Bowsite.com

https://www.npr.org/2018/06/22/622246815/unauthorized-immigration-in-three-graphs What evidence do you rely on to justify an Emergency by the President? I think most people believe we need to do something on the southern border, for both security and humanitarian reasons, especially with the unknown of Central American immigration increasing. But based on the numbers and facts I see I don't want to create precedent for a President to label a "politically correct" pet project an Emergency. What's your argument for it?

https://www.npr.org/2018/06/22/622246815/unauthorized-immigration-in-three-graphs (copy and paste for graphs) NPR.Org The total number of people apprehended for illegally crossing the southern U.S. border has been steadily falling for almost two decades. It's a long-term trend that sociologists, economists and federal officials have been tracking for years.

The trend apparently at odds with statements made this week by President Trump, the secretary of Homeland Security and the attorney general. They defended the administration's detention and prosecution policies by saying that the number of people crossing the southern border has increased.

Officials frequently refer to two numbers to illustrate the increase in unauthorized immigration. As Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said in a speech on Monday:

"Since this time last year, there has been a 325 percent increase in Unaccompanied Alien Children and a 435 percent increase in family units entering the country illegally." However, fiscal year 2017 was a very unusual one for illegal immigration. There was an enormous dip in the number of people apprehended at the southern border in the first part of last year compared with the previous four years, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Sociologists are studying the possible reasons for that dip, but the numbers are clear.

A more telling month-to-month comparison would be between this May and May of 2014, at the peak of the most recent surge in people migrating from Central America. This May, Customs and Border Protection took 6,405 unaccompanied children into custody, compared with 10,578 children in May 2014. The trend was similar for families, with 9,485 apprehensions in May 2018, compared with 12,772 in May 2014.

As I see it, Trump is simply trying to build a mostly symbolic partial "Wall" that he can point to and claim he's fulfilled a campaign promise for political capital purposes. When in reality his "Wall" won't do much of anything to further slow the influx, which your data clearly shows has already been slowing for 2 decades.

Matt

The thing that gets me about this debate is that the only people I have read that is against the wall, are the people using or benefiting from the illegal labor and, people that don't live near the border. That is as telling to me as anything being stated as "fact".

Kelly

Kelly

I fully agree on your emergency powers thought. That's a very dangerous precedent to set.

Matt

And creating a fake emergency will backfire spectacularly.

If he is using it as a tactic to force the parties back to the negotiating table, I support it.

I agree it is a dangerous precedent, one the SC would most likely weigh in on. The checks and balances would most likely work, or at least I hope.

Great discussion, thanks.

Dirk, Hunt, Has, YFP and GG- legitimate points and thanks for your opinion/thoughts.

If it saves more money than it costs in a moderate/rational amount of time... It is reason enough to get it done.

If our country is bleeding to death in wasted expenditures on things we can eliminate, then that financial crisis is real enough for me to call it what it is. An economic crisis, provable and real.

Don't ask me to prove it out. It's an " if this then that" kind of thing. Someone with the numbers could help with that equation. I perceive it to be a good plug to an economic leak.

Which brings me to a question? Are there financial motives for more illegals? Something to do with funds being filtered from Federal to State? Welfare and healthcare perhaps?

If there was ever a true "emergency" it was during the '90s when illegal apprehensions averaged over a million each year. Now we're down to around 300K each year. I call that a substantial improvement.

I know, facts are hard to digest when they don't fit your narrative.

Matt

Where we disagree is though the trend in illegal immigration was trending down prior to 2017, a reversal back up is probably happening now. I do not believe this is a manufactured crisis, but a macro problem most don't recognize yet.

Referring to my previous comments regarding freedom, as an ever increasing number of countries south of our border shun economic principles that have worked, and install socialism, we will see more failed countries creating a massive Exodus of "refugees".

I hope I don't come off heartless here, but sending aid to those countries is not the answer. Not allowing them to escape to ours, but rather force them to deal with their situation at home, like we did, is better for all people in the long run, I pray. May God have mercy on me if I am wrong.

And yes, I accept many of you will disagree, and that is fine.

Or is that a number relative to all illegal attempted crossing? ... the total coming across.

Frank,

You are correct. Apprehensions ticked up to 396K in 2018 according to official US Customs report. I still contend that's a huge improvement over the '90s when they were over a MILLION each year.

That certainly doesn't mean we should be content with current levels. Improvements should be strived for each year, and I believe they are. But, don't you think it's a little disingenuous to declare a "crisis", now, when we've reduced the number by 1.2 MILLION per year since 2000?

Matt

No. Apprehensions are a direct correlation to the number of people attempting to cross illegally. Deportations run parallel with apprehensions, as well. So, there are less people attempting to cross, less people being caught, and less people being sent back than there were 2 decades ago....by a LOT!!

Matt

I really don't. I think our government across the board is aware of what is going on down south and have grave concerns. Even Democrats know now their support of immigrants is not a guarantee of support for them.

Is Trump better at taking advantage of situations like this better than anyone we've seen in our lifetime? Most definitely IMO.

It can be a necessity, but not an emergency, and warrant being built now. If you want to argue that we should only fund emergencies, I could slash the federal budget by a massive amount.

I'd argue our government has recognized the need for more border security thru-out history dating back to 1904, and especially so in the last 2 decades. The numbers support that.

I'm glad you mentioned the whole partisan support notion. In 2013 the D's proposed a $46B border security bill that included $8B for more fencing, and $30B for more border security agents. House republicans shot it down because it also included a citizenship path for the illegals who were already here, if they met certain criteria. The R's clearly feared the D's would increase their voter base more than they desired additional border security. Now, I think both sides are realizing how foolish that was.

I had the opportunity to interact with a bunch of Mexican immigrants when I was general contracting construction work. I'm sure some were here legally, and some weren't. I never got a sense that they leaned more left or right politically. In fact, many of them shared traditionally conservative views and values, like Christianity, capitalism, 2A rights, etc.... They were consistently the best crews I had...hard working, dependable, and polite. They'd often show up with 4-6 guys piled in each vehicle, and they'd swarm the job site like a bunch of worker bees. I don't ever recall a negative experience with any of them. I can't say that about some of my other non-immigrant crews.

Matt

I'm well aware of the cash payments, I've even seen them in the form of drugs and hookers, but I don't think that's the bulk of the problem.

Now if Europe is out of the equation which the numbers basically say it is, where are the majority of these immigrants and the exploding numbers coming from? MARS? We all know where, and it appears we could care less for OUR off springs, our children, our grand children and THEIR future? Give away our nation that our ancestors fought and died for and allow illegal immigrants to reap the benefits. The yield from their blood sweat, tears of their labor, and for many the ultimate sacrifice, for ME. I will never turn my back on their memory. NEVER. Not me. Not now. Not ever.

Now someone tell me " Who the hell is, or is quickly becoming, and by some estimates 2060 at the latest, going to be the Native Population in America"? We can not afford the monumental influx in sheer numbers of a single group impacting this nation in a myriad of negatives ways. Mathematically impossible.

The Rock

$5B to start. What a fuqn disgrace. Nothing beats a failure but a try.

The Great Melting Pot where nothing no longer melts.

You are far more concerned about race and ethnicity than I am. If a person is here legally, is a productive, law abiding citizen, and they espouse to predominately US views and values, I don't really give a rat's ass if they are of European, African, Indian, or Asian decent, nor what ethnicity they are.

Matt

California

LARGEST INSANE ASYLUM IN THE WORLD

Interesting that the LA Times did this. All the others are staying away from it. Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, this should be of great interest to you!

Just One State - be sure and read the last part... try for 3 times.

If this doesn't open your eyes, nothing will!

From the LA. Times:

1. 40% of all workers in LA County (10.2 million people) are working for cash; and not paying taxes. This is because they are predominantly illegal immigrants, working without a green card. (Donald Trump was right)

2 95%of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.

3. 75% of people on the most wanted list in Los Angeles are illegal aliens.

4. Over 2/3 of all births in Los Angeles County are to illegal alien Mexicans on Medi-Cal, whose births were totally paid for by taxpayers.

5. Nearly 35% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals; they are here illegally.

6. Over 300,000 illegal aliens in Los Angeles County are living in garages.

7. The FBI reports half of all gang members in Los Angeles are most likely illegal aliens from south of the border.

8. Nearly 60% of all occupants of HUD properties are illegal.

9. 21 radio stations in LA are Spanish-speaking.

10. In LA County, 5.1 million people speak English; 3.9 million, speak Spanish. (There are 10.2 million people, in LA County.

(All 10 of the above facts were published in the Los Angeles Times)

Less than 2% of illegal aliens are picking our crops, but over 29% are on welfare.

Over 70% of the United States' annual population growth, (and over 90% of California, Florida, and New York), results from immigration.

Also, 29% of inmates in federal prisons are illegal aliens.

Seems like the free stuff is flowing out of those holes in our ship ... sinking us. It's apparently Costing a huge amount to the American taxpayer. Who voted for that?

That is where I am concerned. Is it now a new "American- moral- value" to give a free ride to whoever shows up? (40% or so )... It is not a Biblical value that I know of.

Maybe there is a correlation... While turning against those standards, as Found in the Beliefs of God-based religions , are we substituting our past function with this dysfunction ... or is that just a coincidence?

weird how hypocrisy plays a role in this huh?

You've made my point. Look at the numbers. These are reported numbers of illegals. What are the true numbers? Add up the costs to American taxpayers and you are balking at $ 5B. Btw...I am not concerned, I am totally against any single ethnic group that would attempt, and in this case succeeding, to overwhelm and invade by sheer numbers a sovereign nation, and drain that nations resources. They enter our nation waving their flags and fleeing their bankrupt and decrepit nation, and in the process devaluing our own and America's future. Black Americans, true Americans, should be up in arms and leading the charge. Yes I am against any country that would fall victim to aliens who illegally take over a successful country to mirror that of their failing own. If these people are such a benefit to any nation, why would they not benefit their own and take control of their own and prosper?

The Rock

Just so we can try and comprehend your logic...

Say it is true that Trump used illigal immigrants with his companies, and even knew at the time they were illegals...

Does this somehow make wanting to correct the problem today something we are forbidden to do because of Trump's alleged past actions?

Even if Trump displays tremendous hypocrisy on this issue, is the rest of the nation supposed to pay the price for his sins?

Just a heads up, an emphatic "NO" is the correct answer.

A viral image on social media -- one that’s critical of illegal immigration -- has been circulating for years. The list of claims first circulated in the form of a chain email in 2006, according to Snopes.com. Six years later, we checked several of the claims ourselves.

With immigration in the headlines today, these claims are popular again. So we’ll take a fresh look at them here.

All told, the list is heavy with claims that are unsupported, misleading, or simply wrong. (We’re skipping the ninth item -- "U.S. Taxpayers are Footing the Bill for ALL" -- because it is too vague to fact-check.)

"43% of all FOOD Stamps are Given to Illegals" This is a bogus number that doesn’t check out mathematically; we rated it Pants on Fire back in 2012. Here, we’ll look at the most recent data available from March 2018.

That month, about 40 million people participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the food stamp program.

If 43 percent of that assistance went to immigrants in the country illegally, that would mean that 17.2 million of them benefitted from the program. But there aren’t 17.2 million immigrants here illegally — the most widely trusted estimates have it close to 11 million. The claim also ignores legal restrictions barring immigrants in the country illegally from receiving most federal benefits.

"43% of all FOOD Stamps are Given to Illegals" social media postings – Tuesday, July 3, 2018 SHARE READ MORE "95% of warrants issued for Murder in Los Angeles are for illegals" As the fact-checking website Snopes first noted, this figure also appears, without additional sourcing, in 2005 testimony by Heather Mac Donald, a fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute. "In Los Angeles, 95 percent of all outstanding warrants for homicide (which total 1,200 to 1,500) target illegal aliens," she wrote in her testimony. "Up to two-thirds of all fugitive felony warrants (17,000) are for illegal aliens."

When we contacted Mac Donald for this article, she said, "This information was given to me by a member of the (Los Angeles Police Department), who was making a rough estimate. It refers to fugitive warrants; homicide suspects who were in the country illegally often return to their home countries when they are sought on a warrant."

Even if this number was accurate at the time -- and it was provided anonymously rather than being an official statistic -- it is a "rough estimate" that is about a decade and a half old. Those qualifications do not appear in the meme circulating today.

In addition, Snopes has noted that illegal aliens might be disproportionately represented in this category because they are more likely to flee the jurisdiction before their cases are adjudicated, and not necessarily because they commit a far greater share of the homicides in Los Angeles.

"Less than 2% of illegals are picking crops but 41% are on Welfare" There’s data that shows a higher percentage of immigrants in the country illegally working farming jobs, but the welfare percentage isn’t as clear-cut. (We rated this Mostly False in 2012.)

About 4 percent of unauthorized immigrant workers held farming jobs in 2014, Pew Research Center reported in November 2016. It didn’t break down the data to crop picking.

A welfare percentage is more nuanced and difficult to verify. We’ve found research showing that about 50 percent of households headed by an immigrant (living here legally or illegally) benefit from government assistance programs. In many of those households, it’s a U.S.-born child who is eligible for a program.

We also found basis for the 41 percent claim in a 2007 report — but most of the welfare cited went to U.S. citizens who lived in households led by immigrants in the country illegally, and very little of it was in cash form, which is what many consider "welfare."

As we’ve mentioned before, individuals living in the country illegally are generally not eligible for federal public benefits.

"More than 66% of ALL births in California are to illegals on Medi-Cal" Medi-Cal is the name of California’s Medicaid program, which covers low-income residents of the state, including, to a certain extent, undocumented immigrants.

The most recent complete data we found was from 2011. That year, the state had 502,120 total births. According to Medi-Cal, 50.4 percent of the state’s births that year were paid for by Medi-Cal. That works out to 253,068 total births on Medi-Cal.

Medi-Cal also reported that 29 percent of Medi-Cal mothers in 2011 were undocumented. So that year, 73,390 undocumented mothers gave birth on Medi-Cal.

As a percentage of all births in the state, that works out to 15 percent -- not 66 percent, as the meme says.

After we initially published this article, a spokeswoman for California's Department of Health Care Services provided statistics for 2012 and 2013 as well. As it turns out, the percentage declined in those years -- to 13.4 percent in 2012 and 12.6 percent in 2013.

We rated this statement False.

Share The Facts Viral image on the Internet

"More than 66% of ALL births in California are to illegals on Medi-Cal." social media postings – Tuesday, July 3, 2018 SHARE READ MORE "60% of all HUD-occupied properties in the U.S. are illegals" This is another instance where the numbers just don’t add up to support the claim. (In 2012, we rated it Pants on Fire.)

Using updated data, there were about 9.7 million people in subsidized housing in 2017, according to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

So 60 percent of the 9.7 million would mean that about 5.8 million of those housing-subsidized residents were people here illegally, which experts have told us "seems implausible" and "nonsensical."

A 2015 report by the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors low levels of immigration, estimated that in 2012, 4 percent of households headed by immigrants in the country illegally used housing programs. "While households headed by illegal immigrants make some use of housing and cash programs, their use is lower than that of households headed by the native-born for these programs," the study said.

"39% of All California Students are illegals" According to estimates by Enrico A. Marcelli of San Diego State University and Manuel Pastor of the University of Southern California, only about 3 percent of the child population in California -- defined as those under 18 -- were undocumented immigrants in the period 2008 to 2012.

Meanwhile, the Pew Research Center found that 12.3 percent of K-12 students in California in 2014 had an unauthorized immigrant parent. This is a broader category -- encompassing parents rather than just students -- but even this doesn’t come close to the meme’s 39 percent figure.

We rated the statement False.

Share The Facts Viral image on the Internet

"39% of All California Students are illegals." social media postings – Tuesday, July 3, 2018 SHARE READ MORE "75% of Los Angeles Most Wanted Criminals are illegals" This assertion echoes the earlier one that was traceable to Mac Donald of the Manhattan Institute, but she never cited this figure in her 2005 testimony. We were unable to find supporting evidence for it.

We filed a public records request with the Los Angeles Police Department and will update this article if we hear back.

"50% of all gang members are illegals" This is, at best, an assumption, because there’s no official data to back it up. Neither the FBI or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has officially estimated the percentage of gang members who are in the United States illegally.

A 2011 FBI assessment said there were 1.4 million active street, prison, and outlaw motorcycle gang members affiliated with more than 33,000 gangs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. It’s unclear how many of the 1.4 million are here illegally.

We have also specifically asked government officials if they have hard numbers for MS-13 gang members who are in the United States illegally, since President Donald Trump repeatedly mentions this gang in regard to immigration, often making misleading and exaggerated claims.

The FBI estimates there are about 10,000 MS-13 gang members in the United States. But ICE does not have immigration data on the FBI’s MS-13 estimates, ICE spokesman Matthew Bourke said. It’s worth noting that not all MS-13 gang members are immigrants or in the United States illegally. Some are U.S. citizens who can’t be deported.

In a 2017 six-week operation targeting all gang members, ICE arrested 1,378 individuals; 933 were U.S. citizens and 445 were foreign nationals. ICE didn’t have a breakdown of the foreign nationals’ immigration status.

Share The Facts Viral image on the Internet

"50% of all gang members are illegals" social media postings – Tuesday, July 3, 2018 SHARE READ MORE

But, even with your numbers I still conclude the problem is real and must be addressed.

I do admire your approach here! Thanks.

Yeah, the info in Frank's post has been debunked for years. It's amazing how that kind of crap can go viral, then suddenly it's accepted as the truth.

Good thread, my friend. Checks and balances apply to Internet forums too.

Matt

Lol. You think those numbers are accurate? Post your proof. I would have expected 3-4 links by now if they were true.

Issues are usually a little more complex than the 'got ya' barbs would have us believe. Their economic slowdowns are what we need to worry about now.

Pull yours out now.

“This is a big, long-term generational change, where many fewer people are trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border than were 17 years ago,” Meade said.

During that period, economic conditions in Mexico improved, which kept more potential migrants from leaving. Meanwhile, the U.S. suffered an economic recession that began at the end of 2007 and lasted for several years.

Not sure where you get they are saying the wall is 'precisely' the reason for the dropping numbers.

What I read, the analysts are fully convinced a social uprising of a large magnitude will occur within 20 years. And yes they are easily manipulated by saber rattling which unites the citizenry because of strong nationalism.

Maybe try starting a good conversation without insults. If someone was in control of me, I would be playing along with the majority here. Like me, you are no expert, though you want us to believe you are because of your military experience. Tons of guys have quite a bit more than you. There reason you and I were/are not top dogs.

The 'emergency' is because we do not just immediately send them back across the border. Instead we try to hold them for trial. But we do not have the capacity to hold them long enough to await trial. So we eventually drop them off by the busload to disappear in the US interior. Thus defeating any notion of "immigration control" at the border. A national emergency.

More here

https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/25/us/el-paso-immigrants-ice-christmas/index.html

Yet, in Trump's own words, the "big beautiful wall" has changed from a full length border wall to a 1000 mile partial wall, to a 700 mile combination of repairing existing fences and maybe 50-70 miles of new wall. It's gone from solid concrete, to steel slats with spikes, to "we're testing various designs." It's changed from 40' tall to 30' to 20' to....who knows what?

LOL. He doesn't have a clue, nor do we, yet we're being asked to pay for it at any expense or promise of its effectiveness. And you dummies are willing to blindly follow along like sheep, based on nothing but vague and undefined promises and partisan BS.

BTW, Shawn Magyar, I've noticed your semi-illiterate redneck writing style has suddenly changed to something that actually resembles proper English grammar. Did you take some crash courses, or were you just being dishonest before?

Matt

Do those areas currently have a wall/fence/steel-slats or no?

The DHS is arresting 50,000 illegals a month on the southern border. "Arrests" meaning those illegals who made it into our country illegally. That we keep processing and releasing after arrest, rather than immediately deporting.

If we tossed them back as fast as they arrived, a border wall would be less of an emergency. But holding, processing, and then releasing several hundred thousand every year within our borders is lunacy. And a barrier wall is the only effective means to stop the hordes from illegally entering in the first place, thus breaking the cycle.

Wallace (on fox) corrects sanders and gets her to admit that the terrorist argument doesn't relate to the border. Do you have different information?

The difference is, I fully admit I have a large ego. It's a character trait that I struggle to suppress, but am often not able to. You, on the other hand, deny your large ego, while displaying it on virtually every post.

Look, I think our discourse has become far too personal, petty, and adversarial to be constructive. I'll accept my equal share of blame for that. I certainly can't control whether or not you respond to my posts, but please feel free to add me to your list of people you ignore, and I will do the same. Fair enough?

Matt

Always bullshit word games. We know dangerous criminals are among those entering illegally across the southern border. Let's stop the nonsense and put an end to it. Now.

If Visa overstays are a problem. Stop them too. Don't just keep pointing in another direction parsing words to promote confusion and gridlock.

Absolutely fair enough. I'll do the same, hopefully a bit more humbly.

Matt

If 0 (like trump's state department reports), then why was it trumpeted on all the sunday shows?

"Meanwhile, Republican senators are starting to see Trump as a liability. An unpopular president, pushing an unpopular wall, and an unpopular government shutdown – all three opposed by the majority of Americans – combine to put McConnell in an untenable situation".

I posted this as there has been disagreement about whether the majority support a wall or not. And the leading CF conservatives like this source.

I'll add, and how will Trump's border plan serve to stop them? Oh wait...there is no plan...never mind.

;-)

Matt

Because that is a blatant dodge to avoid addressing what we DO KNOW is coming across the southern border, and how to best stop it once and for all. MS-13 gang members. Drug smugglers. Human traffickers. Various drunk and disorderly migrants with no home and no job here who will be an unlawful burden on our society. Criminals who would accidentally kill innocent Americans in driving accidents, or deliberately out of desperation.

50,000 illegal borders jumpers a month in the latest numbers I saw. Call it a half million a year. And then once here, their children... and their children's children. Who then get to bring in parents and cousins and uncles. A multi-generational tidal wave that is overwhelming our system.

Look.... we let in 1 million immigrants every year. That was the capacity our government has determined we can handle. Generously. So if you want to turn a blind eye and allow a few hundred thousand 'extra' to migrate illegally across the border every year, then we gotta cut the LEGAL immigrant number by that same amount to NET the same total. Fair?

;)

;)

JTV posts FOX articles daily, and you accept it as the truth. Just because they agree with your position.

FYI, some of the sources I used to form my opinion on China are GeoPolitical Futures, The Economist and a retired friend who worked in Intelligence. You OTH have used the CF, LOL. Yep, I listen even more intently to those I disagree with. It is obvious you only listen to what you already believe.

Remember my post on Predictions. Lots of trumpettes calling for a big Trump influence, and both houses staying in R control and picking up seats. I called it close because I am aware of resources that know more than me. Iowa Electronic Markets.

But, yes, you keep making your smart butt comments like you know something.

Some guys you can take out of the jungle, but the jungle stays in them.

Three strikes, I accept my punishment that you will never respond to me again.

And Matt is an insane troll, add him to your list.

Doesn't a winky mean anything any more? It was an intentional agitation for fun. Good grief:)

This is not the time for blue skies, half measures or debates. Get this through your thick heads for the sake of your love ones, if you can not find the courage in your heart to stand and fight this imminent danger to your own country. We are at war and war is hell as many here who have engaged it will attest. To think otherwise and not address, when all events point to the absolute inevitable conclusion, is a sign of cowardice. Nothing protects being unprepared except being prepared when at full strength. We are losing control yearly of our own destiny and the destiny of America left for us to protect centuries ago. The numbers in this Trojan Horse are overwhelming. America through ingenuity has overcome many obstacles to defend her shores. To continue debating this issue in this country, and refusing to act and act NOW, will lead only to an embalming of this nation. Bank on it if you can recognize the America you thought you knew so well and would ALWAYS be.

The Rock

Please slow down. My last post ended with a smiley face, which I thought meant in all good fun.

You guys keeping getting it wrong about college. We have debates, some open to the public. They are intense. We not only encourage but expect debate and push back. We try and educate in the flavor of a true Liberal education at JCCC. And most will not get the meaning of 'Liberal Education' and assume it means taught by Democrats.

Quit assuming.

Am I on or off the list now?

;-)

:)

Didn't know which one was proper in this situation.

Like this one...

At what point does arrogant obstinance become desperate flailing...?

Walls are effective. Israel has proven that. Heck, prisons prove that. Your home proves that. If you're truly serious about stopping or even greatly slowing the influx of illegals then a wall is a NECESSITY. Talk to any of the experts that are dealing with this issue daily. Not some goof that is against it because "it sends the wrong message" (personally it's a great message...) or "these are just poor people we should be helping..." (no, WE shouldn't, you want to then go down there and help them, put your money where your mouth is) or " I'm against anything Trump is for..." (self explanatory..... stupid when you finally see what you look like with no nose....)

The really stupid arguments are "lets just use more drones and sensors...." yeah, lets TRY to catch them AFTER they have entered already..... even if caught, see above what the SOP is when caught.

How about do everything above? Put up a better wall, start with those points best served by one. Change the way invaders are dealt with. Yeah, beef up drones and sensors. This isn't a "just pick one" test. If it were it would be "all of the above".

Outside the normal leftist open boarders group, several here have no real input as to how to stop illegal invasion, or really even care. Doesn't directly have much negative effect their lives.... why should they? Their main objective is to bash Trump.... or see to it that he doesn't come off looking good for doing what he said he would. Their argument really has nothing to do with effectiveness, necessity or cost. Just Trump, or rather their hate.

It never would have happened, hell would freeze over first...... but as much as I hated Obama..... if he had proposed sealing the southern border.... he would have had my support on that. Heck, that at least would have been a shovel ready job that he finally admitted didn't exist....

I think there are plenty of people that could easily say that's no real plan either. Where will the wall be constructed? What will the wall be made out of? Why are the proposed wall sites being picked? There are plenty of unanswered questions that a real plan would answer.

Recognizing that we have almost 700 miles of some type of wall in place already, and even if we build 237 more miles of wall, we still have roughly 1,000 miles of border without a wall.

At the end of the day, I haven't been convinced that more wall will do much to stem border crossings and I don't think what we're seeing in regards to the impact of illegal immigration rising to anywhere near the level of what I would say constitutes a national emergency.

Border security is important. This notion of a border wall is not.

Actually the students end more than I do. You can read when they have had enough. Usually right before I win;)

That was a joke. When they end I always leave it at we will have to agree to disagree. Debates in a classroom or peers you work with do not go like these here. Mainly because over time and face to face a respect level develops. What we see here is the same as on most social media platforms.

I got used to being called names. I can relate to Eric on That 70s Show;). We both thought our middle names were dumb a$$.

Somebody calls me that, I usually respond with my best Deniro imitation; "You talking to me?". Hard to believe I still have all my original teeth:)

We know they are climbing over, under, and through the fence/barrier we have now. Pregnant women and little children can get over it for god's sake, we can see them in photos. We can watch them with cameras and drones. The border agents see it every day, hundreds of times a day.

How about we finally stop it?

We can secure the border with a $25 billion dollar wall. Or maybe a $20 box of ammo with a live fire warning. Pick one. Or come up with something equally effective. But this nonsense has to stop.

Again, color me unconvinced that a moderate improvement over the existing physical structures (either by adding to what we have or upgrading what is in place) is going to "finally stop" illegal immigration.

In my mind, the reality is that it won't be stopped, but we can mitigate it. And I'm not convinced that we aren't mitigating the risk to a level that's reasonably practicable right now with the measures we have in place.

Yes sir, I did. And thanks for another relevant link. I note that this new and improved "plan" just became public yesterday. Boy, am I behind on my news. ;-)

So, the "plan" continues to evolve and mature slowly, like a fungus in a petri dish, while our beloved legislators waste our money jockeying for political capital. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

I think I'll grab my recurve and shoot some stumps. At least there's a brief moment of satisfaction when I finally hit one.

Matt

Matt

That picture you posted should be distributed throughout the U.S and or every door step in America. A shinning example and depiction of the lunatic government architectural think tank that spends your money without thought or reserve. A impregnable barrier made of corrugated steel, horizontal no less in design, to withstand and thwart the brightest of criminal elements who would foolishly attempt to breach the complimentary "steps" in its design to climb over it. This picture obviously omitted or removed the image of the vertical knotted rope that was included with the design. Regardless we are so concerned about the costs of a wall. Incredible.

The Rock

(Note: internal reference links at link)

An illegal alien has scored again, taking the life of 22 year old Pierce Corcoran:

The death of 22-year-old Pierce Corcoran has brought home to Knoxville the heated national debate over illegal immigration and the need for a border wall.

Corcoran is the son of Knoxville Fire Capt. D.J. Corcoran, also the department’s spokesman.

Franco Cambrany Francisco-Eduardo, 44, of Oak Ridge, was arrested in connection with the wreck that killed the Grace Christian Academy graduate earlier this week. Police say he swerved into oncoming traffic on Chapman Highway, killing Corcoran on Saturday. He is charged with criminally negligent homicide and driving without a license or insurance.

How many Americans must die for the sake of liberals allowing illegal aliens to freely invade this country?

Despite the constant caterwauling of liberals led by Nancy Pelosi about the proposed wall being “racist”, Americans are very concerned about illegal invasion.

According to an Economist/YouGov survey, a jaw-dropping 93 percent of Americans believe that illegal immigration is a problem.

“A wide-ranging Economist/YouGov survey gauged the level of concern Americans have on the issue to find that only 7 percent of the overall public say illegal immigration is ‘not a problem’; 2 percent of Republicans, 7 percent of independents and even 12 percent of Democrats agree with the statement,” The Washington Times reported.

There are differences in how serious people believe the immigration problem is, but those who shrug off illegal immigration are few and far between.

When she met with DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Nancy Pelosi chose to reject the facts

At one point during the meeting, according to the Wall Street Journal, Pelosi interrupted Nielsen, who was citing statistics related to the border, including how many criminal illegal immigrants attempted to enter the U.S. last year.

“I reject your facts,” Pelosi told Nielsen

“These aren’t my facts,” Nielsen shot back. “These are the facts.”

Nancy Pelosi made clear that the fallout from the actions of illegals is merely “collateral damage”:

“…if there is some collateral damage for some others who do not share our view, well, so be it…”

That’s a hell of a way to look at the deaths of American children.

So it’s “not one penny” for the wall. She has called the proposed wall “immoral.” She has walls in her home, the Clintons and the Obamas have walls around their homes. There were guns and walls around the Golden Globes. The left wing media has refused to confront her with that.

Fine. Trump’s response should “F**k you, Nancy. Not one penny for the wall? Then not one penny for illegal aliens.”

Right now the US spends $18 billion per year for illegal alien health care. (Note: APHIS reports diseases that have been eradicated in the US are now being seen and spread by unfettered illegal immigration. jack)

The US pays illegal aliens about $4 billion in child care tax credits despite them paying nothing in taxes.

Most illegal alien families collect welfare.

Illegal aliens collect more in welfare than do American families.

It should all end.

No wall, no money for illegals. Period.

Update

And stop funding the Nation of Islam

Haven’t seen a single disease attributed to illegal immigration and not a single release from the APHIS. Source? Also, illegal immigration is hardly unfettered.

”...despite them paying nothing in taxes.”

Not true. Illegal immigrants pay billions in all kinds of taxes each year.

”most illegal alien families collect welfare.”

Illegal aliens are ineligible for nearly every type of welfare available. You can’t exactly feed a family on school lunch vouchers.

”illegal alien families collect more in welfare than do American families”

By whatever measure you use (average welfare per family, total welfare dollars, etc), this is false.

No, I can't. Fortunately my quarry always seems to move left before my "arra" hits home. I guess it's a gift.

Matt

I wonde what some of us would do if we were in someone's shoes that just wanted to make a better way. Regardless, it's common sense that we should secure our borders. I don't think we should stop legal immigration but it's common sense that we should secure our borders.

Is it a risk? Sure, just like lots of things are. Is it something that concerns me much? Nope.

We need no one to come into the country with infections.

I feel sorry for the ones born in those 3rd World countries. It was just our good luck to be born in the USA. We can't save the whole freaking world at our expense.

The emotional child card ain't working here and I am for ALL children first. Under that pretense EVERY person in this world would basically becoming to America who loves their children. America would then eventually mirror the country they fled from and Americans themselves would suffer the results. There comes a time when enough is enough and enough at this time is more than enough, the dynamics changing daily.

The Rock

Being reported by the WSJ that someone who saw a draft copy of the speech said he is not declaring an emergency. Could be false, who really knows.