A Country Whose Officials are Exempt from the Laws?

I believe it is highly irresponsible on the part of the federal government to not only bypass it’s own laws (36 laws are being waived) to speed up the construction of the wall, fence, barrier, whatever you choose to label it, but to do that without addressing NAFTA and other factors that bring immigration to our doorstep is idiotic and shows an utter lack of understanding of contemporary migration issues.

I also find it irresponsible and arrogant on the part of the Department of Homeland Security to ignore the request of a meeting with South Texas mayors. The mayors are our representatives and we elect them, unlike Michael Chertoff, an unelected official unfamiliar with our culture, way of life, and la frontera in general. The final word on the wall/fence/barrier resides with the people who live here, and we will not be silenced or bow down without a fight.

The wall/fence/barrier does not address why people migrate here, and it will not impede the human will to survive and provide for one’s family. It does however put grave risks on human life, as we have seen a dramatic rise in the number of migrant deaths. Until life south of our border improves, we will continue to take in economic refugees, regardless of walls, rivers, border patrol agents, or deserts, they will come.

This wall/fence/barrier is nothing more than a symbolic gesture to the rest of the country (away from the border) that they (the government) are addressing this pressing issue. Even if they are contending that the wall would be effective, then how can they explain the mad rush to build it? This is possibly the largest public works project in our history, why would we be so careless as to expedite the building process to finish just before Bush leaves office? The administration’s logic does not make any sense. If they were serious about this wall as an effective way of stopping terrorism and illegal migrants, then they would build it right, not over night. It has already been reported that sections of wall in New Mexico have started to crumble and split because the wall was built to tall (this was stated during a field congressional hearing held in Brownsville, TX).

It is time to address immigration from a realistic standpoint. Comprehensive immigration reform that acknowledges the millions of people that are now living here and contributing to society, along with pathways to citizenship and humane strategies for slowing the immigrant flow are needed.

Are we so med-evil that we have to build a wall? Do we really want to be a part of a country that builds walls to keep people out? Do we really want to be a part of a country that’s officials are exempt from the laws, and dissenters are silenced or ignored? The foundations of our country are built on the idea that we the people keep our government in check. I want every homeowner and citizen of the Rio Grande Valley to have their voices heard, because we are untied against the wall, and all three branches of government need to hear US.

NO BORDER WALL!