Should we spend 3.7B to assist the illegals at the Mexican border or use that money to secure the border?

2014-07-10T22:25:26-04:00

Response by 1SG Larry Everly made Jul 10 at 2014 10:26 PM

2014-07-10T22:26:29-04:00

Even if it means sending Reserve or National Guard forces, I'd prefer we do more to secure our borders.

Response by CW2 Ernest Krutzsch made Jul 10 at 2014 10:29 PM

2014-07-10T22:29:45-04:00

No, we should take care of them ,and make arrangements to return them to their parents

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2014 10:37 PM

2014-07-10T22:37:39-04:00

I think we need a WHOLE new bored policy. Make it more easy for this who really just want a better life, as our ancestors did. Doing this will cut down on how much force we need at the border, and will greatly reduce the "illegal immigrant" who break the law to try to be treated like a human and then we send them back.

I just don't understand how America, the country OF aliens seems to turn a blind eye to all and make it impossible for legal innocent people half a chance at coming here. As it stands now, the only ones who can come over legally are the ones doing illegal actions.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2014 3:29 AM

2014-07-11T03:29:45-04:00

Secure Border

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2014 3:41 AM

2014-07-11T03:41:13-04:00

Securing the borders not only deals with the amount of illegal immigrants that come into this country, but it also helps prevent various types of drugs from coming into the U.S. along with potential terrorist activity.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 11 at 2014 6:43 AM

2014-07-11T06:43:41-04:00

According to the breakdown, only (yeah, ONLY, when you're talking billions) 1.8B is earmarked for care and welfare of said individuals. The rest is for border security.

Too bad the VA can't get that kind of attention when we have our brothers and sisters being neglected.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2014 7:53 AM

2014-07-11T07:53:02-04:00

Until we address the issue of the war zone that our war on drugs has created in Mexico, plus the willingness of US companies (and individuals) to hire illegals, no wall will stop illegal immigration.

Response by CPT Dave Shephard made Jul 11 at 2014 9:46 AM

2014-07-11T09:46:12-04:00

When you put the figure of $3.7B into perspective to the overall US Federal Spending (about $3.5 Trillion in 2013), the $3.7B request for assistance would amount to around 0.1% of our overall Federal spending.

So for me (and I realize my opinion probably isn't as common here), when I look at what we spend for Defense ($821B) and for Vets ($152B), I don't think $3.7B to deal with a significant humanitarian challenge at our border is too much to ask - especially when we want to hold other countries accountable on grounds of basic Human Rights.

All in my opinion.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jul 11 at 2014 10:16 AM

2014-07-11T10:16:40-04:00

Secure the borders, why is it so damned difficult to enforce the laws we already have and keep ILLEGAL immigrants out? I have no issue with anyone trying to enter into this great nation LEGALLY, to make a better life for themselves or their children. What I fail to understand is how our neighbors to the south, not just Mexico, have stringent immigration policies and enforce them by immediately deporting illegal immigrants back to where the come from, yet we whine and cry and wring our hands as a nation because "they are just trying to find a better life for themselves and we must take care of them since they are here". This is complete bullshit, they need to be turned right around and shipped back to their home nations; no free medical care, no free lodging, no free nothing, they are here ILLEGALLY and I do not care what their age may be. Call me heartless, call me cruel, whatever, come to this country LEGALLY, begin the process of attaining citizenship the right way and I have no problem with you at all, be you South/Central American, European, Asian, African or from freaking Neptune, but do it LEGALLY. I remember growing up in southern Florida during the Mariel Boatlift of '80 and the number of ILLEGALs that flooded our state back then, but due to them being from Cuba, they all, to include the filth and criminals from Castro's prisons, pretty much got a pass. Still led to hardships on the people of the state as well as the country when these people "invaded" us. One of the reasons for the existence of the Federal Government is to provide for national defense, and this to me, includes securing our nations borders from illegals freely entering and staying causing a burden on our nation and it's citizenry. It is a problem that has been occurring for a long period of time, so it's not an Obama issue, it's not a Bush-43 issue, it's an American issue that needs to be corrected ASAP. If we can continue to support the UN and to send billions of our tax dollars to support countries that turn around and shit on us or attack us, then we can spend the money to enforce our borders, hell begin a rotational "deployment" like we have in Kuwait and now Germany, rotate divisions down to the border to protect them; if it's good enough for other nations, by gawd, why not ours!!! Ok my rant for the day is over, peace out my brothers and sisters in arms!!

Response by Cpl Brian Frawley made Jul 11 at 2014 12:55 PM

2014-07-11T12:55:15-04:00

I think we should put a border policy in place at both ends.
If we have to keep dealing with illegals coming across the borders, 1st which ever border they come across, we should charge that country the cost to send them back! 2nd if that control does not solve the problem, then we give serious consideration to dismantling the NAFTA agreement and give no more free rides for trade!

Take away what makes them money, they will wake up!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2014 6:12 PM

2014-07-11T18:12:03-04:00

As addressed the 3.7 billion is split between humanitarian aid, increased number of agents on the border, and immigration judge teams that can evaluate cases of legitimate asylum claims and otherwise. I believe all three components are important and necessary and we should not assume that all these people who are crossing illegally are bad or lazy people or that all of them should be turned away. I think we should take advantage of the generosity of many people who have been volunteering to take in many of these children. If they have the means then what a better way of showing what kind of people Americans are.

I think we are also ignoring a larger issue: why they come. What I fear we have in part is a combination of refugees fleeing drug violence and ethnic discrimination. Certainly not all cases. I think we also need to look at issues like our drug laws as our incarceration rate for drug related offenses are at all time highs and such sentences tend to be disproportionate to the crime. It's a multi-faceted issue that, while will never go away, certainly needs review.

Response by MSgt Martin Okulski made Jul 12 at 2014 2:01 AM

2014-07-12T02:01:16-04:00

Those are very good vague questions .... Assist the illegals to do what? Go home or stay? Build border security how? Build a wall, setup security camera - increase boarder guards.
What I don't want is to start writing checks for the present administration - who has done nothing but squander the resources of our country since being elected - for them I say enough! 3.7 Billion can buy a lot of people off through contracts and bribes - I'm tired of every effort of increasing the quality of american life being a means to obtain political gain and personal financial growth. (everyone should remember how the relief fund for the hurricane in Jersey was padded to put money into everyone's pocket and help rebuild the homes of millionaires on the beaches).
If we're going to do this - make this controlled by the boarder states - not by the federal government - give the money to Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Let the boarder states cooperate on the strategy, because the federal government only has a vested interest in what it can do for them and theirs - only the boarder states have a vested interest in making it work.

Response by MSgt Martin Okulski made Jul 12 at 2014 2:03 AM

2014-07-12T02:03:08-04:00

Response by Col Joel Anderson made Nov 11 at 2014 5:05 PM

2014-11-11T17:05:26-05:00

I have responded to similar posts in the past with a simple question. What did we get when DHS spent over $1 Billion on a project called the "Virtual Fence?" Only 53 miles of anything tangible coming out of it. http://www.usborderpatrol.com/Border_Patrol1301.htm We have been fighting significant issues from drugs, to illegal crossings, and a host of interrelated and complex issues with immigration. Much has been tried and to be honest I am not sure what measures could be taken to "secure an approximate 2000 mile border" but think it incumbent upon our political and governmental agencies to stop the rhetoric and figure it out.

Southern US Border Barrier

The US southern border barrier protects the United States from just some of the violence now part of Mexico. The barrier along the border is composed of several different defense systems. Here, you learn about them all.

Response by LtCol Garret Whiteside made Nov 12 at 2014 12:37 PM

2014-11-12T12:37:10-05:00

No we should not! That money should be spent on securing the border.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Nov 12 at 2014 1:24 PM

2014-11-12T13:24:07-05:00

When will anyone in the District of Calamity learn that you can't fix every problem by throwing money at them? It doesn't matter how much money we throw at the border, illegals will find their way past it because we encourage them to get past it. Our President says they will be welcome. They are given benefits. Their children are given citizenship if they're lucky enough to be born after their mothers sneak in. They are given jobs albeit at substandard wages that they are glad to have because any pittance looks like a king's ransom compared to what little they could earn at home. A political party will fight for them to secure their votes. How is any fence, ditch, moat, weapons or surveillance system going to overcome all that?

More importantly, we cannot begin to fix this problem until we garner the will to fix all of the above. The elections last week were a good beginning, but it will quickly run out of steam unless the GOP changes its leadership in Congress. Boehner and McConnell are little better than Peolosi and Reid.

Now, let's give our fearless leaders the message that we want our charity saved for Americans who truly need it. The streets of Los Angeles are over ridden with far too many homeless veterans. I'd rather see them getting it than even one illegal alien...

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2014 10:06 PM

2014-12-09T22:06:51-05:00

We already had a solution in '93.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaaWd1G8M9A

Solution to Illegal Immigration via The Coneheads

He really had a brilliant plan back in '93. I will donate to his Paypal anyday! Video Credits: