By Andrew L. Jaffee

The border fence being built along the U.S.-Mexican border is stemming the tide of illegal immigrants into America, despite claims to the contrary. The U.S. cannot absorb the political and economic problems of Latin America, nor is it obligated to do so. Some people in the politically-correct crowd oppose the border fence, probably because they feel guilty about living well while millions suffer in the developing world. Their feelings of guilt may be very real, but these emotions are based on faulty assumptions. America is doing its part on the world stage.

The U.S. is “the single largest donor of foreign economic aid” on Earth, and “[o]f the $122.8 billion of foreign aid provided by Americans in 2005 (the most current data available), $95.5 billion, or 79 percent, came from private foundations, corporations, voluntary organizations, universities, religious organizations and individuals.” America is “the largest financial contributor to the U.N., and has been every year since its creation in 1945,” for example, pumping “well over $3 billion” in 2003 into an organization (the U.N.) which spends much of its time (and our money) lambasting us and our close allies. The U.S. is currently the largest donor to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), despite the fact that this organization’s “schools are places where anti-American and anti-Semitic indoctrination is business as usual and virtual recruiting offices for terror groups” and its “facilities are virtual military bases for those groups.” In addition, America “is the ‘largest single donor’ of funds to combat HIV/AIDS in developing countries.” Given our generosity, why should we not have control over our own borders, especially given the security threats and huge economic strain which results from illegal immigration?

Why should we not avail ourselves of tools which prevent illegal immigration, like the U.S.-Mexico border fence, which increasingly has been proven to be effective? From KOB.com:

Federal agents said the border fence in southern New Mexico is working.

After a stretch of the fence was finished in May, border patrol agents said they have noticed a dropping number of immigrants arrested around Santa Teresa, NM–a border town about 10 miles northwest of El Paso.

The number of arrests are down by about 70 percent. …

A border fence is just good, common sense. We should not let our country be destroyed just because some Americans feel guilty about living well. That’s silly.