Thread: Trump wants a wall. Border experts want a fence

There's a fence and then there is a FENCE. A barrier with a couple strands of barbwire is technically a fence. Yes, and we do have some of those on our border along with vehicle barriers that do nothing to stop foot traffic. However, IMO, nothing less than the double-layered fencing in San Diego or the fencing model Israel uses should be considered a fence for border protection purposes. The San Diego fence has two layers of fencing with a high a speed vehicle road between layers. From what I understand portions of it also have stadium lighting, surveillance cameras, and sensors or at least that is what the former Rep. Duncan Hunter's model called for. I guess the idea is to catch the illegals before they get through the second fence. From what I understand this fence seem to be working very well for San Diego and has reduced illegal apprehensions 95% and of course we've all heard how successful Israel's fence is.

I'm all for a huge intimidating wall that a gnat couldn't squeeze his butt through during a rainstorm. However, there is probably a huge gap between my desires and the actual reality of such a wall being built. If it must be a fence, it must be a FENCE like the one in San Diego or Israel.

Maybe have a wall in some areas and a double fence in others.

I've said before, a dual system is what we need. A concrete wall inset on our side of the border with enough room between the concrete wall and actual border to allow patrolling the outside of the concrete barrier. On the actual border, a see through fence would exist to keep track of what is happening on the other side of the border. This would also allow more variation on where the heavy duty concrete wall existed. It could be as far as a quarter mile or more inside the US where geographical or legal obstacles restricted it from being right on the border.

This would allow more activity around the concrete barrier for citizens and it could be more porous too, allowing more controlled traffic across it. At all times a defensible see through fence would be continuous everywhere on the actual border. And also it would be less intimidating and easier to sell, less of a spectacle.