Immigration Reform 2013: '100% Secure Borders' Is Never Going to Happen Jessie Bullock - PolicyMic
go to original May 30, 2013

The concept of “100% secure borders” may be the linchpin in the ultimate success or failure of the Gang of Eight’s comprehensive immigration reform bill. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) stated that the current bill has a major problem because “it doesn’t stop illegal immigration. If anything it makes the problem worse by not securing the border and by incentivizing future illegal immigration.” However, the notion of "100% secure borders" is a pipe dream.

Senator Cruz’s belief that “secure borders equals immigration reform” is outdated. There is zero value added when he uses circular logic (“I believe in its current form, the bill will not become law, and if Congress cannot pass immigration reform, that is a terrible outcome”) or when he criticizes Senate Democrats and those that believe that 100% secure borders are not logistically feasible.

Rather than discuss how to achieve secure borders, policymakers should first have an honest conversation about why some believe that a 100% secure border will fix the problems we face with illegal immigration. There are three groups that will ensure that we will never have 100% secure borders: the illegal immigrants, the smugglers, and the U.S. employers.

It is true that both surveillance and law enforcement have expanded on the U.S.-Mexico border. It is also true that some of their actions have been successful. The Department of Homeland Security shows that illegal immigration from Mexico has dropped an estimated 75% since 2005, and the borders are more difficult to cross than in the 1980s or 1990s. However, just because border security has increased does not mean that it can catch everyone. Will illegal border crossing ever end?

The answer is no.

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