Editorial

Looking beyond the fence

Border control wall could open up America in the future

It's official; foundations will be laid, fencing will rise and construction vehicles will converge on the Mexican border to build a wall to increase border security. On Thursday morning, Congress passed the bill supporting the construction of a 700-mile fence in order to combat the growing anxiety of illegal immigration, and while the construction of such a barrier may appear to be na??ve and blatantly racist, the wall may not be all that it appears to be.

The wall is not the means to end all, nor is it a solution that can stand alone in our immigration crisis, but criticizers and supporters need to see beyond just the mortar and concrete. This seemingly inhumane act has the potential to pave the way for a solution that will benefit the citizens of the United States and our southern neighbors.

The building of a wall could be the first stepping-stone in a consolidated and cohesive plan in dealing with the pressure of immigrant insurgence. Of course the "could be" in the last sentence is the most vital part of this effort. The "could be" marks the potentiality of grounding a beneficial policy, yet it also includes the possibility for mishandling and neglect resulting in downright failure.

Although the specific reasoning behind starting immigration legislation with a wall may seem rash and unnecessary, this wall could build a basis - a solid ground - from which a lasting solution can be built. The wall will give the current ambiguous line a physical presence. With this newly define line, the wall will hinder drug trafficking and those who use their anonymity to bring more crime to America, but through a well-organized guest worker program, immigrants that deserve the chance to make a living can one day get their chance to thrive in our economy legally. If the government follows through with a guest worker program - a program in which immigrants would be granted permission to seek jobs in the states and perhaps one day receive amnesty - the wall would not be an atrocious barrier. With such programs, the bottom-line is this fencing would not ultimately block these individuals; it will only give the government the chance to control the immigration flow.

Many Americans, as well outside observers, believe a wall sends a bad message - a message of closed bias and bitter resentment. The reality, however, is that that message is already clear and present in our society. It's in the minds of many insecure Americans and is frequently the topic of the media. It's embroiled in the motives of many politicians, and is the ultimate root of this immigration conflict. If this message was not already present in people's way of thinking, than the wall would be a non-issue. So how can Americans truly believe that it emanates a new message of immigration brutality?

It may seem too simplistic to narrow down the success of these policies to one word, but commitment is what can really make this work. If all necessary steps are made and followed through with, if Bush pushes for a guest worker program and if Congress provides funding for integrating immigrants into the workforce, this controversial wall will become nothing more than an element of control for an open-minded, accessible guest work program. Commitment will provide means for a mutually economical relationship, and commitment will give the United States the chance to retain our right to be called the melting pot, while still implementing a measure of security in a world concerned so much with terror.

With 700 miles of wall being only one third of the total border perimeter and congress giving no indication in agreeing on guest work policies, Washington has their surmounting job cut out for them. If little is done after this project, the wall will become the monstrosity that many people are warning against, but if other measures are done right, this project will not be a barrier, but rather an open door of opportunity.