Some Questions on ImmigrationMike Rappaport

Immigration does seem to be what is on people’s minds.  In an effort to clarify my thinking and that of my readers, let me ask a couple of questions.

First, what percentage of the illegal immigrants from Mexico would be stopped by a fence — you specify the kind, double, triple, electrical, etc?   

Let’s assume that it would stop 90 percent of the illegal immigrants.  In that event, the future problem is largely solved, once the fence is built.  Of course, people are understandably and correctly concerned that the bills being proposed in Washington do not guarantee solving the problem for the future. But I don’t endorse those bills.

Second, what would be involved in attempting to eliminate the many millions of illegal immigrants and how many would actually be found and deported?  It seems to me there would be significant costs to attempting to eliminate them: for example, intrusive searches and a bureaucracy to conduct them.  That would cause the illegal immigrants to go further underground, creating additional social problems.  And those efforts would still be unlikely to catch most of the illegal immigrants.  Is it not better to promote assimilation, which is likely to be pursued more willingly if it leads to permanent resident status?

Unfairness and illegality are problems, but they can be outweighed.  If a fence is built, wouldn’t they be outweighed?