Republicans are milking the influx of migrants across America’s border with Mexico for political gain, but they don’t have a solution for it. Walls can’t keep people out, and never have. They simply go over, under, through, or around them. Let’s review some historic walls.
The Great Wall of China
A common misconception is this wall was built to keep Mongol invaders out of China. It did no such thing, and wasn’t capable of it; scaling it is no trick at all for an organized body of men. It kept their horses out, depriving the Mongols of a mounted advantage and forcing them to fight the Chinese defenders on equal terms; that is to say, on foot.
Hadrian’s Wall
This wall, built across the narrow neck of Britain’s island (see map here) during the Roman occupation, was never more than 12 feet high and only capable of slowing an invasion force from the north, not stopping it. More likely it was intended to funnel trade through customs gates, so duties could be collected, and keep bored soldiers busy in the work of building it (i.e., it was a make-work project).
Trump’s border wall
If river and desert can’t stop the migration from Mexico, why would a steel fence? It certainly doesn’t eliminate the need for constant patrolling, because otherwise all migrant smugglers have to do is saw through the steel bollards; in fact, there’ve been over 3,000 such breaches to date (details here). It doesn’t stop the flow of drugs, because most of them come through ports of entry in vehicles, not on foot over the rough border terrain. Like history’s other walls, it can keep out horses and donkey carts, but humans are too agile and ingenious to be stopped by walls.
That’s why nobody builds forts or castles anymore. Here’s a better suggestion: Reform America’s immigration laws. Most of the migrants come here seeking safety from violence at home, an opportunity to work, and a better life for themselves and their families. Our economy is facing acute labor shortages stretching far into the future, and needs more workers. Crime? Immigrants commit half the crimes as citizens, so if you want to reduce crime, kick out the citizens and keep the immigrants.
Bottom line, a rational immigration policy is far more humane, far less expensive, and much more beneficial for our country than Trump’s stupid border wall, which has become an object of well-deserved mockery. But don’t expect anything rational from Republicans (see story here).