Does building a wall to keep people out contradict American values? Overview: A border wall affects the freedom and liberty of all Americans / Joe Wolverton ; Building a wall at the border would divide us / Enrique Morones ; Trump's border wall : it should never happen / John Dean ; What Trump's plan really says : this is "the great wall of racism" / Jeffery Doherty and Boris Kaplan ; Obama-appointed judge : border fence is racist against Mexicans / Judicial Watch ; Border fencing is critical to ensure American security / Duncan Hunter ; Border walls would humanely enforce a just law / Terence P. Jeffrey ; Open borders does immigrants more harm than good / Michael Bargo Jr. -- Does the United States have the resources to build a wall? Overview: Executive order : border security and immigration enforcement improvements / Donald J. Trump ; Practical reasons should motivate the construction of a border wall / Reece Jones ; The United States can benefit from building a different wall in Mexico / David North ; Trump's wall is implausible from an engineering perspective / Ali F. Rhuzkan ; A wall would cause harm to the environment / Shonil Bhagwat -- Are there more effective ways to prevent illegal immigration? Overview: Border security is a question of management / Caitlin Cruz ; Opening the border would bring security / John Lee ; More Mexicans are leaving than moving to the US / Ana Gonzalez-Barrera ; There is no need for a wall when Mexican immigration is slowing / Kali Holloway ; The encouraging side of practicality / Rebecca Northfield ; The historical horrors of mass deportation / Adrian Florido ; Border walls are not a new solution / Amanda Conroy -- Who would pay for the wall? Overview: Funding a border wall / Wayne Cornelius ; Don't sweat the wall, American taxpayers / Don Gonyea ; Trump's plan is one rotten way to treat a friend and neighbor / Nick Gillespie ; Trump's idea for funding the wall is pure blackmail / William N. Grigg ; Extortion won't finance Trump's wall / Ross Kaminsky -- Organizations to contact.
Summary:
To some, the idea of a border wall with Mexico represents a necessary and practical barrier to illegal immigration and the perceived host of ills that are associated with it. To others, it is both an unrealistic and inhumane effort that demonizes desperate individuals and families who are only seeking a better life. The debate is fierce and is bound up with competing notions of crime, ethnicity, opportunity, fairness, justice, and what America promises, offers, stands for, and represents. All sides of the debate are presented here, and each is given a fair and respectful hearing, allowing readers to sift through fact and opinion, evaluate the strength of arguments, and form an educated opinion on the issue. Full-Color Photographs, Bibliography, Detailed Table of Contents, Further Information Section, Index, Primary Sources, Websites.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.