Some push to close U.S.-Mexico border to keep out swine flu (medical, illegal immigration)

[antireconquista]

Wanting to take every precaution to stem the spread of swine flu, at least two members of Congress are calling on the government to close the U.S.-Mexico border.

As dozens of cases are being reported in Texas and other states, Reps. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, and Eric Massa, D-New York — along with a national anti-illegal immigration group — are asking federal officials or Gov. Rick Perry to shut down the border.

Federal Homeland Security officials have said that the Mexican border already has adequate surveillance and that it doesn’t need to close because swine flu is already in the U.S. State lawmakers say officials should move cautiously.

Some push to close U.S.-Mexico border to keep out swine flu | Health | Star-Telegram.com (http://www.star-telegram.com/health/story/1345740.html - broken link)

[Theliberalvoice]

God dammit.

CLOSE IT ALREADY!!!!!!!!

What ELSE do they need to bring over here? Something WORSE than the flu and LEECHING from our government and system?

[elansingghost]

Originally Posted by antireconquista

Some push to close U.S.-Mexico border to keep out swine flu | Health | Star-Telegram.com (http://www.star-telegram.com/health/story/1345740.html - broken link)

Some American tourists back from Mexico brought the swine flu to the U.S., as was the case in New York:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/28/ny...l?ref=nyregion

"Esti Lamonaca and her friends spent five months planning a trip to Mexico to celebrate their senior year of high school. They chose the Oasis Cancun, better known for college partying than high school vacations (“The center of spring break action,” raves one student travel Web site). Ms. Lamonaca persuaded her parents to let her go if she paid her own way — so she worked every day after school to save up about $1,200.
Ms. Lamonaca said the trip was “awesome.”
But now, less than a week after flying home, Ms. Lamonaca is discombobulated to find herself and her friends under a national — if not global — spotlight, as health officials scramble to figure out whether the teenagers were the unwitting vector that brought swine flu to New York City."

What does closing the border mean in this context?

American tourists that are in Mexico stay there?

Americans that have to do business in Mexico can't move freely between the countries?

Commerce between two trade partners (U.S. and Mexico) stops?

Is this a smart move in a recession?

Closing the border would just create more panic and more hatred between two countries that actually need to work together to solve a medical emergency.

[antireconquista]

Originally Posted by elansingghost

Closing the border would just create more panic and more hatred between two countries that actually need to work together to solve a medical emergency.

I'd prefer that the US government station more National Guardsmen along the US-Mexican border, which is certainly feasible but hasn't been considered much due to political correctness & pressure from the Mexican government.

Having medical screenings for those entering our country would fine as well considering that many foreign countries are screening incoming North American residents.

[Huckleberry3911948]

this is indeed the great fear of mexico, certainly not the death of some citizens but the mega loss of income.

[antireconquista]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

this is indeed the great fear of mexico, certainly not the death of some citizens but the mega loss of income.

In addition to the possible losses of anchor babies and amnesty and open borders advocates.

[elansingghost]

Originally Posted by antireconquista

I'd prefer that the US government station more National Guardsmen along the US-Mexican border, which is certainly feasible but hasn't been considered much due to political correctness & pressure from the Mexican government.

Having medical screenings for those entering our country would fine as well considering that many foreign countries are screening incoming North American residents.

What you are describing is not "closing the border". The medical screening is a good idea, but you also have to realize that 800,000 people cross the border every day.
Still, I fail to see how National Guardsmen will stop the swine flu from coming in from Mexico, especially when it's already here.

[antireconquista]

Originally Posted by elansingghost

What you are describing is not "closing the border". The medical screening is a good idea, but you also have to realize that 800,000 people cross the border every day.
Still, I fail to see how National Guardsmen will stop the swine flu from coming in from Mexico, especially when it's already here.

I never suggested closing the border; you were the one who assumed that. Such an option should be possible and I'd support any respectable politicians who believe in preparing for such action in times of an emergency.

National Guardsmen should be placed along the US-Mexican border for further surveillance. There are plenty of them in reserve and some of them can certainly be used to assist Homeland Security and the Border Patrol. Unfortunately, the Mexican government, pro-illegal politicians & advocates, political correctness, illegal alien enablers & open borders advocates will likely denounce such action as racism/xenophobia/nativism/etc. while ignoring or downplaying the fact the the US has every right to protect & secure its borders and prepare for the many national threats that are being supposedly monitored right now.

The NG can't stop the entire flow of illegal migrants but I'm positive that they can be of great service in helping locate and detain caught illegal migrants, especially when we don't know anything about said incoming illegal migrants.

[elansingghost]

Originally Posted by antireconquista

I never suggested closing the border; you were the one who assumed that. Such an option should be possible and I'd support any respectable politicians who believe in preparing for such action in times of an emergency.

National Guardsmen should be placed along the US-Mexican border for further surveillance. There are plenty of them in reserve and some of them can certainly be used to assist Homeland Security and the Border Patrol.

They can't stop the entire flow of illegal migrants but I'm positive that they can be of great service in helping locate and detain caught illegal migrants, especially when we don't know anything about said incoming illegal migrants.

That all sounds good: but right now mobilizing National Guardsmen (many of whom are fighting wars in Iraq and Afganistan and helping with National weather emergencies) to help the border patrol catch illegals is not good strategy.
Especially because we might need them later on if this truly becomes a pandemic.

We need to mobilize resources and help the Mexican Government isolate and destroy the most fatal form of swine flu in Mexico City.

[antireconquista]

There are plenty of them in reserve.

Deploying a few thousands along the US-Mexican border to assist the understaffed Border Patrol & Homeland Security will go a long way in helping to curb & contain the flow of illegal migrants heading northward.