CNN

Considering the fact that the majority of immigrants who are in the country illegally are NOT from Mexico (they are from a whole host of countries throughout the world), to focus on a border fence is pretty dumb.

If we're calling for security, we should block of those Canadians too. Lots of people (probably including terrorist) hop on a plane to Canada and drive to the US.

Build the fence, so what about the price tag? We spent a lot more over in Iraq

ALL DEMOCRATS,

DON'T FALL FOR republicans poising as HRC SUPPORTERS...

THEY ARE TRYING TO INFECT 'anger' BETWEEN HRC SUPPORTERS AND OBAMA'S...

DON'T FIGHT evil WITH evil. THE BIBLE SAYS TO FIGHT IT WITH GOOD.

SO BLESS THEM!!!

When does Cindy McCain release her tax returns?!

You know, like everybody else she said should?!?!?!

Fence or no fence...instead of our Army reserve serving in Iraq, they should be defending our borders. Yes, I said defending. When you have a Mexican president meeting with American political leaders to determine ways to change the laws under cover of darkness to benefit the ILLEGALS crossing from Mexico, it's time for the citizens who care about this country to speak up. Contrary to what the president of Mexico stated (that "wherever there is a Mexican, it is Mexico"), this is the United States of America.....NOT MEXICO!! Employers who employ ILLEGALS should be fined heavily. Aid to Mexico should be diverted to pay the cost of the health care, education and incarceration of ILLEGALS until they return to their native land. Legal immigrants are welcome....ILLEGALS are not!!

McSame is a flip flopper that can't even remember where he stands on anything. He only kicks Bush under the bus when it suits him. He will fund raise with him behind closed doors, but bad mouths him in the light. McSame will lose and then he can go back to the Senate telling war stories. He is so out of touch with reality.

The idea that the US government could effectively guard both our huge borders is ludicrous. Picking up illegal border-crossers and dropping them back off in their own country makes about as much sense as capturing live mice in your basement and dropping them off at your back door.

If you want to guard our borders, you need to remove the impetus to cross the border in the first place. Stop the hiring of illegal aliens and you stop the border crossings. They won't bother to come if there are no jobs for them to take.

Call for volunteers to build it and watch how many people show up. The fence will be up by the end of July.

RSR,

Illegal aliens can't vote, only citizens can. Moron.

The border fence will not solve the problem, and will only serve to introduce environmental complications. The immigration issue needs to be solved via diplomacy, & perhaps by America's government helping Mexico to dissolve their corruption problem so that Mexicans feel their own country has something to offer them.

Something (common sense) tells me that most people who support the fence in Mexico have never been to Mexico or even outside the US of A.
I've been to both countries Canada and Mexico. I can tell you from experience that I am not worried about the Mexicans taking the technical-medical job in an air conditioned office that I have. All they want to do is integrate and be part of the American Dream even if they have to work like slaves.
Canadians on the other hand are very educated, speak English, and love to commute into the US to take those jobs that don't require much dishwashing or hammering! (The good jobs)
I say the Fence is a dumb idea inspired by ignorance and racism!
Long live the American dream!
And God Bless Vancouver! If I weren't american I'd be a Canadian.

Your polls are a bunch of bull crap. Nearly 90% of Americans favor the fence. Read American Solutions if you don't believe it.

I thought the US was for PULLING DOWN walls, not putting them up. Even the Republicans tried to get the Berlin Wall to fall. So, why are we putting up a fence? As Gov. Bill Richardson has said, put up a 10 foot wall and someone will come up with an 11 foot ladder.....We can "secure" our borders other ways–electronics, etc.

I agree that we need to know who is coming into our country–but let's also control those coming in "legally" via VISAs, etc. They come in and are never found again, melting into the general population. Who knows what they are up to or are preparing for?!

The workers that come here are males.

They come for a better life because American companies can break minimum wage laws, pay them less, they can ship the money back home and still make a better standard of living for those that remain.

How about we let the chicas come? They could practice the world's oldest profession at lower rates than Americans. Win win for everybody, right?

Border fence is a non-effective 'quick fix' that's at best useful for scoring political points. It doesn't solve the problem. The problem is that our government, while having tough-talked every other country in the remote recesses of the world, refuses to even ask Mexico to fix its own economy. They're leeching off of us because their government won't create jobs. In fact we've given them the comfort with our advocacy of 'land of opportunity' that they can dump all their excess labor on us.
It is time we told the Mexican government to stop using us a feeding tube and start creating jobs themselves!
In the meantime we should punish employers who use these immigrants as cheap, underpaid slave labor and evading due taxes!

This poll is skewed. Over 80% of legal citizens want a fence.
The rest want cheap labor, drugs, or are part of the dying Catholic Church.

I do NOT believe this story ar all; te American people are tired of our open borders and the country flooded with illegals!!!!!

A border fence is ludicrous. Just as the apartheid wall, separating Israel from the territories it illegally occupies sinc e 1967. Or the Berlin wall for that matter.

Some of you people need to grow up. You can't save the world. If these people want a better country then over throw their crooked goverment. You know why they don't. Because they can come here and demonstrate and don't have to worry about being harmed , plus they get all the free bees including welfare, food stamps , free medical care and schooling.

Build a $3B fence? Why do we elect people to come up completely unimaginative and ineffectual solutions. No fence will keep any illegal immigrant worth his salt from from crossing the border into the "paradise" we live in.

Even the great china wall did not do the job. What was the price tag of that?

Wow. This doesn't give McCain supporters a bad name at all, does it? YEEEEEEEHAAAAAAWWWWWW!!!

"NO OBAMA NO July 8th, 2008 1:00 pm ET

I live in San Antonio Texas and we already have huge illegal population TO MANY. We need to have some forms of control. We DON'T need NO MORE ILLEGALS in the United States. Don't VOTE FOR OBAMA if you do we will be a 3rd world county and like the old saying GOES there goes the neighbor hood. The Values of our county will go down even more with a Black Man in the White House.

NO MORE ILLEGALS PLEASE.

NO OBAMA NO"

Secure the boders no excuse.....

Just what this country needs– a fence we can't afford, patrolled by people we can't pay. In the meantime, the value of my house is plummeting and the cost of a tank of gas for my car is skyrocketing.

Yeah, I'd say Mexicans are sure the real problem, alright.

The two biggest threats to our economy and national security are our dependence on foreign oil, and our national debt, not illegal immigration. 3 billion dollars for a 700 mile fence is a waste of money. Our national debt is over 9 trillion dollars, yet both candidates support this waste as if illegals won't climb over it or dig under it. Sounds like both candidates need some advisors.

Comprehensive plan:

1. BIG fence
2. NO sanctuary cities
3. NO benefits to illegals
4. Employee ID job application checks (valid SS #'s)
5. Employer fines when they knowingly hire illegals
6. Bill country of origin for social costs i.e., medical, administrative, correctional, etc.

Bottom Line: welcome all who get in line, and come here legally or........don't come at all.

Actually, if anyone ever bothered to look at Obama's record, he voted FOR the fence....even though it would go right through a University campus in Texas....smooth move ex-lax.....

As long as thier not coming over here and breaking the really important laws i don't see why we need a fence. A fence will not keep them out even if we do build it.

MCCAIN AND OBAMA voted for the fence!!! The word "illegal" means just that "illegal" so when we talk about illegal (mexicans) that means they are here illegally. Send them back to Mexico and build that fence! But the government also needs to crack down on employers who are hiring them. If the government does these three things then illegal immigration will soon decline. Not go away. It will never go away. But maybe more of them will come here legally instead. Then less money will be spent over time tracking these people down and more tax income for the government to help cover such costs.

You only need to watch 20 seconds of immigrants hating from Lou Dobbs to understand why voting Obama is the way to go. As a new American citizen, my vote, and thousands of others will go to Obama. Wake up Latino brothers and sisters.

We need to do what we can. We CAN build a fence. It's not foolproof for all of our borders, but it will slow the traffic to more manageable levels.

A fence is a great idea, lets keep jobs and services to the americans that deserve them!

Let's get real. The fence is just another wasted ploy from Washington. Watch the hen house folks. The illegal employers are the reason our borders were stampeded from the south and that has made it easy for criminals to get here. If we shut down the illegal employers, the flow will stop, most will go home, and it will be much easier to keep criminals out. But a fence is just another minor inconvenience that will be overcome.

There is really not to much division here except the media trying to portay it with their B.S. I hear people like Bill Richardson and the other liberals stating that a fence will not work. Being one of these old people that served twenty years in the military and having the privilige of serving in Korea and being in East Berlin before the wall fell I can say absolutely a wall will work if it is properly manned and constucted. with the proper devices.. Very few people exscaped from East Berlin in all the years it was intact. You don't see people pouring out of north Korea do you.. All it takes is resolve. Put up the fence, put in a mine field with signs stating it in different langauges and armed towers and roving armed patrols with orders to shoot after the first warning and then take the actions required . The border crossing will stop.

Bring the troops home from Kosovo, South Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Gemany and Japan. Put them on our borders. Stop spending ourselves broke defending losers and ingrates. Put the Defense back in the Department of Defense.

We must find a way to secure our borders. I don't know if a fence is the solution or not. Employers who hire illegals have an easy out by saying "well they produced documents saying they were legal to work. How would I know they were fakes?" If the government would require all employers to E-Verify status on all employees, then the employers could be help accountable. Once these employers who hire illegals are facing stiff fines and jail time, the flow of illegals into this country from the south will subside considerably. If they can't find work, why would they want to come here. I don't believe that we have a big problem with illegal Canadians coming into the northern states and working mowing our yards.

CANADA NO PROBLEM THEY ARE NOT SUCKING DRY OUR TAX PAYER ,MEXICANSILLEGAL ....THEY LOVE WALFARE FREE MEDICARE FREE SCHOOL EVERYTHING FREE FREE...AND THATS ME..ME..ME.. I WANT ALL AMERICANS OUR LAND...IAMERICANS SUCKER

Let's see – educating our children; a cure for AIDS and cancer; social and psycholigical support for the thousands of returning veterans and their families; a healthy population ... or a fence to keep Mexicans out ...what a difficult decision. Gee!

The fence that McPain Flip Flopped "over'....lol

50 MILLIONS ILLEGALS MEAN 50 MILLIONS NEW DEMOCRATS VOTES,NO WONDER THEY WANT ALL MOVE HERE

to bad the headline isn't "Americans Divided By Boarder Fence" (we should have fenced off Texas after the Alamo).

LIBERAL LOVE ILLEGAL ALIEN WHOS SOLD OUT DRUG RAPE UR KIDS ABUSE UR DOG SCREWING UR PUBLICK SCHOLL UR ER.

TO ALL LIBERAL USA HAVE UNIVERSAL HEALTCARE LIKE DEMOCRATS EMPTY PROMISE BUT ONLY FOR ILLEGAL ALIEN...FREE LOADER , MATERNITY FREE.

CAN U ANSWER TO ALL BLEEDING HEART...WE HAVE UNIVERSAL HEALTCARE WHY ONLY FOR RATS DESSERT????

Fence is not the answer. There are aother ways to deal with illegal immigration. Didn't the United States of America helped to demolish the Berlin wall?
Why the United States wants to govern the whole world? There are a lots of issues that involves immigration. Don't you all have freedom to go anywhere and stay everywhere without being asked even for a visa? Why so many senior are moving to other latin american countries? has anybody send them back here?
KKK those who oppose the real values of america.Don't take your freedom for granted

Putting a fence up would be like putting a bandaid on a heart attack victim's chest. Wouldn't help anything ..would just be a pointless gesture to show that the problem is acknowledged.

LOU DOBBS IS THE MAN without lou dobbs this country alraeady sold out to drug cartel

If you don't live in a border state, you really can't grasp the idea of a border fence. It will not work and is a waste of tax-payer money. Immigration reform yes. Border fence is a joke. It will not work. If you throw in the environmental implications as a result of this fence, it becomes a laugh-fest.

It might help a solid crossing area such as San Diego, but as a border protection gadget, it will easily fail.

Who is going to repair this fence once it begins to be destroyed by illegals? More tax payer money for a faulted system?

We need real ideas, not political ploys by someone trying to get elected or re-elected.

Real answers, not political agendas.

FENCE !!! YES WE CAN

how u fellingwhen illegal rape ur family and steal ur car and sell drug to ur kids and cops never catch them just runnaway to mexico without border, liberal love it

Politics aside, the basic laws of supply and demand apply here. No matter what you do, you won't stop illegal border crossings and illegal immigration without addressing the demand to come to this country. Frankly the whole fence idea is a complete waste of my tax dollars it won't stop people from coming over.

Joe in NY, is a real genius. Why didn't we think of that, we could shoot on site. After all the Canadians are a real problem, with all the crimes, and the drain on our school and health systems, they've been causing. Its outrageous and something must be done. Lets not waste our time on the southern boarder, they are potential Obama voters.

maggie July 8th, 2008 3:08 pm ET

A wall along the Mexican border reminds me of the Berlin wall. why can't we work with Mexico and allow an allowable migrant population to work here during the seasons needed. We need to have a much better relationship with Mexico and Canada (will we put up a border there)?

There's a better way to secure our borders than to fence us up like animals in a zoo. People always refuse to think outside the box. Was I the only one who had to take a creative thinking course in college?

Obama '08 The revolution is coming. . . .

Is the fence part of McCain's job creation package?

There is no way the politician will get serious about illegal immigration so we are doomed to a 20 year amnesty cycle.

See what less dependence on oil can do: "The Honda FCX Hydrogen Fuel Cell Concept Car will most likely be dubbed the 3rd generation Honda FCX H2 car when it rolls off production lines in 2008. The newest Honda FCX Concept Car is more advanced than the current 2005 Honda FCX hydrogen car that is currently being used in fleet vehicles by different governmental agencies."

We need to enforce our current laws and change the ones that are no longer serving this country prior to building a fence.

We can no longer grant citizenship to those who are born on US land. US Citizenship should only be granted upon birth to children of those who are legal resident aliens or US citizens and the parents must prove it. If they fail to prove it, the child does not receive US citizenship and reverts to the citizenship of their parents. Children who are not legally present in the US are not entitled to free education, public services, etc.

Next, employers of illegal immigrants need to be hit hard and forced to pay up. We can divert the money received from these companies to social security. That way, we can continue to give out 'emergency' payments of $500/month to elderly new immigrants who will never contribute a dime to our system.

And lastly, we need to deport our criminal aliens. Many countries, such as Vietnam, will not allow deported Vietnamese citizens to return to their country. Instead, they just languish inside US jails that are paid for with your tax dollars. I say we just deport them anyways. If the governments of these countries don't want them, it's up to them to decide what to do with their criminal deported citizens.

The San Diego triple border fence works like MAGIC!
Illegal crossings dropped by over 95%.
The fence has been PROVEN to work.

A fence is not the ONE AND ONLY tool, it is just ONE in the toolbox.
We need comprehensive enforcement: more boots on the ground,
interior enfocement, crackdown on employers, crackdown on sanctuary cities, prosecuting those, who are aiding and abetting illegal aliens, purging the government, at ALL levels of agents supporting foreign interests, etc.

The next thing you know the Republicans will be suggesting minefields . . . Oh wait a minute someone already said that. Are you kidding me?! What about Canada . . . They have a larger border so theoretically the flowrate of illegals into our country could be higher there!! Wait we are only concerned about the Mexicans because they are stealing our jobs picking fruits and vegetables in the fields. Ummmmm . . . What about the Engineering and Technical Jobs being taken by Canadians in Michigan where the unemployment rate is 8.5%. You know what I think . . . If you are not an American Citizen and the State Unemployment Rate is above the national average . . . You need to find another state to get a work visa in. I don't care about a fence between Mexico. Mexicans should because 66% of Republicans HATE you!!

If anyone ever traveled or lived in Mexico you would understand that Mexican citizens are in a very similiar situtation as we are. Their Government is just as corrupt as ours. Their Government does not listen to the voices of their people either. A fence is a joke and everyone that lives on the border knows it. People from Mexico will cross 110 degree temperatures to get into this country risking life and limb. Do you think a fence will actually stop them.

A border fence is so idiotic....

"Didn't you hear? Immigrants have never heard of boats OR ladders!"

I mean, really.

Hussein times 3,
The good news for you is that Senator McCain is leading by enough in states that will give him 230 electoral votes.
The bad news, for you, is that Senator Obama is leading in states that gives him 305 electoral votes.
It doesn't count for anything except a blog today. But, if the numbers continue to hold, Obama is going to win,

We should have the guys who built the Berlin wall do it for us. Smart thinking eh!
Secure the borders..Keep those Canadians OUT!

I much rather see those 3 billion used like this:
"3 billion dollar prize to the first alternate fuel engine/ground breaking development with REAL world applications".
Heck even 1 billion would do, save two for agricultural and medical research.
...what an incentive to the world, talk about bang for the buck...a real gasoline free engine...for 1 billion...and then I woke up.
P.S. Not a tree hugger either but a fence and its wildlife impact would be devastating from a scientific point of view. I wish policy makers could really understand the scope of this decision with political neutral eyes and end their popularity quest...and the I woke up again. The fence could look pretty, but it will not work. Is that simple.

Jeez, people......so many comments comparing a border fence to the Berlin wall. That's plain stupid. How, exactly, does it have any effect on LEGAL egress at LEGAL border crossings?

As far as a physical fence, though, it doesn't make a lot of sense. Google "Operation Igloo White" and you can see what we were doing 40 yrs ago on the other side of the world (yeah, been there, done that, got the t-shirt....). With current technology, I believe we could control the borders cheaper and more effectively with sensors than with a fence.

Have Lou Dobbs patrol the border. He would be perfect for the job since he worries about it more than anyone else. We can all get him a horse.

"Why have a fence? People will just climb over it."

Well then why have doors with locks on your house? A robber is just going to find a way in if he really wants to.

The fact is that a fence will stop at least some people. It's a start.

Griff July 8th, 2008 1:36 pm ET

"Who care's it wont help him. This guy will never be a leader of anything. But the Black King… There ios no place for a guy in Real Government: Who wasn't born i n the USA, who really knows where this guy was born. Call this guy anything the Blacks think is Bias, and your a Racist….. The Blacks have this idea this is their right, even though he is a Foreigner. That never served his eleged country in any way…. He will be gone after November, and good ridance…../."

YOU SPEW HATRED LIKE NO OTHER. YOU ARE THE TYPES WHO DISTROY OUR COUNTRY BY SPEWING RACIST RANTS.

ANSWERS TO YOUR IDIOTIC COMMENTS
BLACK KING - HE IS HALF WHITE HALF BLACK
Who wasn't born i n the USA – HE WAS BORN IN HI = U.S.A
he is a Foreigner = HE IS NOT A FOREIGNER

A fence is a terrible idea. Just because we don't support the fence doesn't mean we don't want to support enforcing our borders. Its just that it won't work. The fence can't be patrolled everywhere, 24/7. Fences that are already up don't work. Will this be a magical fence? Will it not be susceptible to cutting tools? Will it not be susceptible to climbing? Will it not be susceptible to digging underneath it? Stop touting, "we need to enforce our borders" as an argument for this fence. Explain to me how it would actually be effective (impervious against cutting, climbing, and digging) and maybe I'll consider it. Seeing how its impossible for a fence to be as such and still be economically worth it, I'm left to believe that those who support the fence are just ignorant in the world of physics. Businesses all over are practically calling the illegal immigrants over. Punish them and you'll see illegal immigration dropping drastically. Just remember, its a lot more effective to try treat the cause as opposed to treating the symptom.

I love all the pro mexico people. Its not OK for the US to protect its borders, but it is ok for mexico to do it. Its not OK for the US to arrest Ilegal aliens, but in mexico it is. Question to all the US haters and mexico sympathizers, Why is it OK for EVERY other country to protect their borders, BUT the United states of mexico cant do anything to protect its borders? and to all the people pointing out how nobody says anything about canadians, well there arent 12-20 million canadians here illegaly, so the problem isnt as dire. however the fence isnt a good idea cuz it wont fix anything, its like putting a bandaid on a gun shot wound.
plus illegals are getting really good money to work in construction and in the oil fields in Texas, I know alot of Americans who would like to make what some of them are making.

First of all, i could care less about the illegals we have in the usa now. The us goverment should just legalize them, give them a ssn that only illegals would have, do a complete backround check, and if they work and speak english let them stay. however, the first time they get into trouble with the law, they should be sent back with no exceptions!! Also, to stop the current inflow of illegals, they should hire those that already came over to protect the boarder and if there is one that gets buy, that person that let them should be put back in mexico and the one that got by takes over guarding the boarder, sounds crazy but it would work or just make mexico a state of the usa and then we would have a place to dump garbage, have u seen mexico, not a lot of attraction if you ask me!

I support this fence. We have controlled the illegals in San Diego area so it is a must. This is important for our future and future of our children and grand children.

Why is this even an issue? Good grief it is only a fence. There are no machine gun nests behind it mowing down the illegals. Hey I think this whole issue is overblown we in fact need immigrants but geez people it is just a fence.Welcome to President McCain.

This is a proper role of government to secure our borders and provide for a strong national defense. Government does many things that it should not do these days...It needs to do something right for a change.

Hey don't knock the Canadian/U.S. border as this is the greatest example of free trade there is anywhere in the world. Yes Americans smuggle guns into Canada and Canadians smuggle dope into America.

The other example of free trade won't help anyone in either the U.S. or Canada since all the decent paying jobs have left both countries and gone to either Mexico or Asia.

Go McCain equals go jobs equals sell dope and guns to make a decent living and that is the Republican way.

One thing that bothers me about this, is that the fence isn't even following the border. They are taking shortcuts across Texas, meaning that there are complete cities that will be on the other side of the fence. That is so wrong.

Anything to keep a couple of illegal Ernesto's out of this fair land.

To all of the people that say we should have a fence up I say-
First take a trip to Mexico(not Cancun party animals) anywhere else in Mexico and see what it is like. Then after you have experienced the poverty firsthand then you can comment and have an educated opinion. Until then shut your yaps and get educated!
George Washington would be ashamed of some of these comments.

I'm opposed to the idea of a fence for one reason only: it won't work and will be a waste of our money. On Penn & Teller's B.S. show on immigration, they build a fence exactly like the one the gov is proposing to build. Know how long it took some real life illegal immigrants to get over/under/through it? 3 minutes. 3 billion dollars to add a 3 minute delay to illegal border crossers.

You can go to the local home improvement store and round up tons of illegal immigrants....stop wasting your money on a stupid fence. As Obama would say, "purely a gimmick."

Well lets talk truth ! why are there so many black activist in los angeles who would love a fence off the mexicans and those that are on the borders with the minute men ? So Latinos why is it we have 2 persons stating they want to help the Latino commu8nity but at the same time there supporters do not feel the same way so be careful of the wolf is all I can say ! Im Latino

Illegals hurt the economy. Period. If you disagree, don't read any further. This is a complex issue because this economy was built on slave labor and has thrived since the Civil War by having a segment of the work force working for slave wages, usually illegal immigrants.

I think the best long term solution is to make it harder for illegals to DESIRE to come to this country. That means cracking down on employers who hire illegals and take advantage of them. I do not believe in amnesty.

The fence is waste of time and money. Sure we need border security, but a determined person will get through to reach his reward. Take away the rewards for entering illegally.

We were so evenly divided last year that those that opposed the fence shut down the switchboards at Congress.

Sounds a tad less than evenly devided to me, but then again this the Obama/Clinton News Network.

Probably have to press 2 for Spanish there also.

A third world population begets a third world nation.

Who cares!...immigrants will still get past...let's move on to high gas prices, and foreclosures.

I don't like locking up my house or paying for an alarm system, but that's the way it is. I have lived in several countries, and they all have and enforce laws protecting their citizens. Some groups in the USA, such as the Chamber of Commerce on the other hand, seem to think we need this cheap labor to support their greed.

I'd like to note that every great nation which decided to build a giant "wall" to keep people out ended up regretting it.

I grew up on the Mexican border. I saw both sides of the E. Berlin wall before and after it fell. Walls don't work.

What does the Earth look like from space? This is how I believe God would like it to be.

Fences make good neighbors.

But how about instead of building a fence, we teach the friggin Mexican elites about basic capitalism so that their people don't have a REASON to cross the border looking for work. Oh, that's right... the Mexican elites don't care about Capitalism, because there are a handful of extremely wealthy families and interests that control everything in Mexico and keep the average Mexican citizen dirt, dirt poor.

Don't believe me? Try going to a bank and getting a loan in Mexico. You'll likely be arrested on the spot for murder, because your comment causes the entire bank staff to burst out in uncontrollable laughter and one of them dies of a heart attack from laughing so hard.

*GRANT* I'm in Ohio and have had my identity stolen by an illegal Mexican which I do know for a fact; I have all the documentation on it from the company who hired me "HER". So anyone, anywhere can be affected by this. The fact is the majority of Americans want this.

THEY OUGHT TO BE MORE CONCERNED WITH GETTING THE UNDESIRABLES THAT ARE ALREADY HERE OUT OF THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE BLOWING UP BUILDINGS, TURNING OVER CARS SETTING THEM ABLAZE AND BREAKING INTO LIQUOR STORES ALREADY.

This isn't Germany.

A fence would be more trouble than its worth. Yes we needs some sort of immagration reform but never this.

To rve:"By the way, no fence along the Canadian border, where the terrorists crossed!"

This is a very misleading and insulting statement. It is virtually wrong unless you include the "millenial bomber".

Voter July 8th, 2008 12:55 pm ET

A border fence is ridiculous. This is a nation of immigrants, and we ought to be ashamed of ourselves for failing our most valuable heritage. Historically, we have welcomed immigrants and provided for them until they could get a foothold in the New World.
Settlement houses, tenements in big cities, churches adopting families, family members bringing their relatives. This is the promise of America. Yes, they speak different languages, so did your relatives. They learned English with help. The elderly often never did, and they were watched over by their children and grandchildren.
__________________________________________________
it is not the immigrants the boarder states are talking about it is the illegal immigrants.
and to the DA no obama comment:
john mccain:* "He has promoted illegal amnesty for millions of illegal aliens"-Charlotte Iserbyt former Senior Adviser for the Reagan Administration

This wall is not to keep Mexicans out, it's to keep Americans in: entrapped and enslaved.

Republicans call on us to not be "PROTECTIONIST" but support this fence.

News Flash: There is already some fence in CA an AZ, and the that's GOOD!!!

News Flash: Kids need jobs. Landscaping is a job. Construction is a good job. Jobs = consumers. Jobs = Strong Dollar. Jobs = Good Economy. If Fence = Jobs then I Heart Fence.

College educated Democrat who sells Real Estate and doesn't work in my educated field because of Free Trade.

I really am not sure how you would go about finding a solution on this issue. A compromise that I could think of is I know that many American residents and citizens are married to illegal aliens, maybe this law could be adjusted to make it easier for these families to be together legally. Then build the fence. Maybe that could help reach some sort of concensus ??

And for all those who say that illegals just want to be Americans, think about it. We're in a recession and as soon as hard times hit illegals start leaving. What's that about them desiring to live the American dream? Apparently it's only good to be an American when we have a housing bubble.

First of all, it smacks of the Berlin Wall. Remember that one? "Mr. Gorbechev, tear down this wall."?
Second, what good will a 700 mile fence do? After looking at pictures, it looks scalable. Even if it's not, it may deter those halfway between either end, but if you're close to one end or the other, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to say, "Gee, I think I'll go down there, where there is no fence."
If you really want to deter illegal immigration, you need to take away the incentive. Make it illegal to employ illegal immigrants and then back it up with hefty fines and frequent spot checks. Have the INS show up at a few job sites asking for IDs and/or proof of citizenship. If the workers can't provide that proof, they go back home and the employer gets fined a quarter of a million apiece. Provide no welfare except emergency medical treatment (even illegal aliens deserve that much). That would stop it.

MY UNCLE WAS MUGGED BY MEXICANS, THEY KICKED HIS HEAD IN
HE SPENT YEARS IN HOSPITAL, BUT DIED FROM THE SEVERE
BEATING,--A MEXICAN CRASHED INTO MY CAR FROM BEHIND SENDING ME INTO AN ONCOMING VAN, I WAS UNCONSOUS,
NO INSURANCE, WHO PAID MEDICAL & FOR CAR THAT WAS TOTALED, MEXICAN REVENGE, DOING POO, POO ON TOMATO, &
VEGGIES,----DRUG SUPPLYERS

Thank you Congress for wasting my money on a non solution. I am proud that we, too, like the east Germans, now have a fence to call our very own.

America is still the beacon of Liberty and opportunity which draws
people from around the globe to its shores. Despite our problems
our country is still the greatest in the world.
However, WE NEED TO SECURE OUR BORDERS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY. The Border Fence is just one of the many border
protection projects that our country needs and should be built ASAP.
as more and more illegal aliens cross our borders. WE have a great many illegal aliens crowding our prisons because of failure to secure our borders and failure to identify, catch and deport criminals
felons and other undesirables among these illegals.
The Bush Administraion would have to its credit , border security
and anti-terrorist initiatives if it would go full speed on these projects.

Obama supports a fence – thats one thing i'll agree with him on. The fence has proved successful where built. How many people are aware that the mexican army has provided cover to drug dealers into our country? Also, we need to make it as difficult as we can to keep out future illegals. as it is, in 20 years they will dominate culturally and politcally. Think what it will mean to your kids to be an 'american'.

Here in San Diego illegal immigration is a major problem and local folks, in general, aren't very happy about the situation at all. Some people, like the MSM, want to call them "undocumented workers" but I say.....what part of "illegal" don't they understand?

If the only way to keep illegal immigrants from sneaking into our country is to build a fence....Have at it! I wouldn't mind having the National Guard chip in to patrol the border while we're at it.. Also, unmanned drones patroling the border might be a good thing too...that way the Border Patrol would know where to go to catch the illegals just as they're coming in.

And also, very importantly, really go after the people who hire illegals....and do that bigtime....like hit them with hefty fines and even jail time. I'll bet that would make them clean up their acts in a hurry. Bottom line here.....the illegals would quit coming to our country if the money supply (and public benefits!) dried up.

I'm for the fence.

I'm not gonna lie guys but I do believe we need one. I'm sorry to say this but I do believe we need to force it in there. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that is the right thing to do but I do believe is the only way we're gonna fix the problem. Let's just say it'll work best for both parties, at least I believe so...

I don't know who through of this Border Fence to keep people out was DUMB and a wasted of money but it supply a few contract jobs. GO OBAMA

You no Fence idiots need to get a life. The border fence will have about the same impact as a cattle fence. As far as fines to people that hire them? So now you want a bunch of illegal immigrants starving in America? And if you need a reason why they illegals come to America. Go to Mexico and have a look around. That Gov't is so corrupt it is ridiculous. You would come here too. In my opinion we invaded the wrong country. Mexico does more harm to the US in one day than Iraq ever did. We need the fence and we need a guest worker program. Illegals need to go home and sign up for the program. If they want to become citizens then they need to follow the rules. In the meantime we cannot have 22 million Illegals starving to death in Mexico. our own back yard...

Forget the fence. Increase the legal immigration quota to a couple of million a year from Mexico. Then we can take names and check for criminal records and all the good folks who want to come and work here can come on in.

We need the labor. They need the jobs. Why be confrontational?

Maybe we could spend the money on ESL schools because once they learn English they won't be so scarey.

R. Grayson

Yes good idea to end the Iraq War that was based on lies...and redeploy all National Guard along with Reserves to guard the border instead. Plus prevent employers from hiring the illegals, wage heavy fines and deport all with criminal records.

Can you imagine the size, quality and technologically advanced fence that could be built with the money that is being wasted on war?

Proud to be a democrat –
Thank you for proving the point. The people who immigrated here in the past (all of my ancestors for example) were HAPPY to be here, and bothered to learn the language and integrate into this country. If that were the situation now – no problem.

Our economy is in a slump, and Mexican illegals are exhanging their dollars for pesos and sending them Western Union back to Mexico, notice a connection here? Build the Fence!

P.S. i forgot the prison costs for rapes and murders of our citizens. And i might as well ad the drunk driving accidents which of course they have no insurance.

Personally, I believe it would be more effective to withdraw our troops from all over the world and place them along our borders. Build a few bases and establish daily patrols. Maybe build fences around commonly traveled routes/choke points.

However, I'm tired of people comparing the fence to the Berlin Wall. The Berlin Wall was a barricade built by a foreign power to keep a country divided.

America and Mexico are not one country, despite what some reconquista nutjobs think. Both nations have rights as SOVEREIGN nations to defend their borders. I believe America's borders must be secured and I applaud Mexico for taking their national sovereignty seriously by defending their southern border. Too bad Mexico can't respect our sovereignty.

I feel the 700 mile long fence is RIDICULOUS. You know darn well that every day – in multiple locations along it's length – someone will punch a hole in it allowing groups to slip through!

Such a fence would be a joke, and in CONSTANT need of patchwork REPAIRS! There will be no end in sight.

The only way something like that would 'work" would be if it were
15 -20 feet tall and ELECTRIFIED ~~ not to mention strictly monitored 24/7 along EVERY INCH of it. Satellite tech may help out there, but that would require constant manpower and be a serious drain on our resources.

There are RULES already on the books. STRICTLY ENFORCE THEM! AND THROW OFFENDERS IN PRISON FOR LIFE – even on their first attempt. No excuses!

Katiec and others....stop with the comparisons to the Berlin wall. That was built to keep people IN against their will. Whatever side you are on, try you best to at least leave intelligent comments.

The threat to democracy is what we witnessed as the travesty of the democratic primary.

The least qualified, least experienced, least accomplished and least worthy of leading... was installed by threats and demands.

Our border pales in comparison as a concern for most democrats who believe in our system of fair elections.

PUMAs can jump over the fence.

The fence is a great start, but not the whole solution!! Why aren't there Army posts all along the borders??? Since we have to pay soldiers to stay on base anyway why not put them to good use instead of just playing war??? I can't think of many countries that actually have border walls of some form that don't also have the military providing security along said walls. In fact if you actually look at thise walls the military forts are built right into them. I also think people would have a lot more difficulty crossing the border with a humvee crusing by every 5 or 10 minutes.

I also think that companies who hire these people should pay stiff fines and have a 3 strike type rule. Get caught hiring illegals 3 times and you forfiet the company and if you are in management you are no longer allowed to perform in a management position any longer, funny we can do it to dealer but not the CEO. If you really take a hard look at who is doing more harm to the country it is without a doubt the one destroying American jobs which in turn destroys families!!!

I am begining to believe that the govt. is trying to create a North American Union, why else would they be so willing to let our country be invaded by those who stole thier way into the country and continue to steal american dreams daily, unless they were trying to bring wages down.

I agree with Bridgette. Hit the employers hard. They are the ones providing so much motivation for people coming to work illegally.

I see nothing wrong with a fence. It won't completely stop illegals from getting in, but it will likely halt it to a trickle. Noone says they can't build a fence AND penalize employers who hire illegal aliens. As for the Berlin Wall comparison – apples and oranges.....The Berlin Wall was built to keep people inside, a border fence with Mexico is to keep people outside. I don't understand why anyone would be against a more secure border.

I thought we already had a fence. It's called a desert.

This is nothing more than a quick-fix, expensive plan. Building a fence isn't going to fix our broken immigration system. Why don't we put the 3 billion toward getting to the root of the problem and coming up with some real solutions?

Illegal immigration is definitely a problem, but could we please stop referring to illegal immigrants as criminals? I understand they are breaking the law, but laws aren't always just. And since when did trying to make a better life for your family become a crime?

Some are on one side of the fence... some on the other... I bet Obama is playing it safe by sitting on the fence... until the polls indicate to him his position.

Well I am all for doing something to protect our borders...

Democracy, by its very nature of openness has become very vulnerable to threats...

The world is no longer what is was and complacency will not bring us peace and safety.

But I don't think a fence is the solution. Don't terrorists have ladders?

a fence is cheap considering the Billions of dollars that illegals are costing our schools, hospitals (free health care) and social programs in san diego and california..BUILD THE FENCE and keep the National Guard stationed at it.

The idea of a "fence" is a distraction from the more important issue, "how do we deal with illegal immigrants?" Perhaps, we should build a fence around corporations that higher illegal immigrants. The point is that we have laws that are sufficient enough to handle the problem, however, thus far we have chosen not to enforce them. A "fence" is an expensive non-solution. Enforce the law and solve the problem!

Well I am all for doing something to protect our borders...

Democracy is very vulnerable to threats...

The world is no longer what is was and complacency will not bring us peace and safety.

But I don't think a fence is the solution. Don't terrorists have ladders?

First, build the fence. Second, jail the ceo's hiring and thriving off cheap labor, Third support NAFTA and export John McCain's job to Guatemala, Fourth, reduce our minimum wage to $1.20/hour and then we can all slip through the hole in the fence to go to Mexico and make some real money, say $1.21/hr.

Put 45,000 troops from Iraq on AMERICA's border most troops over there are not fighting anything...But I guess that would be common since...Oh wait theres no such thing in politics...and putting up a fence would just slow people down and mess up animals needing to migrate...oh wait thats not a smart idea...when did common since becaome such a starange concept?

Why do we keep repeating mistakes, ever hear of the wall between east and west berlin?

Let these people come into the US and work if they would like, just make sure they are signed in legally (work visas) and make sure employers (who are the real problem here) follow all the rules just like every other employer is the US (workmens comp, payroll taxes, proper accounting etc.....)

McCain ...

What are you going to do about LAW BREAKING LATINOS that violate the soveriegnty of the Unites States of America?

I agree 100% with Bridgette. We should enforce a policy that penalizes those who hire illegal immigrants in there pocket books. Money talks and if we issue hefty fines to those employers than the problem would be drastically reduced as well as create new jobs for american citizens.

WHY DO WE NEED A FENCE? BUSH AND MCCAIN BRAG ON THEIR SECURITY PLANS WHICH HAVE KEPT AMERICANS SAFE, AND WITHOUT A FENCE, THIS FENCE BUILDING ARGUMENT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. I AM AN OBAMA SUPPORTER BUT WE NEED TO LEAVE OUR MEXICAN FRIENDS ALONE, WE NEED THEM.

People say fences won't stop illegal border law violators.

Next time you drive by a prison, take a look at what's around it.

Seems to work fine.

Who care's it wont help him. This guy will never be a leader of anything. But the Black King... There ios no place for a guy in Real Government: Who wasn't born i n the USA, who really knows where this guy was born. Call this guy anything the Blacks think is Bias, and your a Racist..... The Blacks have this idea this is their right, even though he is a Foreigner. That never served his eleged country in any way.... He will be gone after November, and good ridance...../.

3 Billion for a Fence, but you can bet your bottom dollar GOP and ilk will whine about not enough funds for Social Security.
FOX and GOP friends have sold many Americans to be afraid of those people that have been working in the fields for us every day. They do the labor Americans refuse to do. The local Farms and Businesses are now haveing a hard time finding workers due to the vigilante groups out there.

The only good and creative idea Bush had was to work on a Worker Permit system with Mexico. Other Nations manage to do it why can't we? Stupid rancour between the Dems and Republicans.

Actually I wish Obama didn't agree with this stupid idea.

Why would anybody NOT want to stop just anybody from illegally crossing the borders with Mexico or Canada into the USA? A terrorist could just walk across the border with a suitcase of nuclear material and drop in off in Houston, Texas or New York city or Boston or any big city and cause major damage to people and infrastructure.
Anyone who advocates not to stop illegal immigration is either nuts or does not have the safety of this country in mind.

Build a fence, dig a trench, just do SOMETHING!!!!!!

Once again this government is spending 2.5 billion dollars on fixing a sympton not the problem. Stop sending our business to India and China and start sending that money to Mexico for jobs. Then, there will be no need for a fence....

By the way, no fence along the Canadian border, where the terrorists crossed!

I would love to see a poll of the people in TX, NM, AZ and CA about their opinions of fence. They are the one's who are really effected by illegal immigration. You tell me how someone in Boston can relate to the problems of a Dallas County resident who pays taxes for Parkland Hospital?

That's funny, most of the polls that I have seen over the last month or so, show anywhere from 74% to 87% in favor of building the fence.

To only have polled 1026 people isn't a very good poll. There is no way that you can get accurate information like that.

One of the polls that I saw had polled over 30,000 people, with a sampling from almost every state based on population and 82% of that group that was polled wanted the fence built.

It is time for our senators and congressmen to;

***** Vote for Americans and not Illegal aliens ****

I'm all for the fence and a nice minefield to run along it's length. Keep us secure!

WHY ARE ALL THESE ARTICLES ON MCCAIN? CNN look at the headlines for politics... the past few days, I've only seen news on McCain.

I thought CNN was supposed to be fair and balanced.

Obama must have e-mailed all of his cult followers to use "tags" on these blogs with the surname "Hussein".

All the propaganda nuts out there are using that tag... to "desensitize" people against the ... what?.... stigma?... of Obama's middle name.

I could care less all you fake Husseins... What matters is your FAKE nominee.

He will lose this election based on who and what HE is... or IS NOT.

Funny thing about the "threats" and need for a fence on Mexican border. Some simple facts:

-All 911 terrorists came in from Canada.

-No talk about fence on Canadian border.

-Double standard?

If Obama picks Hillary for VP, he can get a head and win!

Obama/Hillary 08

For those that are here need to learn english. Want to be
american citizen but want learn ours language. It should
mandatory for them learn to become citizen of the U S A.
Ours government can catch criminal and drug dealer but
can't stop drug from coming into ours country because payoff.
We need to control ours border because this is being taken
over by illegal and bring violated crime here such gangs and
guns.

Some of you obamabot idiots like Truth B Told obviously didn't read the article. OBAMA VOTED TO BUILD THE FENCE! You people are ranting about how stupid the idea is and then end by saying "Obama for Pres".

After reading some of the comments about needing the fence to keep terrorists out I had to respond again. The Saudi 9/11 terrorists were in our country legally when they flew the planes into the towers. The current world terrorists have money (backed by most of the Middle East countries) so I doubt they will be coming over via Mexico. More likely on a Visa given to them by our government. Or they could easily come over in a container ship or Canada's border. We are spending BILLIONS in Iraq so it's time to bring that money and our troops back home to protect our citizens. We have to approach this issue by going after the employers. If there weren't jobs easily available then people who want a better life won't be flooding into our country. Also change to law about automatic citizenship to anyone born on our soil.

Latinos are not well served by Obama... but old habits of voting for the democrat, are just so hard to break....

Be true to your own self.

This man is not for you... Obama is only out for himself. He wants to make history and will tell EVERYone what they want to hear just to expedite his way to his goal.

I know a fence will not stop the illegal border crossing but it can be a first line of defense deterrent. I mean we can put the fence up with cameras and hire more border patrol analyst to watch the going on... this way they can report who is sneaking across. If are findings was not wasted on the war we could have come up with a bigger and better plan. The real issue is the Americans that employ the illegals. If we at home will stop this madness then there will be know reason for these individuals to cross the border. Tougher laws needs to be ENFORCED on Americans that hire illegal’s… from the home owner who picks up a couple of illegal’s to do jobs around the house to the corporations that hire these folks to work for miniscule pay for fortune 500 companies.

Fence, lazers, pits, please secure the borders. How does that NOT make sense to some?

*whose lives and property will be forever destroyed by the fence.

Just do the unpopular thing:
Notify Mexico 90 days ahead of time that we (US) are going to start military patrols of the border with military aircraft with live ordanaces with the authorization to use them if they spot ANYTHING invading the US territory...the night won't help (FLIR is a wonderful thing) I think that would go on for 30 days before teh traffic would cut down to almost nothing.
Yes the world would cry out some citizens would have human rights issues but what about the US citizens rights??
Immigration is a self inflicted wound and America will have to do something drastic to stop it! Maybe if they put as much effort as they are into Iraq and Afghanistan we wouldn't have a constant flow.
Plug the leak then bail the water.......

Didn't somebody try the fence idea in Berlin?

Obama will take whatever side of this issue will gain him the most votes.

That's the kind of guy he is.

The fence is a wasteful and terrible idea. It is opposed by many in Texas, espeically those who's livelihood and property (in some cases owned by the same familes who recieved it from Spanish land grants) and will be an environmental disaster. Interior and East Coast politicans have no knowledge of the border and should not be making this decision. 15 foot fence=20 foot ladders. It's time to allow much more legal immigration and work for a comprehensive plan that address the reality that there is no way you can deport 12 million people. November cannot come soon enough. John Cornyn should be the first to go.

I'm an avid Obama supporter,
I don't know that we should have a fence, but I'm not against a fence.
I am against illegal immigrants receiving any of my tax dollars – for healthcare, food, education, etc.
Not because I'm against ANYBODY, but because the financial strain on Americans is just too much to bear. And, quite frankly, in speaking with some of my other Lation cohorts, they too want illegal immigration to stop.
1) it puts them in a position of having to defend themselves in some places
2) it puts them in a position of having to go against "cheaper" labor.
Chepaer in that the companies that hire them don't pay them as much and then also don't give them anything in terms of benefits. So, it's hurting the native latino's more than others would imagine.
We have to slow the tide of illegal immigration.

mitchell hussein martin said: "tear down that wall! ronald reagan. the 'fence' is a terrible waste of money,and halts the flow of marijuana ,which ,apparently,a lot of americans want.legalize it,then people will support stupid fence."

This is without a doubt the dumbest thing i've ever read on the political ticker. I think the mentally challenged should stay away from posting in here.

I Obama sitting on the fence- unwilling to commit- to play safe as usual?

I'm on the fence on that.

Build the fence. Time to stop 3,000 a day from coming into our country. Just ask the Mexican government how they handle the Guatamalans and Nicaraguans streaming across their border to the South. Why shouldn't we do the same?

Illegals, ALL OF THEM, need to leave NOW!! They are a drain on our resources, public programs, etc...resources and public programs intended for U.S. Citizens. Paying out to those who contribute NOTHING to the budget is a recipe for disaster.

Democrats, naturally, welcome illegals with open arms because they figure they might as well expand their voter base any way possible. Pathetic! The interests of the United States should come first, not the interests of the Socialist Party of America!!

Building a fence is only spitting into the wind and you'll only get a wet face. The money would be better spent on increasing the size of the Border Patrol. Men do a better job of patrolling than a fence. Adding to the Border Patrol would cost less as well. This administration needs to use its head for more than keeping its ears apart. IF you can find someone with common sense, that's the answer....a fence is a ridiculous idea because it WON'T WORK, people will. Beef up the Border Patrol but don't tie their hands so they can't fulfill their duties. It's a disgrace that the government put two men in jail for doing their jobs. It sounds like those in Washington are a bunch of idiots. God help us!

I don't care how much it costs, build the fence and keep out terroists and illeagls. Its been 7 years since 9/11 and I think Americans have sadly forgotten how awful we felt watching the towers fall. The fence may not be the only thing we need to do but it's a start. BUILD IT!

TO: F.Taylor,

I see alot wrong with how our government SCREWED the two guards that wounded the drug smugglers that were coming over here because if you try to commit anytype of physical violence on police officers in the USA, you get shot but if you are protecting our borders and commit violence towards the boarder patrol, the boarder patrol goes to prison.

This country in that nature is SICK. Bloggers can call me Anti-American but oh well. That is the truth.

you all forget, we are trying to build a fence to keep out CRIMINALS. Anyone croosing a US border without proper documentation, who cares if you're a democrat or republican. It all comes down to my piece of mind, I pay my taxes and do everything legal, build a fence and tell the lettuce pickers to go to Columbia or some other third world country.

Please help me understand why we are only building a fence between the US in Mexico . . . I am not Latino but it sounds to me since 66% Of Republicans favor a fence that they want to keep the Mexicans on their side of the fence. I wonder what they think about the Canadians . . . Naahhh Not a concern . . . Just the Mexicans. If you are Latino and have any love for your fellow Latino John McCain may not be your guy.

Fence will not help keep illegals out of the country. What would help is Bipartisinship with the Mexican government to help those who need jobs in mexico.. It takes talking and brain storming to come up with a great answer. They are our neighbors and allies.

Hey CNN, isn't it about time for ANOTHER pro-Obama propoganda piece?

Also, why such a concerted effort to constantly keep Obama's each move in the news cycle (his plane landed, he plans to buy a dog, etc.)?

This is ridiculous...

Obama and the 'Dum'ocrats in congress will never do anything to stop ILLEAGAL immagration, because it helps build their voting base. Obama will say & do anything if he thinks it will help him become 'KING of the UNITED STATE of ISLAM'....the 58th Islamic state.

A fence with Sniper Security. I am sick and tired of folks complaining about illegals in this country taking jobs and not paying taxes but then they are looking at the environment. I value my livelyhood over what little damage will happen by putting up that fence.

Read "Mexifornia" if you want an inside look with real solutions!

I live in San Antonio Texas and we already have huge illegal population TO MANY. We need to have some forms of control. We DON'T need NO MORE ILLEGALS in the United States. Don't VOTE FOR OBAMA if you do we will be a 3rd world county and like the old saying GOES there goes the neighbor hood. The Values of our county will go down even more with a Black Man in the White House.

NO MORE ILLEGALS PLEASE.

NO OBAMA NO

I have a better idea:

instead of a fence, how bout we block the border with Lou Dobbs' inflated ego, and then fill in the gaps with his gigantic dentures.

Plus, We could put a wind turbine in front of his mouth, and power the entire eastern seaboard for the next 1000 years

A border fence is ridiculous. This is a nation of immigrants, and we ought to be ashamed of ourselves for failing our most valuable heritage. Historically, we have welcomed immigrants and provided for them until they could get a foothold in the New World.

Settlement houses, tenements in big cities, churches adopting families, family members bringing their relatives. This is the promise of America. Yes, they speak different languages, so did your relatives. They learned English with help. The elderly often never did, and they were watched over by their children and grandchildren.

I am so ashamed of the current anti-immigrant hatred. We all came here from somewhere. Our brightest minds, our best ideas, our most beautiful art, our finest literature, our highest skilled crafts- they all came when our families came. They are who we are.

How hypocritical to deny new immigrants – to treat them as "illegal," to deny them health care and education. Good thing our forefathers didn't do that to our grandparents!

Compared to our own waste and our outrageous expenditures on war and killing, the cost to Americans to support immigrants trying to make it here is peanuts.

I only hope Americans today can rise to the promise of America and stop the incredible selfishness and hate before we lose what is best about us all.

I just love it that folks in Idaho, New Jersey, etc think they know what is best for the border between Texas and Mexico. Here's a thought, why don't you listen to those most affected?

Let us take care of our borders, and you take care of your own problems!

- The WALL has been approved...
- It is the appropriation of MONEY that is the hold-up

. BUILD IT
. KEEP OUT THE UNKNOWNS
. HAVE THE KNOWNS GO THRU CONTROLLED CROSSING
. THROW OUT THE ILLEGALS
. PROTEST YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR HOME, YOUR PROPERTY

Hey Nate – all the 9/11 terrorists came in through Canada... Do you want a wall up there too?

"Nate July 8th, 2008 11:59 am ET

There is a larger concern hear than just illegal immigration. Terrorists use that border to sneak into and out of the US.
These are not scare tactics. Hezbolla and Al Qaida terrorists have actually been caught crossing the border. A cross border attack by Al Qaida against a US millitary base on the border has been recently foiled. This is a matter of national security."

I live in Texas and I can tell you that there are many, many illegal people here. We don't need the fence, we need our government to do their job. If I broke the law I would pay for it. Illegal's are breaking the law and so are the people that employee them. If I stole someones identy I would go to jail. Why don't they!!!!? My grandparents were immigrants, but they did it the legal way. That's all we want is legal immigration and a government that enforces the law. If illegals can't get a job here, they won't stay and more will not come. How simple is that? I just solved the immigration problem!

you didnt climb these types of fences when u were a child.

BUILD THE FENCE, NOW! its unthinkable that we dont have any real border, absolutely unthinkable.

I say we build a tower every quarter a mile or so. Hire a bunch of sharp shooters and just drop each illegal that tries to cross. Do that a month or so, let them get the point and the problem will fix its self.

To all of you that oppose doing something about our border control problem you must live in states that don't border Mexico. If you did, like I do, then you would understand that we need to do SOMETHING. A fence is a good start. I am tired of paying for illegal’s healthcare, food stamps, child care all while they get paid under the table and send money back to Mexico. Then they want to protest, saying that they are Americans but they do this by waving Mexican flags. Yes, nothing says I'm an AMERICAN like waving the Mexican flag and speaking Spanish. Good Job!
I agree that the fence may not be the best solution, but at least it is something! I agree that people can find a way around it, but it's like a home security system. If someone wants to get in your house they will find a way, alarm system or not. But the point of the alarm system is to deter the burglar. That is what they are trying to accomplish with the fence.

NO, "Kathryn Irby", it's your bigotry that is disgusting!
I do agree with "R", if we still had our "National" Guard in place, proetecting our nation instead of having to spend two tor three tours in this "war", we might be able to do more positive things about securing our borders. Bottom line, a fence is a stupid idea.

The borders must be secure ... you can not be allowed to come and go as you please. This means Canda & Mexico.

People in the country must be here legally. Fine those who are not.

Visitors in the country should be logged and tracked with biometrics ... digital photo & finger print & DNA sample on file somewhere. If we need to find you, we must have every possible ability to do so.

Migrant workers should be allowed to come and go once per month ... not daily. That's too much cost in monitoring infrastructure and border staff.

People who add something to the good of America, other that their physical labor, should be allowed a path to citizenship. However we don't need anyone that is going to later become a burden to our social services systems.

Headline: Iraq insists on withdrawal timetable

What do Bush and McCain have to say about that? They are speechless. It will be interesting to see what spin they create.

we should wait until we deport all the republicans,especially ARB,and THEN build the fence.we need to remove the terrorists [republicans],first.i hear guantanamo is nice,this time of year.affordable housing,cheap food,great chiropractors [back-crackers],an electrician [always on duty],and all the water you can drink and more [as long as you are willing to be strapped to a board].

How well did Hadrian's wall work or the Great Wall in CHina??

I say build the fence Americans and get your country into more debt, Just make sure the secret under ground tunnels remain open.
thank you

Wonder what people they polled for this. Was it the northern state or the states that have to deal with this problem?

When illegal immigrations start effecting the jobs and crime rates up north, people will have a different tune.

Judging from this poll. It appears in this sampling of 1,026 people 55% of them are misinformed and certainly do not understand the concept of what a fence is for.

Fences are built to keep in dogs, cattle, horses, and other domestic beasts. Also good to corral children and to protect the general public from eye sore property coniditions.

Fences have never worked to keep out: criminals, rabbits, varmints–they always find a way in.

I'm concerned about the environment too, however I'm more concerned about the number of undocumented people in this country that are draining our health care and educational system. I'm also very concerned about the flood of drugs and violence that is coming into this country from Mexico.

I'm not sure if a fence is the answer, but we do have to come up with some kind of solution to stem the flow of undocumented Mexicans crossing our borders.

kathryn irby, YOU and your mouth are DISGUSTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To "God Bless America" your history is wrong. It was GWB and his administration who SAID Bin Laden was behind the WTC 9/11 attacks, but it wasn't. Then somehow we jumped from Bin Laden to Al Qaeda to Iraq. This is the main reason for us invading Iraq: DISINFORMATION. Oh, and we wanted revenge, too, on anyone whom Bush pointed a finger at. We were duped.

The border fence is an ignorant idea, designed to appease stupid people who think it will work. It won't. We should be hitting the employers who recruit illegals (with the footnote that they're doing the work Americans WON'T do, which is a lie, we simply won't do those jobs for sub-standard wages) with fines. Our government, our elected officials are being paid to deny a problem exists by the very people who gain from illegal aliens (they're not immigrants, they're ALIENS) – EMPLOYERS. The only reason it has become such a huge problem is because our elected officials are being paid to look the other way.

Government corruption. We are a nation of laws, and we have laws on the books to address the issues of illegals coming over our borders. Our elected officials are simply choosing to ignore the will of the American People. Viva La Raza??? VIVA LA CONSTITUTION DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS.

i find this VERY hard to believe. a FENCE is such an @ssinine solution, i dont believe that many americans think a fence is the best use of our money! what kind of fence ever kept anyone out of anywhere?!?!? geez, didnt you people even have a childhood???

Let's all think about this seriously for a minute: If we weren't spending 12 billion dollars a month in Iraq and Afghanistan, a several hundred million of that could be used to enlist more recruits for border patrol, and have our coast guard, and national guard, doing what they're supposed to be doing; protecting our country. Next question is; who are they going to hire to build that fence? I bet half of the people they hire will be some kind of illegal immigrants. Like my buddy good ol' Jesse Ventura said "Be careful what you wish for, because the fence that was supposed to keep people out, might be used to keep you IN." Think about it, the media doesn't provide enough right information to the public, so people will believe anything, its a dumb idea. Period. Bandaid on a bullet wound.

Just because of all the Spics barging their ways in this country! How disgusting!

Read the comment both McCain and Obama both voted to authorize the building of the fence in the Senate last year. Sound like they are on the same side here.

ok i live in LA, there is a huge illegal population here, i understand that they come here to work and make money to send home "back to Mexico", but i dont get how someone breaking the law is rewarded. i kind of feel like calling people who are living in the US "undocumented citizens" is like calling a crack dealer an "unregistered pharmacist"...and with the people who are trying to fight for the rights of illegals, i find them sort of racist, i mean are they fighting for all, or just the Latinos? i work in a restaurant and one night i was serving people from the Mexican delegate, they were talking about how they have some 35 million illegals living in the US, how the money these people send back to Mexico has helped their economy grow, how powerful they have become in this country ect. my thing is we need a reform that works for ALL people who want to become apart of our Nation. we need to find away to tax the money they are sending back to Mexico so they are contributing to the growth of this country as well. i mean who is paying for the health care , education, transportation, books, shelter ect...of these people? tax paying Americans...This man John McCain chose to be his "Hispanic Outreach Director." Juan Hernandez
.his new book. The "New American Pioneers" proclaimed in his book are the illegal alien invaders he urges to become settlers in the USA. Hernandez believes all Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in the USA should become dual citizens and consider themselves Mexicans first, "to the 8th generation." He believes there should be no border at all between Mexico and the USA, ever.

Regardless of which candidate you support, I think this idea and half my country is stupid!

The only way to protect this country is with a fence..Like it or not Its the only way.Lets face it people from other countires are coming in here through the Mexican border too. I'm a Democrat , but Democrats don't want to make a decision on anything–get with it people. We could replace all of you with the illegals you refuse to do anything about .The crminals should go back fast .And if others want to come here–great pay them American wages–this way its win -win for everyone ,except big business . big business has had enough of a free ride

"TEAR DOWN THAT WALL" RONALD REAGAN

who cares. send some cheep gas. with the war gas should be about 00.5.99

If I scare you enough will you pay me to build a useless fence around your house? Neighborhood? Town? State? Just so you can "feel" safe? A fence will not protect you from blackwater mercs. A fence will not protect you from your paranoid delusions. A fence will make some inside contractor a lot of money. Why not fix the levies and bridges first?

Dimocrats don't like anything good for the country. Case closed.

Congress now has 9% approval rating. Just can't imagine why. lol

It's funny how people that've never lived in Calfornia or any of the Southwestern states think they know the situation. The media makes it seem that Mexicans are stealing the food from people's mouths. THEY'RE WORKING FOR IT. The fence is a ridiculous idea.

I have heard that new levees in New Orleans is 1 Billion, and Bush spends three billion on a fence that cant keep a billy goat out!!! This country was built by immigrants why try to keep people out now! Makes no sense fools!

REMEMBER FOLKS COMMON SENSE GOES A LONG WAY, BUT EXPERIENCE IS JUST MORE OF THE SAME OLE POLITICS! SOME OF US AVERAGE WAGE EARNERS CAN'T AFFORD!

COMMON SENSE WE CAN BELIEVE IN

OBAMA 08

A BORDER FENCE WILL NOT WORK! DONT YOU REALISE MORE THAN HALF OF THE UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS COME INTO THE COUNTRY WITH TOURIST PERMITS AND JUST DO NOT GO BACK TO MEXICO
IN HERMOSILLO SONORA OUR AMERICAN COUNCIL CANT HAND OUT PERMITS FAST ENOUGH! I KNOW THIS FOR A FACT!!!
I WENT TO THEM FOR ADVICE, AND THERE WAS A LONG LONG LINE WAITING FOR PERMITS.A MEXICAN GUARD TOLD ME I HAD TO STAND IN LINE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE!!!! I AM NOT LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE! i am an american citizen wanting to speak to my counsel!SO IF YOU THINK IT WISE TO BUILD A USELESS FENCE MY ADVICE TO YOU IS TO BUILD A MORE EFFICIENT AMERICAN COUNCEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

Weneed the fence.
At some point in time, Americians need to take care of ourselves for awhile and the rest will have to learn to take care of themselves for awhile. We need to step back and regroup so we can once again become what we, as a whole country need to be. We are always one to step up and help others and we have forgotten to help our own. We need to help our own to become strong again.

Wouldn't it be cheaper just to invade, conquer, and annex Mexico?

As I have mentioned in a prior article (http://uscommonsense.net/blog/2008/04/16/bringing-down-the-wall-aka-imigration-101/), a fence from coast to coast simply will not work and would be a colossal waste of funds. Fences in strategic locations will help divert illegals and drug-runners into specific "gaps" that are easier to control on foot and from aerial surveillance. The money saved from not building a coast-to-coast fence can be used to pay for more Border Patrol agents and the necessary equipment they need to do their job. The investment in people will result in increased tax revenue (and in Business 101, a return on investment is a good thing).

Take the troops out of Iraq and put them on the border. That should solve the Iraq problem and the illegal immigration issue and further protect us from terrorist crossing the border.

Too bad the Native Americans didn't manage to build a big old fence all along the Atlantic coastline before the Mayflower arrived.

Terrorist can still come in through Canada, the Air, and Sea. A fence is not a deterrent. A small ladder and some effort defeat a fence! why not use landmines!

i am amazed no distrubed at how ignorant some of your comments are. the berlin wall kept people locked in berlin not the berliners locked out.it kept people from escaping communist controlled eastern europe very well.so analogy a fence with mexico would work to keep our citizens from escaping to mexico. so it should also keep their citizens from escaping to take our jobs and destroy our civilization.mexico itself is locked in war with drug cartels corrupting all aspects of lie/civilization.border control is not possible by mexican govt even if they cared to stop the free movement of their citizens. roman wall in britian worked for 400 years until they stopped defending it due to roman govt corruption and the roman peoples not believing their society was worth preserving

If we believe that 3 billion dollars towards constructing a fence along the United States-Mexican border is going to resolve the illegal immigration problem, then we are truly a lost society. Why don't we enforce current existing laws are enact new laws.....but then again, its the dog chasing it tail.......too late.....this nation is changing....and I hope for the better.

I guess some people have NOT checked on the environmental damage that has been done over the yrs and all the garbage left out there to be cleaned up,
Then It makes me wonder about people that don't want our country secured. Do they like the drugs that come through. And do we know how many people that want to do harm to this country have come across?
The fence may not be a cure all but at st it is a starting point. I just don't understand people that think we should blindly open our country with no documentation. That is plain crazy to want to give our country away. To many people have a short memory.

Stop wondering why everything is soooo overpriced these days! The government says no to illegal crossers in sending money to their family across the border! Oh well life goes on, and so does the illegals over, under, and thru the fence! What a waist of time and money!

If politicians were that concerned about illegal immigrants, they would go after the businesses that hired them but the truth is that politicians won't because they would lose campaign/lobbyist dollars from these businesses. So they scapegoat the illegals who have no voice in our government and make them the easy target. It's very logical, stop the source of the money and illegals would stop coming over. Keep it open and people will find a way to get here. Honestly, anyone who thinks that a fence is the answer, needs to ask themselves why do these people come here and attack the source of the problem.

Terrorists coming across the border? Why would they take the difficult route? They can fly in on a government issued student visa! BTW your odds of being hurt by a terrorist are less than being hurt crossing the street. Lets have a war on red light runners! This is a canard! a distraction! Get a grip you silly paranoid peoples!

Why build a fence between our country and Mexico?

Why put fences up in on our properties?

I don't want a fence it will solve nothing, what I want is mandatory prison terms for those that employ illegal immigrants. In order to solve the problem you have to attack the root cause. Do this one thing and the problem will entirely correct itself.

The border fence is repulsive. It's like we're Henry VIII gorging himself inside his castle while the moat protects him from the starving peasants outside. It's like those gated golf communities we despise so much as we drive by them.

How can anyone complain that Barack Obama is "elitist" and yet favor building a fence to make sure those dirty, poor, badly dressed, non English speaking, Mexicans can't get into our precious country.

Building a border fence would be an absolute disgrace for a nation that considers itself to be free. People and goods come before any government or any arbitrary line in the sand. Let's modernize our immigration system and create an open, transparent guest worker program to quickly and efficiently vet the hard working souls who simply want a better life. Simultaneously we need to pressure the developing countries to our south to modernize their economies and allow for greater property rights and foreign investment.

Hey Richard, and all of you other idiots who think it would be easy to climb the wall.

First, ever heard of barb wire?

Second, they would combine the fence with electronic monitoring.

Finally, your argument is that walls don't work. I guess those Chinese must have been republicans. The Berlin wall, dumb. Walls at prisons, stupid.

The argument is flawed and flat out wrong!!!

Majority Rules. Build the fence. Mine the border while you are at it.

I see no problem with building a fence, for the protection of the American people, safety issues here, all Americans need to feel safe, this is our backyard.

A wall stood in Berlin for close to 50 years before it was torn down, the iron curtain fell, and today as a memorial to the stupidity of man we the United States of America are building a wall that is suppose to stop who on our border with Mexico.

We have laws, we have border guards, we have two border guards sitting in federal prison for doing their job. What a nation in the 2000's.

NOW WE HAVE OUR OWN BERLIN WALL

What a country, you send hundreds of thousands of soldiers to Iraq to patrol their borders and can't muster a corporal guard to patrol your own borders. Then when your guards do catch a drug smuggler and wound him you sentence them to 10-12 years each and give the smuggler immunity.

Does anyone see anything wrong with these two scenarios.

If my American History is correct it was Bin Laden (Middle East) who is responsible for the 911 attack. We are at War with Afghanistan (Middle East) , in a War with Iraq (Middle East) and looking to start a
War with Iraq!!!!!! Again Middle East!!!!!!! How is ISOLATION from our continent allies protecting America? How is putting up a fence against people who love this country and give up everything to reach it's soil is WISE DEFENSE against MEN , WOMEN AND CHILDEN WHO ARE TAUGHT TO SING, DANCE AND CHANT " DEATH TO AMERICANS"?

I think the fence is a great idea. we can hand it over to Halliburton to build and someday they can hopefully finish it and only charge the American taxpayers $300 billion to do it. Plus, I'm sick of all these illegal aleins from Canada stealing our jobs and their Grizzly bears terrorizing our country side.

I am a Democrat but have conservative views about immigration. I wanted all illegals to leave the country, immediately. After listening to Barack Obama, I realized that you don't have to step on somebody else's dream in order to have your own. So now I just want all criminals to leave, and I want the illegals who have NOT committed a crime to pay a fine.

If McCain wins however, I'm back to square one.

Obama 08

Good thinking, Anonymous in CO! I agree with every word. And we need to vote out every incumbent, and begin to get a NEW Congress in place. Every incumbent for the next 6 years, and we can truly change America!
As to a FENCE keeping out terrorists-HAH! The true terrorists are in Washington, shredding our rights along with the Constitution. The Republican scare machine will be in overdrive soon, until we realize that THEY are the real threat to our way of life, not some person in Iran.
And Rick, you need to look past your Republican stubbornness. We are creating more terrorists every day we stay in Iraq. Drilling more oil will not solve the problems of over-consumption and wanton disregard for others,
and while war is big business for Bush and cronies, for the rest of us it is senseless, wasteful, and morally wrong. You probably hope we bomb the evil Iran soon, too. God save us from you and Bush.

Mexico will do nothing to solve the immigration issue. Never has, never will. Militarize the border before we lose our country altogether. Twelve million illegals in this country is more than enough. Better yet, let's adopt Mexico's absurd, neurotic rules governing the rights of foreigners in Mexico and lest we forget who is responsible for 98% of the illegal problem in the USA, let's apply these rules solely to Mexicans. That should bring the cries of "foul" from the hispanic activists and far left liberals. And I am a Democrat.

The US is just the band aid for the issuie. The people leaving their homes for this country is the blood gushing from failed and horrible government/conditions in their countries. The Mexican gov. needs to take responsibility and clean itself up. The wall is stupid, spend the 3 billion on new equipment and personel to monitor the boarders in stead of something that will be an eye sore IF its no longer needed.

Yeah, but up a fence along the Mexican border, then put one on the Canadian border. Next would be fences around the Continental U.S. along with fences around the Hawaiian Islands, Alaska, and U.S. possessions, you know, make the U.S. like one big prison yard.

How do fences make any sense?

There is a need for concern for illegal aliens, I grant, but I think fencing is too extreme and simply reminds me of things like the Berlin Wall; a fence is a double-edged sword, IMHO...

Instead of a fence, provide that money to the border patrol and immigration service so they can perform the job we ask of them.

Secondly, you HAVE to go after the employers. Caught once, you're fined 5k for every illegal worker. Caught twice, your business license is suspended for 1 month for every illegal worker. Caught thrice (that's a word, really), your business license is revoked and you're going to prison for maximum 1 year per illegal worker.

Unfortunately this means I'd have to hire some neighborhood kid to cut my yard, but that's a small price to pay.

Obama will not be able to fix this problem because he has no ideas of his own.

East Berlin???!!!!! who the heck was beatin' down their wall to get in??

More trouble than it is worth. Replace it with a big sticky trap

The idea of the fence will be to keep Americans in not aliens out as all our jobs have gone south. If the fence was only to keep Mexicans out the Administration would send money to Mexico to build higher ladders.

Have any of the fence supporters ever heard of a ladder?

To be honest, what will a fence do? they could climb over it

The whole debate is not going to matter. Bush has entered this country in the Security and Prosperity Partnership with mexico and Canada and their desire is to end national soverignty and make the Americas like the European Union. Yep, no more USA. And it is being done with no congressional approval. They have people already meeting on how to transition our laws together.

We Should Build A Fence To Keep Mccain Out Of The White House!

However bad it maybe for humanity, environment, spending, wildlife etc, but the fact of the matter is that till we have a fence to stop the illegal border crossing, the dire consequences that it (illegal border crossing) brings to our country on the macro level, things like environment, wildlife etc are pointless.

There are lot of pros to either side of the argument, just like there are lot of cons, but till we put a fence – or figure out another way to stop undocumented border crossing, this will remain a problem forever. Unfortunate but true, in my opinion.

talk about a big waste of effort and money.............not to mention the symbolic nature of it........which is all it will end up being anyway.

I like coconut pie, but I'm not gonna walk from Virginia to California to buy one for $2,000.00. I've got more productive ways to spend my time, money and energy.

There is a larger concern hear than just illegal immigration. Terrorists use that border to sneak into and out of the US.
These are not scare tactics. Hezbolla and Al Qaida terrorists have actually been caught crossing the border. A cross border attack by Al Qaida against a US millitary base on the border has been recently foiled. This is a matter of national security.

Obviously this fence should have already been constructed years ago.

Who do we think we are? If the Native Americans had built a fence, we would have torn it down and killed them all and considered ourselves appointed by God to do so. We have no right to keep people from coming to this land. We do have a right to punish criminals - citizens or not - and if we would do that, we would not need a fence.

Take some of the 20 Billion a month from what we save on the Iraq war and invest it in some skills training and buisnesses in Mexico. We can make money on the interest and we help them at the same time. When they have an opportunity over there to do better for themselves they won't risk death to come over here.
The Berlin Wall was one of the ugliest things that one culture ever did to another. Why repeat such a mistake?
God Bless America!

We have military bases in over 130 countries. Couldn't we bring some of our troops home and have them defend our border?

If Barack says build a fence,
build a fence. I agree with
whatever Obama says!

President Obama!
2008-2016

Are we Medieval? Perhaps a Great Wall like China including a moat with alligators?

Is this America or East Germany?

Our National Guard should be controlling the border, not Iraq.

The people living along that fence and having it built on their property should have some say about it.
We also need to realize, the cost of gasoline isn't the only reason the cost of food is going up. When crops rot in the field because there is no one to harvest them, it's not a fuel or flood problem.
It will serve us right when we have to do the picking ourselves or go hungry. It might actually be good for us when we realize what hard work actually is. Personally, i like being spoiled and being able to go to the super market and get fresh vegetables at a reasonable price.

Ask the people who actually live and work along the border, and they are overwhelmingly against the idea of a border fence. These are the people this will have the most impact on, and these are the people whose land is being taken away to build this thing. Americans in many cases are losing access to the Rio Grande, which in many cases is crucial to their livelihoods, because the government wants to put a band-aid on the immigration issue.

The fence and other similar measures are strangling the legal traffic going across the border on a daily basis while doing nothing to help the illegal immigration problem. Border towns on both sides of the border are suffering, while illegals find new ways around these measures almost before they're put up. The illegal immigration issue requires a much more thoughtful and comprehensive approach, throwing up a wall will cause more damage than it can possibly hope to alleviate.

Bring troops home from bases abroad and station them on the border fence that should be built.

Place harsh fines on companies who hire illegal immigrants.

Drop illegal immigrants over the fence and tell them "You don't have to go home, but you have to get the heck out of here. Good luck."

There's a war going on where people are being decapitated, bodies burned, and other forms of execution- and its not in Iraq. Its right across the border in Mexico. We need to get this under control, and do it now.

I'm no politician, but isn't building a 700 mile fence on a 2,000 mile border, a waste of money, and a huge insult to the intelligence of Mexicans?

What is Flip Flopper Mr.McPain saying about this...well his brain is not connected to his tounge and he doesn't remember anyway.
Mr.Obama is the only one who has vision and judgement to fix all the mess.. not just immigration, border security, gas prices, economy, education, security – everything (including putting McPain in a mental institution)
OBAMA (2008 -16)

Both McCain and Obama are wrong on this border fence issue. It is the dumb and a waste of tax payer money.

Bottom line, why do illegal immigrants come to America? ANSWER: Mostly for jobs.

Now, who are hiring illegal immigrants? ANSWER: Mostly American businesses.

America doesn't need a border fence. America needs enforcement of immigration laws with strong emphasis on penalizing businesses and people who hire illegal immigrants! If that means making government (specifically the Department of Labor) bigger, then so be it!

Since we are spending billions in Iraq, we need to build this fence to protect the american people.This is a no brainer.

The fence is worthless. People will find away around, over, under or through the fence, it will do nothing but force them to try a little harder. A fence is like treating the symptom without treating the cause of the illness. They come here to work. If you spent half the money they spend on boarder fences and patrols on actually punishing those that hire them, you'd solve the problem, and a program like that could even fund itself through fines.
Stop the employers and you'll stop the problem.
Build a fence and they'll just find another way in as long as they can get jobs.

Until our current laws are enforced and the employers receive stiff penalities for hiring the illeglas a fence isn't going to make any difference. The employers hire these people at sub-standard wages instead of hiring American citizens. These same employers cheat the American taxpayer because they don't pay their employer FICA taxes into the social security and medicare system because they chose to hire illegals. They also don't pay their required state's unemployment or disability taxes. The employers are getting off cheap by not hiring American citizens. The other issue we need to address to stop the flow of people coming over our borders is – no baby born on U.S. soil is an automatic citizen if their parents are not U.S. citizens!!!

I think the fence is vital to the security of our country. Not only do you have drugs flowing freeling across the borders, but you have criminals and illegals coming over. Who's to say that terrorist couldn't get in through the Canadian or Mexican borders. I support immigration but you have to go about it in the legal way. I pay a crap load of taxes every check and if people are going to be benefiting i.e. schools, roads, etc then they should be contributing too. Just image the revenue the country would be getting if all the people getting paid "under the table" were paying taxes on that!

Enforcment is the answer! Unfortunately it will mean shutting down some of my favorite taco places in Arizona. BTW who do you think is being hired to build this fence? Why not help Mexico improve their economy and make it desireable to stay there? Or maybe we should just move all our factories there and just have service industry jobs here to serve the wealthy?

note: you can still get real Coca Cola from Mexico, real sugar, no corn syrup!

P.S. Refined Sugar is still Sugar! Refined positions are refined, not changed. Unlike a complete reversal on tax breaks for the rich.

Great Idea...welcome to East Berlin!

Where there is a fence, you do not need man power. With fewer border patrol agents than we need, this IS A FIX.

ANd regards to the environmental effects, have you seen what is done to the environment by the illegals coming over. The border looks like a dump. It would be better for the environment if we stopped this madness.

The fence idea is not going to work. Part of a real solution is to punish companies that hire undocumented workers, offer an "easy" way for imigrants to apply for work visas, offer realistic paths for naturalization, use more technology to monitor borders, make some deals with neighboring countries.

Please get some smart people to come up with a real solution.

Mexicans will figure a way to defeat the silly fence. As matter of fact we should ask them to find Osama for us. It seem like "they" get stuff done in our country.

I think it's time for the US to stop blaming the hardest working segment of our permanent illegal population.

Of course democrats are opposed to it. Democrats are opposed to everything that we need to do to fix our problems. They are opposed to fighting terrorists, they are opposed to drilling for oil, they are opposed to building the fence, etc., etc. The drain that these illegals put on our economy(crime, medical costs, etc.) is staggering. And all you nitwit environmentalists should be first in line to stop the illegal invasion because it just adds to "evil" America's carbon footprint.

The Fence is a joke! The concept was technologically adequate when the Chinese built the Great Wall. When Congress finally determines what the meaning of a border signifies, perhaps and only perhaps, it will come up with a better idea! On this issue, watch out for huge trade-offs and pork barrel legislation.

National guard needs to be put on the borders. Period. Tom Clancy proposed this years ago and I still believe it is the right course of action.

If you are in the national guard, spend 1 week out of your year guarding the US borders. There are enough guards to be able to cycle annually and watch the majority of BOTH the southern and northern borders.

So simple.

Criminals, rapists, drug dealers, and potential terrorists stream into our country every day, with no end in site. Build a fence and bring our troops home from this stupid war in Iraq and let them guard our borders.

The fence is an idiotic idea. Build a 25' fence, someone has a 35' ladder. Bridgette is right, as long as American companies are hiring these people they are going to find a way to enter this country. Add insult to injury, much of the steel and pipe that was used to construct the fence was produced in China at a time when US Steel manufacturers are struggling to remain in business.

The border fence to stop illegals is as stupid as the guy that finds his wife smooching with another guy in the living room couch, and his solution is to burn the couch.

Watch for our ladder companies to move south of the border. High walls plus tall ladders equal crossing the border.I am for spending all the money we have left,Oh, sorry all the money we can get from China.Barack"hussein"Obama 08

Connie"Hussein"Sturgeon from Indiana

America is a nation of immigrants, why are the white people crying about immigration now, all the white people where immigrated from eruope majority of the from england. The only reason people like Lou Dobbs, Rush limbo, Hanniy and Bill O'relley cry is because if more not irish immigrant come to usa then idoits like them would not be able to compute with the new immigrants so they are trying to defend their position, you can be dumb and irish but still have a good job and money, but very soon all this is going to change.

A fence is a horrible waste of money – where there's a will there's a way – they'll get here nonetheless. The key to a solution is the employers – if you go after them we may see a difference – and I'm not talking $100 fines – hit them hard and make it hurt or their practices will continue.

There are so many political issues that need attention and CNN picks THIS as a story?

Come on CNN we know you have been pulling for Obama since the beginning but you have gone from being biased to being ridiculous.

Build the fense. Don't worry about the animals. We need to protect our boarders. Grant work visas liberally, pending clear identification of potential immergrants. Set time limits (re-newable) of stay; and have them pay into our tax system like everyone else. But most important, STOP THE DRUG TRAFFIC FROM COMING INTO OUR COUNTRY!

Build it to the sky. What's the point of hard borders if you're not going to defend them? The fence isn't going to solve the problem all on it's own, but it will certainly help.

Why would anyone believe an idea born from an administration/congress that hasn't gotten anything right in almost eight years. Forget the wall (I just wonder which friends of the Bush/Chaney duet would be building it?) and enforce systems already in place – enhancing them as necessary.

Until the government is willing to enforce immigration laws for everyone, including big corporations, and is willing to stop paying government benefits or allowing illegal immigrants to give birth to "citizens" and claim their families are being torn apart, a fence will do little. The money we spend on "stopping" crossings is futile and should be shifted to enforcement.

At the same time, we need a viable immigrant worker program to allow for those who want to work at low paying jobs to come in here legally and be controlled if they break our laws.

Finally, we need to force our neighbors to the south to do more economically for their citizens to keep so many from coming north, and to charge them for the costs we incur by their citizens from coming here.

That is, we need comprehensive reform and "security first" won't every happen, so we need to go beyond the placebo and pablum of a quick fix such as this fence.

10 years sober

Here's another fence that McCain can come down on both sides of.

The fence today is to keep illegal emigrants out, the fence tomorrow
might keep U.S. citizens in.
People wake up we do not have illegal emigration problem we have illegal employment problem fence will not fix that.

The idea that our government leaders even considered the concept of a fence bordering the expanse of our border makes one concerned about their powers of reasoning and respect for our tax dollars. The fact that despite our objections–they are still wasting our hard earned tax dollars in this money pit of a plan–is despicable.

Vote against all incumbents. Time to clean house.

Yes! I think Republicans, Conservative Democrats and Independents should unite against Obama and his elitism that would lead us to the one world George Soros idea of society.

Obama is a dangerous dangerous politician

I guess some republicans have their eyes on those avocado picking jobs now that simultaneous war and tax breaks have provided the expected result.

I totally agree with you Bridgette.

Hit the companies that hire illegals with stiff penalties and fines.

If they put a $500 reward for every illegal turned in to the Immigration Service it would be cheaper, and incentivize every American to help.

I agree Angus. I am tired of hearing quick fix solutions that any average Joe could come up with. It is high time for politicians in Washington to start earning their salaries.

Fence = Dumbest idea ever next to the war. We need leaders smart enough to really address the problems of today. If things don't CHANGE we need to really start praying hard for our grandchildren. I say lets move forward not backwards.

The fence is a catastrophic boondoggle. This will be an insidiouos, innefective joke that we will talk about for generations.

We need a NATIONAL ID and REAL punishment for those who hire undocumented workers. Then we can begin to raise wages and be able to better afford the REAL healthcare and education programs we've needed for fifty years.

Mr. Obama, stop the building of this wall.

A fence is about the dumbest idea ive ever heard....that wont do a thing to control illegals coming here if they want too....if you wanna keep illegals out, you gotta have a better idea than that....they will keep coming back for more and deporting them wont do anything either.

The best fence you can build is enforcement of existing laws on employers. You need uncomplaining cheap workers to pluck your tomatoes, clean your table at your cousin's restaurant and mow the lawns. You wink and nod when your cousin picks these people to work and then complain about illegals and building a fence. A skilled worker cannot be hired by a company without checking their legalitty to work in the U.S. Why should a farm be exempt? Illegals don't vote and so don't have a voice. Employers are happy as long as people blame the illegals. No work, no illegal immigration. That's the best fence you can build..

I've been a Democrat for 30 years and think that the 58 percent of Democrats that oppose such a barrier are idiots. It's time that the Mexican government was forced to address the problems that force Mexican citizens to enter this country illegally. The United States can no longer afford to be the dumping ground for the impoverished or otherwise unwanted citizens of Mexico and the rest of Latin America. As the grandson of a Mexican immigrant who came to this country legally, I do sympathize with the plight of those who come here looking for a better life. Unfortunately our resources are not unlimited. It's time these people started looking to the governments of their home countries to address their problems. Uncle Sam cannot continue to be the only answer.

A fence is about the dumbest idea ive ever heard....that wont do a thing to control illegals coming here if they want too....if you wanna keep illegals out, you gotta have a better idea than that....they will keep coming back for more and deporting them wont do anything either.

Indeed, Bush's plan to bankrupt our economy was brilliant immigration strategy–if we're as poor as Mexico, who'll want to sneak in?

Seriously though, it's a manufactured solution to a manufactured problem. Yes there are some immigration problems, but nothing that can't be dealt with cheaper and more humanely and with respect for the natural environment than a huge fence.

So called "conservatives" not only want to control people's rights by allowing our government to spy on us, but now they also want to spend millions of tax dollars building a big fence around us. I thought conservatives were suppose to want small government.

The areas of our boarder that already have a fence up are ineffective. There are holes everywhere, there are tunnels that run underneath the boarder. Putting up a fence is not only a waste of money, it is waste of money that makes us look like Nazi Germany. This is another bad idea from a utterly clueless party.

Don't worry, Obama will change (flip-flop) his position on this at some point.

It's unfortunate that it takes terror attacks for a large number of Americans to see the need to secure our borders.

Wouldn't that $3 billion be spent better on something else?

People will find a way around the fence, and it will have gotten us nowhere. Not worth the $$ or environmental price.

Shrill "Minutemen" types are off their rocker and need to get a life.

I believe a fence is not what America is all about.
What about the Berlin wall. We were very upset
about that.
If Bush/McCain were not in bed with the leader of
Mexico and truly supported our border patrol we
would not have this problem.
If Mexico offered jobs, etc to their citizens, tried to
improve living conditions for them, cared about
their people you would not see so much crossing
of the borders. As it is, they encourage illegal
immigration so they will not have to deal with
their countries problems.

a border fence is the dumbest plan i have ever heard of. figures it would originate from republicans.

sure, a fense would work fine to keep illegal mexicans out... after all, these people haven't mastered how to climb yet, have they? oh wait...

how about next we choose to dig a 700 mile long mote and fill it with aligators. sound like a good plan?

in short, no physical obstacle will prevent illegal mexicans from crossing. these people are humans and have brains.

Amazing how much America has become like the Romans, when the built Hadrian's Wall to keep the Scottish out of Britain.

Same concept here...we need a wall/fence to protect the borders from over a million each year that cross over without any screening or documentation. But we also need to help with birth/population control and trying to work with Mexico to improve labor conditions so they want to stay in their own country

Build a fence and people will just climb over it. Why even bother? It is not going to do anything but cost more money and time and will not help anything. We are the land of opportunity. Why not up the entrance standards and make it where people WANT to become American citizens legally rather than become an illegal alien?

Mike in NYC July 8th, 2008 11:10 am ET

No enforcement means no borders.

No borders means no nation

-which is what they want they want an europen union style govt over here. The north american union will be rolling out once the Feds collapse our dollar and along with it the economy. This will hurt everyone but the top 1%, and mexico. Cant wait to see who is on the Amero once our dollar becomes fancy toilet paper.

A fence is a patch. This is a larger/more serious problem which needs a larger more thought out solution.

tear down that wall! ronald reagan. the 'fence' is a terrible waste of money,and halts the flow of marijuana ,which ,apparently,a lot of americans want.legalize it,then people will support stupid fence.

Fence = dumbest idea ever. Frankly, now that our economy isn't as great, a lot of undocumented workers are leaving the US and returning to their home countries anyway. And a fence still isn't going to stop people who are willing to risk their lives to get here.

I think the way to stop illegal immigration is too hit the pockets of the people who hire them. As long as they go unpunished then the problem will continue. In America everything comes down to the pockets. Hit those pockets and the problem will be cut down drastically.

No enforcement means no borders.

No borders means no nation.

The government has two responsibilities: to protect us from enemies abroad and to preserve domestic tranquility. All else has been confected. I think a fence, electrified, and zero tolerance for illegal aliens fits well within the government's duties. This is difficult when you have cities like San Francisco hiding felons for the immigration authorities.

I can understand the desire for a fence, but am personally against it because of the environmental toll it presents. It is commonly known that construction of the fence is likely to devastate certain animal populations and I don't think it's right for human animals to condemn nonhuman animals to death or disarray for mere geographic and political purposes.