An Actual Border

Each year, it is estimated that over a million people cross illegally into the United States over the U.S.-Mexico border. Here, these illegal immigrants find jobs, support groups, and a growing immigrant community all willing to support them in their pursuit of a new life. The act of crossing the border without papers has become so commonplace—it is estimated that there are 5 million illegal Mexican immigrants in the U.S. at any given time—that many Mexicans see the ability to cross into another sovereign nation’s territory unfettered as a basic right.

Now that the House of Representatives has passed a measure to build a wall preventing the influx of illegal immigrants from Mexico, there is outrage from the Mexican government and people. However, this anger is absurd and founded on ridiculous notions. Mexican citizens have no right to free movement between Mexico and the United States, and they must recognize that, while this may not serve their purposes, it is the sovereign right of the U.S. to enforce its laws.

The most egregious problem with the recent uproar within the Mexican community about the building of the wall is that many Mexicans feel that they are essentially entitled to come into the U.S. whenever and however they wish. According to Fernando Robledo, 42, of the western state of Zacatecas, many Mexicans “have a binational life.” They see the U.S. “as part of our life, our culture, our territory.” This notion, while touching, is rooted in fallacy. Mexican citizens may see the U.S. as their territory, but this does not make it true; the Unites States is a sovereign nation, and part of being a sovereign nation is being able to define the nation’s boundaries. Mexicans who violate these boundaries, whether for good or ill, are violating U.S. sovereignty and essentially flaunting our laws. This might not seem important to the average Mexican immigrant, who just wants to provide for his family, but it is important philosophically. Mexicans have no legitimate reason to feel outraged and claim that the U.S. is violating their rights because they themselves have no right to violate U.S. sovereignty.

Another reason the Mexicans are protesting the building of a wall between the U.S. and Mexico is the alleged economic harm caused by a wall. According to the Mexican central bank, the second largest source of foreign money in Mexico comes from immigrants to the U.S.—almost $16 billion annually. Of course, the stemming of this money would be damaging to the Mexican economy. On the other hand, imagine the good the money would do if retained within the United States. Now, I have no problem with legal immigrants sending money back to their families. This is well within their rights. The important distinction is the legality of the immigrants, and illegal workers have no right to send currency outside the United States because they should not be here in the first place. The U.S., once again as a sovereign nation, has the right to defend its economy, and illegal Mexican workers sending money back to their country clearly harms America by draining capital out of the U.S. economy.

One final, fallacious argument against the wall comes from within the U.S. Immigrant advocate groups complain that the wall will somehow make it more difficult for Mexican immigrants to find representation in the U.S. and will infringe upon their rights to organize and protest. This claim is absolutely absurd. The only people who will be affected by this wall are illegal immigrants, not the ones who have legally come to this country. Illegal immigrants are not part of the U.S., do not participate in the country’s social contract, and are therefore not entitled to the same rights and privileges as U.S. citizens. These immigrant advocacy groups are advocating breaking the law when they support the rights of illegal immigrants; although it is a shame that these people are mistreated, they are breaking our laws and should not be here. Perhaps the real issue is with immigration policy in general; maybe more immigrants should be allowed into the country legally. However, violating laws and undermining the U.S.’s national integrity is not the way to solve the problem.

Mexican President Vincente Fox and his government have called the proposed wall “shameful” and have likened it to the Berlin Wall. They have vowed to cause international uproar at the “illegal” construction of the wall along the U.S./Mexico border. This rhetoric only underscores the fact that the Mexican government has no legitimate right to challenge the construction of the wall. The Berlin Wall was a clearly harmful artificial political divider designed to prevent emigration, not immigration. The wall that the House of Representatives has proposed building will only strengthen the sovereignty and integrity of the U.S. while ensuring that the migrants and workers who come to the U.S. legally are given the rights and protections that U.S. citizens and visa holders enjoy.

There are undoubtedly many problems facing both the United States and Mexico over immigration issues. The first step to resolving these problems is to close the border and cease Mexican violations of U.S. sovereignty and integrity. Only then can legal immigrants achieve full protections and rights, and only then can relations between these two countries become warmer.


Shai D. Bronshtein ’09, a Crimson editorial editor, lives in Matthews Hall.