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Border walls are fundamental to national security. They have been proven to deter illegal immigration and keep nations safer by protecting against terrorism or other nefarious activity. Without a clear demarcation between countries, our borders are open floodgates, allowing our land to be overcome by a deluge. It’s also important to consider the financial strain put on countries that take in high numbers of immigrants and refugees. In his book, Suicide of a Superpower, politician Pat Buchanan writes, “We have accepted today the existence in perpetuity of a permanent underclass of scores of millions who cannot cope and must be carried by society—fed, clothed, housed, tutored, medicated at taxpayer’s expense their entire lives.” This sentiment, that those who would choose to immigrate to a new country will be an unwelcome drain on resources, is not unwarranted. Countries must look to advocating for their own self-interest first and foremost, before they open their arms to welcome strangers.
Physical barriers between lands cause unintended consequences that are just not worth the risk. For example, in some cases, the environmental impact of border walls has been profound. According to a study cited in “What the research says about border walls” by Denise-Marie Ordway, border walls threaten vulnerable wildlife because the barriers keep animals from being able to complete their migrations. Sadly, the animals get stuck and cannot get to where they need to go. Other consequences of border walls mentioned in Ordway's article include the economic costs of maintaining the walls and the displacement of people who live on the land where walls are built.
More to the point, there is a moral argument to be made against fencing off our neighbors. Throughout history there is evidence that people—especially parents—will go to great lengths to find safety and security for themselves and their loved ones. As religious leader Greg Boyle notes, “Abject poverty, political instability, torture, and other abuses push thousands across our border. There is not a deterrent imaginable that equals the conditions that force their migration.” In other words, a wall, no matter the height, will not stop a mother determined to get her child to safety. By and large border walls are yet another affliction placed upon the most vulnerable among us—people who were born in the wrong place under difficult circumstances. If you were lucky enough to be born into abundance and prosperity, then you should be kind enough to welcome your neighbor to the table.
