Walls are useful against burglars and peepers. They are also useful against the elements. That makes them good for homes. They are no longer useful against armies and they are barely moderately useful against smugglers. That makes them an inefficient choice for a border, especially one with an ocean on both ends.

Ask one yourself. I'd guess that they do have some impact. The question is whether that impact is worth spending the money on construction, maintenance, and manning for it.
That's what efficiency is talking about. Not impact, but impact per cost.

When the fence along the California border was upgraded, the number of illegal crosses dropped dynamically in that state. But the number increased in Arizona where there is hardly any fence in some places. So apparently it is worth the cost.

A fence is significantly cheaper than a wall.

Your statement also implies a constant value on preventing illegal immigration. A drug smuggler is more important to block than a poor man looking for work, but it is precisely the former who will be more able to bypass any of these measures.

I think people are taking Trump's "wall" too literally. Of Croce it's going to be a fence or some other baracade, especially in arias that currently don't have so much as armed wire.
As for tat poor man looking for work, crossing the border is just the first crime he commits. Then, in order to get a job, he has to use forged documents or identity theft. Then possibly drive a car without a valid drivers license or insurance. If he brings his children with him the grow up in a country where they don't belong and are not legally eligible for education, drivers licenses, a job, etc. it's a shame how these kids have been put into such situations by their parents.
Anyway, it's not just a "poor man looking for work".

If the man has a choice between being here without the right paperwork and dying, I'm going to support him being here. It is people that count, not paper.

People are going to die. We can't save everyone. This is why there is a triage system. As far as I'm concerned American citizens have a higher priority than non citizens. Until we do better by our own citizens, nobody else should get any assistance.

The problem with your attitude is that it encourages people to risk their lives and often die in the process of getting here. Whereas they would still be alive had they stayed and gone through proper channels to get here legally or not at all.
There are millions of people who seek a better life. Immigration to the US is not the answer. If we want to help these people we need to help the countries where they live.
I don't blame people for sneaking across our boarders to work but they shouldn't expect special treatment or be put ahead of others who have spent years going through proper channels to immigrate here legally. They knew they were breaking our laws and shouldn't be shocked or angry when they get caught and asked to leave.

Are you aware of how selective our immigration process has become, or of how long legal approval can take?

The problem with your argument is the assumption that death is imminent if these migrants don't make it to the US. But the reality is that they are looking to better their lives, not save it. Migrants who die while trying to sneak into our country would not have died otherwise. People who encourage them to sneak into the country are like teenagers encouraging their friends to gamble their life in a game of Russian roulette.

Yes. So are you saying it's OK to break our laws because you don't like how long it takes?

If the failure to meet an administrative requirement means the difference between life and death? Every time.

Have you considered our unemployment rate?

Why? Are US nationals interested in the back-breaking agricultural work most of these people are going to?

It is going to create a void in the labor force. They can come back with legal status. Pay taxes like we do.

In a free society , a man owns his own property,he should be able to build a fortress of he chooses.

I never said otherwise. It was a comment on the utility of your analogy.

Unless you pay cash, they sort of are

and last time I checked you can't exactly use do that to an entire country!

Even the great wall of China has open areas.

Finally!! Somebody with some sense! Everyone on the planet lives in buildings made of WALLS!! I work in construction; I build walls! You can't walk through them and you can't just get a good running start and leap over them. Okay? Trump wants to build a wall, and suddenly people are like "walls don't work." (face-palm)
(rant over) lol.

exactly

I heard about this on my radio (104.7 KDUK)

simpletons. what does the border between Mexico and Guatemala look like? Holland and Belgium? USA and Canada? a wall wont do anything but take your tax money and give it to construction company executives. how blind can you folks be?