No, I don't think I have actually heard anyone say 'the wall will stop illegals'.
But you will have to admit the rhetoric is 'build the wall'. I haven't heard many say, 'we are going to have to put a lot of personnel and weapons on the border - let's get that started now.'
Outside of people like me, I haven't heard anyone saying, ' we already have troops, let's use them. We already have laws, let's use them.'
They are planting/selling the idea that we must build the wall - first - and until we do, we can't do anything. Now we know there is going to be opposition to the wall - how much we don't know. We don't know how effective it will be. Will it take 2 years to build it. If so, can we wait that long?
Certainly, those who don't really want it stopped know the wall is not going to do much without personnel. They just hope they can flim-flam the people for a while longer while we debate, fund/defund this all important wall and give the illegals more anchor babies, more power.
I don't know how integral a part it is. I do know we have been pretty successful in Texas for many, many years without a wall. There was always the threat that we would actually enforce our laws, or people trespassing on other people's property might be in danger.
Thanks to several of our Presidents, most of our politicians, and law enforcement officials, actually encouraging this and protecting them, there is no fear of the law.
I think the law is/could be/ should be - much more effective than a fence.
Why not use what we already have and continue to discuss the wall and build one if it can be done - politically, I mean.
You don't have to be open border advocate to recognize when you are being lied to, or misdirected.