The True Cost of a Border Wall

As a child I remember playing baseball in open lots. A throw together game where we chose teams and played for hours. No different than kids anywhere in the U.S.A. Ah! But wait ... it was different we were playing across the border in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, just a quick bike ride away from home in Laredo.

There really was no difference between the two cities with the exception one was in the United States and the other in Mexico. For generations people went back and forth across the Rio Grande and that continues today. For families live who on both sides of the border visiting back and forth all along the 1,954 miles.

On any given day you can see people from the U.S. shopping in Mexico and Mexicans coming across to shop in America. The economy is evident watching semi-trucks and trains travelling in and out of each country. But, now much of the foot and car coming from Mexico has slowed immensely due to the uncertainty of President's plans that will adversely affect both nations. The peso has dropped and Mexico's economic future is uncertain.

U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, recently attacked President Donald Trump’s immigration and trade plans as a threat to the North American economy and described the president’s reasoning for building a wall on the southern border as “racist.”

 “In my lifetime, and I’m 44 years old, we’ve never had such a serious situation at our U.S.-Mexico border in our bilateral relationship with Mexico, and if it continues, it’s going to be deeply devastating to the state of Texas,” O’Rourke told reporters outside the Texas Capitol in Austin.

Now, with recent events, credible economic forecasts, the cost of our new President's plans many of his own party are having second thoughts about the wisdom of such actions.

Yes, many people are still crossing illegally. They always have and they always will. But, majority of those, often risking their lives to get here, are searching for a better life, a safe life and are productive. Those with criminal intent are a true minority and like kind can be found among our own citizens.

In so many ways a wall will create more problems than it will solve for both countries. They will range from moral to economic and changing the way border cities and towns have been for generations. Those who sit on Capital Hill and walk past the statuary lining the marble halls should actually spend time walking the streets from McAllen to El Paso, Texas and across New Mexico and Arizona to San Diego, California. To truly see and experience the people. And remember how our nation flourished not because of walls or rich, old, white men but because of welcoming all who came in search of a better life and the strength brought by the diversity,