Soon to be US president Donald Trump insists he wants to build a wall on the southern border of the United States.
Many on the left claim this wall is an example of Trump's racism.
The truth about the wall is that a wall will keep illegal drugs out of the United States. By doing that, billions of dollars will be kept in the country.
Most legal drugs come to the United States across its 2,000 mile long southern border with Mexico. "Drug cartels in Mexico utilize drug mules, tunnels...and couriers to get illegal drugs into America. Mexican drug cartels make an estimated $19-$29 billion a year on drug sales in the United States."
Furthermore, "U.S. authorities estimate that the Mexican drug cartels send between $19 billion and $29 billion back to Mexico from the United States, according to the Department of Justice. Authorities successfully seize millions of dollars each year that are being smuggled back south to Mexico from the United States. Still, it is a fraction of the estimated profits for the cartels."
"The single largest marketplace for illegal drugs continues to be the United States...A hard core group estimated at between 5 and 6 million have...serious drug habits, and may spend $100-$500 dollars a week on purchasing their drugs. These two groups--hard core users and casual users--spend approximately $60 billion dollars a year, according to U.S. government estimates."
These experts estimate that in New York city alone, at least one percent of the population--80,000 plus--spends $200 on illicit drugs (on a weekend). That alone would amount to $16 million dollars a week or $832 million a year, just in New York.
The cost to build Trump's wall between the United States and Mexico is estimated by its opponents to be about $25 billion.
If a $25 billion wall keeps $60 billion in drug money in the the United States, then the wall is paid for in a year and the people of the United States have at least $30 billion more to spend on other infrastructure projects.
When $25 billion does not go to Mexico, Mexico is in fact paying to build the wall.
Admittedly, a wall on the US southern border will do little to prevent drugs coming into the United States across the Canadian border, or prevent some money transfers, but it will do much to stem the flow of illegal drugs, especially in sanctuary cities like Chicago.
"As much as 80% of the illegal narcotics in America's third-largest city come from Guzman's Sinaloa cartel, said Art Bilek, a retired Chicago detective who spent 60 years in law enforcement."
"'Guzman is the reason you've got kids fighting over just one corner, and shooting each other,' he said." Sanctuary cities are also sanctuaries for billions of dollars in drug money. -- CNN
Support Canada Free Press
Add to the money from illegal drugs the remittance money sent out of the country by illegals in the United States, and we're talking real money leaving the country.
"Ilegal immigrants residing in the U.S. send $50 billion in remittances to their home countries each year, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The World Bank estimates that number is even higher, closer to $120 billion." --Immigrationreform.com
A wall between the United States and Mexico could mean another $100 billion a year stays in the United States. That money could be used to make America great again.
The real need for a wall between the United States and Mexico is to keep drugs out of the United States, to stop the flow of remittance, and then to stop the flow of illegal aliens. A wall on our southern border is an essential part of our foreign policy, our economic policy, and our national health.
Beyond the health of the nation, there is also a danger to president-elect Trump that resides behind his proposed wall.
The danger to president-elect Trump is money, not politics. All that fake news about Russia and the election is just a smoke screen. The real news is that many will lose a lot of money if Trump builds the wall.
When the Mexican drug cartels stand to lose billions, you know they will oppose president Trump the same way they oppose others who cross them.
That's the way it is with those who stand to lose money and power, but especially stand to lose a lot of money.
Robert Klein Engler lives in Omaha, Nebraska and sometimes New Orleans. Mr. Engler holds degrees from the University of Illinois in Urbana and The University of Chicago Divinity School. Many of Robert’s poems, stories, and paintings are set in the Crescent City. His long poem, “The Accomplishment of Metaphor and the Necessity of Suffering,” set partially in New Orleans, is published by Headwaters Press, Medusa, New York, 2004. He has received an Illinois Arts Council award for his “Three Poems for Kabbalah.” Link with him at Facebook.com to see examples of his recent work. Some of Mr. Engler’s books are available at amazon.com..
