To: The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate
It's as Easy as 1, 2, 3 -- As Taxpayers We Agree, Tell Congress: Stand TALL, Vote: NO WAY -- NO WALL
Tell Congress to vote "NO" to funding Trump's Border Wall. While we support reasonable methods to secure our borders, with an ever-growing federal debt of $20.4 TRILLION, we do NOT support the Republican plan to spend $15 Billion (Republican Leadership) or $21.6 Billion (latest DHS estimate) to build a physical barrier along our 2000 mile southern border. First, that cost will ultimately be paid by the American people and not by Mexico. Second, given the terrain of the southern border (mountains, rivers, and canyons), the Wall cannot be continuous, and, according to experts, it will be ineffective as it can be breached by those going under, over, or around it, particularly in the isolated and unpopulated areas that constitute over 2/3 of its 2000 mile length.
Why is this important?
FACT: WE ALREADY HAVE EFFECTIVE SECURITY MEASURES AT THE BORDER.
Pursuant to The Secure Fence Act of 2006, at a cost of over $2.4 Billion, we have already constructed 670 miles of border fencing along our southern border, primarily in populated areas and where most border crossings have occurred. This fencing is supplemented by surveillance cameras, drone aircraft, and increased law enforcement presence. According to a 2016 Pew Report (using U.S. Border Patrol data), BORDER CROSSINGS IN 2015 WERE AT A 50-YEAR LOW, largely due to these enhanced border security measures.
FACT: THE WALL WILL NOT NECESSARILY INCREASE BORDER SECURITY.
According to one Republican Congressman from Texas, the state with a 1200 mile border with Mexico: "Building a wall is the most expensive and least effective way to secure the border" and ". . . is a third-century solution to a 21st Century problem." This opinion is echoed by a former Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection who has said that anyone familiar with the southern border and its terrain (isolated deserts, rugged mountains, canyons, and the ever-changing 1200 mile Rio Grande river boundary) recognizes that a wall along the entire border is probably not going to work, is not feasible to build, and is not the smartest way to spend taxpayers' money. (American Immigration Council Fact Sheet, Jan. 25, 2017)
FACT: THE WALL WILL NOT STOP DRUG TRAFFICKING.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency's 2016 National Drug Threat Assessment Summary, the majority of illegal drugs are smuggled into the U.S. across the southern border via vehicles through under-staffed U.S. Ports of Entry and illicit tunnels (225 discovered since 1990). Both problems will continue to exist even if the Wall is built.
FACTS: U.S. TAXPAYERS WILL PAY FOR THE WALL, NOT MEXICO.
Despite Trump's continuing claim that Mexico will pay, he has no plan to achieve this. There's talk of a plan for the U.S. taxpayers to fund the wall, which will be reimbursed by the imposition of a 20% border tax on all Mexican imports. This is no solution!! A border tax would actually lead to a 20% TAX INCREASE on U.S. consumers; if levied, we would PAY TWICE for the Wall! We'd pay for the Wall a first time through appropriations and then a second time through the increased cost of consumer goods! Moreover, such a stiff tariff would likely lead to a U.S.-Mexico trade war that could destabilize both countries' economies.
PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION. TELL CONGRESS TO VOTE "NO" TO TRUMP'S WALL!
Pursuant to The Secure Fence Act of 2006, at a cost of over $2.4 Billion, we have already constructed 670 miles of border fencing along our southern border, primarily in populated areas and where most border crossings have occurred. This fencing is supplemented by surveillance cameras, drone aircraft, and increased law enforcement presence. According to a 2016 Pew Report (using U.S. Border Patrol data), BORDER CROSSINGS IN 2015 WERE AT A 50-YEAR LOW, largely due to these enhanced border security measures.
FACT: THE WALL WILL NOT NECESSARILY INCREASE BORDER SECURITY.
According to one Republican Congressman from Texas, the state with a 1200 mile border with Mexico: "Building a wall is the most expensive and least effective way to secure the border" and ". . . is a third-century solution to a 21st Century problem." This opinion is echoed by a former Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection who has said that anyone familiar with the southern border and its terrain (isolated deserts, rugged mountains, canyons, and the ever-changing 1200 mile Rio Grande river boundary) recognizes that a wall along the entire border is probably not going to work, is not feasible to build, and is not the smartest way to spend taxpayers' money. (American Immigration Council Fact Sheet, Jan. 25, 2017)
FACT: THE WALL WILL NOT STOP DRUG TRAFFICKING.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency's 2016 National Drug Threat Assessment Summary, the majority of illegal drugs are smuggled into the U.S. across the southern border via vehicles through under-staffed U.S. Ports of Entry and illicit tunnels (225 discovered since 1990). Both problems will continue to exist even if the Wall is built.
FACTS: U.S. TAXPAYERS WILL PAY FOR THE WALL, NOT MEXICO.
Despite Trump's continuing claim that Mexico will pay, he has no plan to achieve this. There's talk of a plan for the U.S. taxpayers to fund the wall, which will be reimbursed by the imposition of a 20% border tax on all Mexican imports. This is no solution!! A border tax would actually lead to a 20% TAX INCREASE on U.S. consumers; if levied, we would PAY TWICE for the Wall! We'd pay for the Wall a first time through appropriations and then a second time through the increased cost of consumer goods! Moreover, such a stiff tariff would likely lead to a U.S.-Mexico trade war that could destabilize both countries' economies.
PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION. TELL CONGRESS TO VOTE "NO" TO TRUMP'S WALL!