First off, let me state out loud (as it were), that I've enjoyed reading what you've said over the years, but I'm definitely perceiving an angry/argumentative vibe from this thread. This perception is a bummer.

Secondly, you may live next to a large Hispanic population, but that gives you little to no perspective. As you mentioned, this isn't about "too many brown people". This is about a border...secure or not. We could go around and around on the fact, but you say a physical wall will help. I can agree in part. I'm sure that it will do something, but what it does do, will not be worth the cost to either build it, maintain it, or man it. This doesn't count a whole lot either for the ecological effects of it.

My proof for all this? First hand, every day experience living here and see it with my own eyes. Decades of experience and knowledge in knowing how people get across the border that you do not have . My own cousin smuggles people across the border. The one right there in TJ. It's laughably easy.

Obviously much of this discussion stems around the perception of what it will accomplish. If it makes all you in the rest of the states feel like it will do much....ok. For those of us who live right here, we feel it will do very little.

It should be noted that all the screams of "racist!" are from the fact that we aren't building a big wall up north too. It seems all too personal...all too close to home. Why? Because all of you screaming so loudly for that wall live no where close to where it will be.

I'm fine with a secure border, but if you want to stem the tide of illegal immigration, restructure the legal framework to become a citizen, and remove the incentive. I find it very, very , difficult to fault a family trying to make their life better by coming to a place that offers better opportunities then their home.

What lengths would you do to ensure your kids have a good shot at life?

~Jeordam