Snipping to get to (what I think are) the main points -- if I slip up and snip something vital, feel free to correct me.

[quote=@Penny]The idea that building a huge wall is a practical solution has the appeal of simplicity but I sincerely doubt that it would be physically or fiscally possible.  [/quote]

When you do the math on the financial impact of illegal immigration, building a wall is about 90% cheaper (assuming a 100% elimination, which is a faulty assumption, but just for the sake of argument). It would save us money; and in terms of feasibility, large portions are already built (the wall was already approved years ago -- Clinton actually voted in favor). But anyway "physically (im)possible" just sounds like a challenge. I do physically impossible shit every day. Dream big! 

[quote]Firstly I doubt anyone coming from somewhere like El Salvador would describe the trip as easy.[/quote]

Compared to assembling the funds to do it legally.

[quote]If there were a realistic option people would take it. If there were a modicum of stability at home people wouldn't be as inclined to risk it in the first place.[/quote]

Bingo and bongo. Illegal immigration is nothing anybody should WANT to defend -- it's a symptom of terrible things, and oversight, and it SUCKS. I'm beating a dead horse, but.... we should really do something to curb it. The left [i]will not[/i] (allegedly, because illegals who vote, vote democrat).

[quote]No one is arguing for some sort of completely open border....[/quote]

They absolutely are. And they very nearly got it, too.

[quote]People don't break the law because they are evil (generally) they do it because they are desperate.[/quote]

As I've said, totally agree, and I'm in no way arguing for a wall out of spite or malice. Illegal immigration is horrible for the immigrants -- more so than it is for us. Rape statistics during the crossing alone should confirm that, if the arguments already acknowledged don't suffice.

[quote]So long as we continue to pretend that building a wall or digging a moat or whatever is going to solve the problem, its never going to get much better.[/quote]

Wall is a necessary first step. Immigration law today is meaningless, because there is no control. Reforming a meaningless law is, well, meaningless. We need control before we can fix this. A wall doesn't fix the problem -- it merely establishes control. [i]And we need that to happen.[/i]

Hypothetically we could establish control by militarizing the border without constructing physical barriers -- border gestapo -- but I'm not amenable to that. I want a wall -- [b]and a door.[/b]