Which came first: chicken or egg?

Which came first: loose borders or illegal immigration? The answer to this question is not as difficult and complicated as the “chicken and egg problem.”

While we are so freaked out about illegal immigration, “[w]e must also look at the root of the problem, which is the porous nature of our borders,” says Arkansas Senator, John Boozman.

As much as immigration has always been a hot sociopolitical topic, the issue of border security should be separated from the “immigration/illegal immigrants” dilemma.

In a complex government system such as the U.S., “causes are often far removed in both time and space from the symptoms. True causes may lie far back in time and arise from an entirely different part of the system from when and where the symptoms occur,” Jay Forrester says. Thus, one may ponder that our loose and unsecured borders, in fact, lead to illegal immigration. In other words, we make it more irresistible and tempting rather than prohibited and punishable.

Why do we have locks on the doors, secured windows, and alarm systems? I have them, and I tell the world that I am rejecting those uninvited; I tell the world that I’m securing my property and you’re not allowed inside unless I let you in. I also tell the world that your chances are close to zero to get on my property without permission, because I’m well secured and prepared.

Human trafficking, drug and weapons smuggling are only to name a few inevitable dilemmas resulted from loose and porous borders, not to mention continuous threat of terrorism. So long the borders are vulnerable, it would serve no purpose to spend millions of dollars and tons of efforts to deal with the consequence: illegal immigration. The flow won’t stop, unless the cracks are cemented first.

We should mainly focus on the root of the problem-border security- rather than on one of its many symptoms-immigration. In other words, the issue of immigration within the country is a completely separate predicament that requires different approach and policies. The threat of international terrorism to this country will not be lessened any time soon; thus, we are required to focus on the most important task: enhancing and strengthening our border security.