To the editor:
Let’s do more than hope 2024 will improve the crisis at the U.S. southern border. Let’s get our Congress to actually do it.
For many, building “a big, beautiful wall” has long been the battle-cry for a quick, simple solution. Think again.
During the Trump administration, 458 miles of wall were completed — 52 new, the remaining 406 replaced existing sections with taller, hollow-steel bars. Unfortunately, an inexpensive power tool can easily cut through it, allowing smugglers to transport immigrants whenever the border patrol has their backs turned. As it stands, the Mexicans haven’t paid a penny as Trump promised; U.S. taxpayers have — $15 billion so far.
To protect his 1,200-mile Texas border, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott built a spare-no-expense 1,000-foot mid-river razor-wire floating-buoy barricade. After some drownings within the first week, it was recalled and outlawed by court order.
Abbott’s newest stunt is transporting immigrants by the bus-load or plane-full to cities across the country that have Democratic mayors, such as Denver, Chicago and New York. Herded immigrants are literally dropped off unannounced in the middle of the night in sub-freezing temps in T-shirts and sandals.
We need to better understand and work toward a genuine cure for this crisis. That requires looking 2,000-plus miles further south to Central and South America where the vast majority of these immigrants are coming from. In some places, inflation rates are 500 times that of our country. With rampant crime, overwhelming poverty, unemployment and political corruption, thousands leave their homeland daily attempting an escape to a new and better life.
Better security at our border remains our problem. Fixing the ills of South and Central America is a bigger task that must involve all the nations of the Western Hemisphere and perhaps the world. That requires more than fiery bully-pulpit rally speeches — it requires leadership and diplomacy.
The border problem has been with us and growing worse for decades. Currently, Senate Democrats have a good-faith effort on the table, and the Biden administration is working with the Mexican government to spearhead remedies. Will Republicans work with, or just fight against it?
From a national security standpoint and to avoid a bigger humanitarian catastrophe than it already is, status quo politicking on this issue must stop. When our political parties brainstorm together, America does its best — for us and the world.
Steve Parks, Bowler
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