because it's in response to the trick of using "asylum" to create de facto open borders, on the other hand, I just don't like lying.
Note that no one, most republicans included, seems to actually want a secure border.
Actually securing the border would be both directly costly (you'd need both far more physical infrastructure and far more border guards) and indirectly costly (exacerbating existing labor shortages; many red industries depend on hispanic labor). Nativists genuinely wish there was less immigration, but relatively few are willing to pay the price for it.
Actually securing it is as chrap as laying mines.
That is a simply intolerable solution which would destroy the reputation of the United States, even if you don't mind killing thousands of migrants, and what is more it would be enormously dangerous for the surrounding border populations of both nations.
I guess the idea is that if you lay enough mines, nobody will be dumb enough to try to cross the border, and then (almost) nobody will die.
As opposed to the current situation, in which lots of people are dying while crossing the border, by drowning or dehydration or starvation.
But I'm guessing this would require an insane amount of mines to achieve. And it would render large amounts of land on both sides of the border unusable. There has to be a better way.
Fade in on a picturesque suburban house - white picket fence with a large and beautifully kept front lawn and garden - hydrangea, tulips, lavender and roses all blooming simultaneously in defiance of nature - framing a big two storey brick house with light trim. Suddenly a few dozen Hispanic people appear running in from off screen towards the house. As they approach the fence, an explosion throws a cloud of dirt and grass into the air, a severed arm lands on and destroys the roses. Seconds later another, this time a head bowls over the tulips. Soon the explosions are all that can be heard, and in the bay window of our home's first floor we see an upper middle class brunette with immaculate makeup wearing an apron and gloves over a blouse and dress. She gazes in dismay at the chaos on her front lawn and shakes her head, before turning to the camera:
Housewife: There has to be a better way!
Announcer: Everybody knows you can maintain a defensive perimeter with liberally placed mines. But it's not a pleasant experience - there are convoluted laws to follow, large amounts of mess to clean up, and nothing ruins a dinner party like incessant explosions punctuated by the screams of the dying. But we have always put up with it, because it was the only way to really stop Hispanic people from occupying your land. Until now! Introducing the Spic Span!* Thanks to a breakthrough in technology we have managed to utilise quantum tunnelling to allow Hispanics to bypass your property entirely! Simply replace your fence with a Spic Span, and any time an unwanted visitor touches it they will be instantly transported to beautiful Canada! That's not all though - buy within the next half hour and we'll throw in a second Spic Span free of charge! Why are we offering such an insane bargain? Our CEO has lost his mind and has been sectioned under article 63 of the mental health act, so take advantage while you can! No rainchecks.
*Spic Span concept courtesy of Xander Crews
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Look how common car accidents are, and how frequent deaths from car accidents were before safety was designed into both the roads and cars. The migrants might stop, but the people who live nearby wouldn't.
Also visa overstays
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