It’s gonna be huge, like so huge, much bigger than the one the Chinese have. And it’ll be a great wall, I mean the best wall, because it’s made in America.
A few hours ago, President Trump officially signed off on plans to build the notorious wall between the United States and Mexico. This wall was a pervasive symbol throughout the campaign, and one of the first acts that was promised to be implemented. It’s what motivated many to vote for him, and also irked many about a Trump presidency. With plans of this divisive structure formalized, the wall no longer remains a piece of intangible rhetoric
What is the wall for again?
For those of us growing up in this naturally secure island free of physical land borders, the concept of having walls to divide countries might seem foreign. But in the case of the United States, it remains a thorny, controversial issue. Many Americans blame the entry of illegal immigrants through the southern border as a source of crime and cheap labour that results in immense costs to the government and local citizens.
The media provided a whirlwind of dramatic reporting during the campaign. So here’s the backstory.
Back in June 2015 when Trump first announced to build a “great, great wall on our southern border”, it was to stop Mexican immigrants from entering US (along with other, not so nice things to say about Mexicans). This message carried overtones of xenophobia, whether valid or not, and resonated well among his constituents, who quickly rallied behind the idea and united under the central theme of protecting the US border.
Trump’s assertions and policy recommendations then escalated to talks of “deportation” and quips like “get out of my country”, coupled with his statements made on mass deportation and the Muslim ban.
For the record, about 720,000 Mexicans cross the border annually. And contrary to popular belief in America, illegal border crossings have been at an all-time low. The reason has been partially attributed to better living conditions domestically in Latin America, rather than actions taken by the US.
Here’s what will entail next
The executive order made on Wednesday shouldn’t necessarily trigger celebrations from his supporters regarding the actual construction.This order was for Congress to start going through rounds of discussion necessary for the “impassable physical barrier” to begin developments.
Other than the wall, Trump plans to deport the current residents from Latin America in US, rethink prison-torture methods at Guantanamo Bay, and immigration restrictions from some countries, mostly from the Mid-East and Northern Africa.
So, who’s paying for it?
According to President Trump, the total cost of the wall would range from $8-$12 billion, though others have estimated the costs to be significantly higher. (There’s an interactive slider for you to see how much the different height of the wall would round up to)
Trump has repeatedly said that Mexico will pay for the wall. More specifically he said the U.S. would front the money, and then Mexico would reimburse the U.S. Treasury through various economic policies such as jacking up or altering visa fees and regulation.
All of which, Mexico had flatly rejected.
Conclusion? No one really knows who’s footing the bill.
“A Nation Without A Border Is Not A Nation”
The concept of building borders represents the growing phenomenon of nationalism and isolationism within the country. President Trump embodies the collective frustration carried by many Americans on what they feel has been a failure by the establishment to manage immigration issues. His unexpected ascend to power is a clear signal that many in the US are aligned with his style of aggressive nationalism and protectionism. It remains a contentious issue that reveals the sharp divide between the two ideological forces in the US.
Divided States of America
The next 100 days would reflect the fate of this new America. Perhaps, Trump might lose that temperament and trigger happy fingers on Twitter, and become the level-headed leader of the free world we’re all hoping for. We’ll just have to wait and see.
