Border Fence and the Endangered Species – Part 2

Logically, a fence is an effective structure to stop illegal immigrants from crossing. However, considering the length of the U.S.–Mexican border, it is not feasible to build a complete fence, and a partial fence is less likely to solve the problem. Despite the known limitations, the fence is still considered a viable option because of the pressure to curb illegal immigration. This pressure is especially high in California, Arizona, and Texas where most of the 2000-mile-long U.S.–Mexican border lies.

Supporters for stronger border security state that illegal immigrants fill the jobs that offer substandard wages, avoid paying taxes and drain the resources of local and state governments. Furthermore, weak border security allows human and drug smuggling, and threatens homeland security. Besides impacting the U.S. economy and security, illegal immigration also affects the environment around illegal crossing areas.

Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security, stated “illegal entrants leave trash and high concentrations of human waste, which impact wildlife, vegetation and water quality in the habitat. Wildfires caused by campfires have significantly damaged the soil, vegetation, and cultural sites, not to mention threatened human safety.” Abandoned vehicles are also common throughout illegal crossing areas, making wildlife refuges toxic waste dumps.

In addition, humanitarian concern is another reason supporting the strengthening of border security. Migrant deaths caused by dehydration and exposure to the hot summer weather shot up in the mid 1990s. In the high traffic area of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA) in southeastern Arizona, 14 deaths were reported in 2006.

Perhaps the fence is an acceptable idea to reduce illegal immigration if it works. Nonetheless, a report by the Congress Research Services suggests otherwise. Based on the study of the San Diego fence, the report stated that the fence “has proven effective in reducing the number of apprehensions made in that [San Diego] sector, there is considerable evidence that the flow of illegal immigration has adapted to this enforcement posture and has shifted to the more remote areas of the Arizona desert”.

Simply said, illegal immigrants will find another weak crossing to get around. On the other hand, wildlife will certainly be blocked by this fence while they are migrating across the Mexico and the U.S. border. For the ‘less adaptive’ animals whose behaviors are mainly driven by instinct, this fence seals their fates.