Border Wall
1-The Issue
Today’s critical issue CONVO is the Border Wall.
President Donald J. Trump wants to build a southern border wall between the United States and Mexico. Democratic leaders in Congress are opposed to his plan. Americans are divided in their support for a southern border wall. Join in our CONVO to learn, discuss and act on this critical issue. Here’s how CONVO works.
The Big Question
Should the U.S. government build a border wall between the United States and Mexico?
Related Questions to Consider
Why should we build a southern border wall?
Do you think the border wall will be built?
Do you support a Southern border wall?
Should a land of immigrants build a border wall to stop immigrants?
Is a wall the best way to stop immigrants?
Should we build a northern border wall between the U.S. and Canada?
Most immigrants illegally in the United States have overstayed their visa. Will a southern border wall affect the largest group of people in the United States illegally?
What is the history of other famous border walls throughout history?
What would the framers think about a border wall?
How would a border wall impact your life?
If the goal is to decrease illegal immigration, is a border wall the best way to achieve this goal?
Add your own question in the field below:
Student Questions in English Samoan Translation
1-How much would a wall cost? 1-O le a le tele o le tau o le pa?
2-What impact would the wall have on commerce and trade? 2-O le a le aafiaga o le puipui i luga o fefaatauaiga ma fefaatauaiga?
3-How might liberal and conservative media cover the wall differently? 3-E mafai faapefea e le aufaasālalau agavaʻa ma le le mautonu ona ufiufi le puipui?
4-Do you think this border wall is a smart idea? 4-E te manatu o le puipui puipui o se manatu atamai?
5-Why built a border wall between the United States and Mexico to stop 5- Aisea na fausia ai se puipui tuaoi i le va o le Iunaite Setete ma Mexico e taofi ai
immigrants from crossing over when they are just gonna keep coming? tagata malaga mai le sopoia o le taimi o le a latou o mai pea?
6-Are illegal immigrants bad for America? 6- E le lelei tagata ulufale mai le tulafono mo Amerika?
7-Should we build a border wall between Canada & USA to make it fair? 7- E tatau ona tatou fausia se puipui tuaoi i le va o Kanata ma US ina ia talafeagai?
8- How do we know the wall will even work? 8- E faʻapefea ona tatou iloa o le a galue le puipui?
Is it worth spending all this $ on something that might not even work? E aoga le faʻaaluina o nei tupe uma i luga o se mea atonu e le aoga?
9- Where is the money gonna come from? 9- O fea e sau ai le tupe?
Survey - Twitter poll
Before we learn more about this, share your opinion - take our Twitter Poll
Should the U.S. government build a border wall between the United States and Mexico?
2-Research and Share
Use your brain to learn all about today’s critical issue with these facts, data, maps, charts, visuals, videos, and more.
What?
First some background.
Americans share approximately 2,000 miles of border with Mexico. That long stretch includes the Rio Grande, which accounts for approximately 1,255 miles of the border between the two countries. The Colorado River makes up an additional 534 miles, and the rest of the border is comprised mainly of mountain ranges and the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts.
There are 52 crossings between the two countries, including eight rail lines, 24 bridges, two dams, 17 roads and one ferry, according to a report from the Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University.
Where?
The BBC reports on the Border Wall.
Here are some great NY Times Interactive Maps and Graphics about the border.
Who?
Here is a comprehensive look at immigration in the United States from the Pew Research Center.
For 7th Consecutive Year, Visa Overstays Exceeded Illegal Border Crossings
Listen to these fantastic podcasts about the border from The Daily from January 2019.
How does the Government build a wall?
Because of separation of powers, both the executive branch and legislative branch are involved in funding the government, making laws, and executing the laws.. For a wall to be built, Congress would need to appropriate funding and and the President would need to carry out the building of any border wall. Check out Article I, Section 7 below.
Article I, Section 7
All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law.
Popular Opinion
Elite Opinion
Pro Wall
Trump's wall is the best way to end to the humanitarian crisis on our southern border - By Border Patrol Agent Brandon Judd on June 29, 2018 on Fox News
A Secure America Requires A Secure Border Wall: So Build It - in the 12/12/2018 Investor’s Business Daily
Keep the promise on the wall - By U.S. Representative Andy Biggs in the 10/09/17 issue of USA Today
We need Trump’s border wall plus other measures to reduce illegal immigration - by James Jay Carafano on December 21, 2018 on Fox News
Con Wall
There’s Nothing Wrong with Open Borders - By Farhad Manjoo in the 1/19/2019 NY Times
2 Big Reasons We Don't Need a Border Wall - By Joe Setyon in the 1/17/19 issue of Reason
Why the Wall Won’t Work - By David Bier inn the May 2017 issue of Reason.
The Guardian view on Trump and the wall: useful for him, not for the US - By the Guardian Staff in the January 9, 2019 issue of the Guardian
POLITICAL CARTOONS
Practice
3- Listen and Discuss
Use Your Ears and Join us as we Listen and Discuss today’s critical issue.
Students discuss the topic in a setting that maximizes listening.
4-Write
Use Your Words
Students write a post-discussion Editorial about the topic to persuade the reader of their position. Students must use and name at least one source from the forum in their editorial.
5-Act
Do Something
Students act on what they have learned about the topic. Students can work alone or in teams to turn their learning into action. Here is a list of Critical Actions students can take.