Making the case for that fence along the Mexican border

Rockingham County is roughly 1,500 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, and while that might seem like quite a distance, illegal immigration has certainly found its way to us. Today, with nearly 12 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States, immigration has become an issue that demands our attention. And that’s why, as both a sheriff and member of the National Sheriff’s Association, I believe that securing our borders is critical to both public safety and America’s national security.

My first personal experience with illegal immigration was in 1990, when I pulled up next to a broken-down car on the Interstate and found six unauthorized immigrants. I contacted federal immigration officials and, much to my surprise, was told to let them go if I hadn’t charged them with a crime.

I followed those instructions, but the idea of allowing six unauthorized immigrants – who are legally deportable – to just drive off, without any knowledge of who they were and why there were here, really bothered me.

Today, Mexican drug cartels control not only much of our border but also many of their drug routes within the U.S. In fact, most U.S. experts agree that just about all of the drugs coming into the United States are controlled by Mexican cartels. These cartels are incredibly dangerous, having murdered some 70,000 Mexican nationals in the last few years.

Completing the 700 miles of fencing along the border with Mexico, including double and triple layer fencing at high crossing areas, is critical, if for no other reason than to do our best to keep the cartel on its side of the border.