Trump's Border Wall Is Already Destroying Businesses From Texas To Mexico
Former Mexican President Vicente Fox made it crystal clear in an epic tweet to Donald Trump that neither he nor Mexico were paying for that racist f**king border wall. There are plenty of Americans who share the same sentiment.
The actual cost to build the wall is estimated at $21.6 billion, but the hidden costs are already being felt by the locals on both sides of the border. Truth is, the border wall is destroying businesses and the environment in one fell swoop.
Mexican business owners say that Trump's antics have scared people off and that their revenues are tanking. They are not happy. "People are afraid to come," 48-year old Elia said whose Tijuana souvenir business has dropped by 60 percent. And Esteban Ochoa, a 64-year old pharmacy worker, says that although his business has dropped by about 20 percent, his concern is for poor Americans who need his affordable meds because they cannot afford healthcare in the states.
On the American side of things, the former mayor of Granjero, Texas could be forced to surrender his home vie eminent domain. Rafael Garza's family has lived in the town since 1767, but the wall may end up running straight through his property.
For Texans, the prospect of the wall is a mixed bag. There are some who appreciate that drug and human trafficking could be greatly reduced. According to the New York Times, Mayor Richard Cortez of McAllen is all for security, but frowns on the government's methods. He along with other border town mayors have teamed up to form the Texas Border Coalition to fight back. "Who doesn't want security? Our fight with the government is not over their goals, it's how they go about them," he said.
Al Jazeera reports that the wall also presents some problems with preserving the environment. Tijuana already suffers from recent overpopulation which has made it more challenging to meet the water, resource, and even waste removal needs of the residents. There is rampant homelessness and no public facilities available for personal hygiene including public toilets. Mass deportations would land immigrants in towns like Tijuana which would fast become a cesspool for filth and disease.
Building that wall will also disrupt the ecological system displacing wildlife and destroying native plant life. It is believed that poor communities that have inferior sewer and drainage systems will flood as the wall will act more like dam. Oh, and don't forget that the U.S. has its own woes when it comes to clean water and sanitation:
So whichever side of this argument you find yourself on, ask yourself if the costs don't far outweigh the benefits. Never mind the blatant racist implications of building the wall. Are destroying people's livelihoods, forcing them out of their homes, and ruining the environment all while financially crippling the country worth building that wall? Mayor Cortez says that there are better ways to secure our borders. Perhaps someone should listen to him.
