In God We Trust

SECURING OUR SOUTHERN BORDER

 

By Maj. Gen. Jerry R. Curry (Ret'd)
CurryforAmerica.com

Contrary to popular belief and the negative statements repeatedly made by Congress and the President, our southern border can be quickly, effectively and efficiently secured and controlled.  But our illegal immigration problem will not be brought under control until we gain and maintain full control of our southern border with Mexico. To do this will take great determination, persistence and a relentless application of will power at the federal, state and local levels of the U.S. Government.

This same kind of loser talk dominated conversations in Germany in the 1950s. I was there.  Many said, especially among our high ranking leaders, that it would be impossible for the Russians to build an effective border fence or wall separating East from West Berlin. So, when the residents of Berlin, Germany went to sleep the night of August 13, 1961, all was quite normal – boring status quo. But when they woke up the next morning they discovered that overnight the Russian and East German Armies had sealed off West Berlin from East Berlin with concertina barbed wire, and Europe would never be the same.

 It was the beginning of the construction of what was to become known as the infamous Berlin Wall. Eventually the concertina wire fence turned into a brick and mortar wall interspersed with guard towers, guard dogs and motorized patrols. It was so effective that throughout its existence almost no one was able to escape from the East to the West.

Overnight the Russians and East Germans had erected a 96 mile long border fence and had gained complete control of all foot and vehicular traffic between East and West Berlin. That morning armed East German border guards were patrolling the entire fence and manning the border crossing check points that had been hurriedly setup during the night. The idea that the United States can never fully secure its southern border is ludicrous. If the East Germans could do it fifty years ago, we can do it better and faster today. It just takes a clear presidential directive and congressional will power.

The reason we have so much difficulty securing our southern border today is because neither the Democrat controlled Senate, nor the Republican controlled House, nor the Democrat controlled White House want to be responsible for giving a clear directive to secure it. In the meanwhile they absolutely refuse to enforce existing laws that could secure the border and control illegal immigration.   

They want to keep playing with border security and illegal immigration like it’s some kind of political soccer game, kicking the ball down the road for their own amusement. But, as is the case with most things, they are a part of, there is a time to play and a time to be serious. Now is the time to be serious, if the nation is ever going to be serious about securing our southern border. If Congress and the President really wanted to secure the nation’s border, they could have done it long ago.

To fix the problem, the President need only call the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Oval Office and say something similar to the following: “This is a matter of national defense and national security. I want you gentlemen to secure our southern border ASAP.

“Use whatever military forces you think necessary. Any congressional legislation you need will be provided on an emergency basis. Until then I am prepared to sign Executive Orders.“  That would be the end of the matter.

If fifty years ago the East Germans could erect a 96 mile long fence overnight, then with all the advances we’ve made in technology since then, the U.S. Army should be able to erect a border fence two to three times as long in a single day. If they can’t, we should fire the current crop of generals and find some that can.