Opinions Editor Jack Jursnich: “I’m not joking when I say it’s really that simple.”
BY: JACK JURSNICH
Opinions Editor
While it might be funny to say something as simple as a wall could fix the illegal immigration problem, the debate over a border wall is even more hilarious when bringing in other solutions. We could over complicate the issue and talk about legislation, but in discussing immediate fixes, the most recent popular proposal is to provide more border agents at the southern border.
Compared to a wall, this just sounds ridiculous. Sure, it would help to scale up the number of border agents, but I don’t think people are seeing the potential costs. Border agents work off a salary that is paid consistently with taxpayer money. Again, this would definitely help but I don’t believe anyone can calculate how much money it would cost to keep these agents posted and working.
In essence, the supply of more border agents to curb illegal crossings is like filling up your flat tire every time it gets low, but having a border wall would be like taking that flat tire and swapping it for a new one. Paying to get the wall built wouldn’t be at a constant rate like funding agents would, instead it would be on a set budget. Even if we had to pay for the wall ourselves, it would cost far less than paying the salaries of more border agents.
Both options would lower illegal immigration but only a wall would cost a set amount. Plus, with border agents, you have to take accountability for those that get hurt or killed on the job. More factors come into play when you hire real people to act as a wall against illegal immigrants, it would make more sense to just build an actual wall.
I mean, what else is there to say? Just stop over complicating the issue and build the damn wall!
