Fence can help protect urban areas from illegal border crossings, but isn’t a cure-all

Fence isn’t a cure-all for America’s porous border

NOGALES, Ariz. — The start-and-stop fence that separates the United States from Mexico is again becoming a topic of fierce debate.

Politicians including Arizona Sen. John McCain are using calls to expand the fence in campaign commercials during an election year.

The government has spent $2.4 billion since 2005 to build the fence as it presently stands. And the prevailing political sentiment would appear to be, build it faster and higher.

But what McCain and other politicians who tout the fence don’t say is that it’s often easily breached and costs billions to maintain.

Even some advocates for tougher enforcement say it’s unclear whether the fence cuts the overall number of illegal crossings.