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Thanks again Ms. Ali for a clear sighted rebuttal to the absurdity of “open borders” policy. Having grown up a couple hundred miles from the US-Mexico border and having crossed it dozens if not over a hundred times in my life, I have witnessed from “lived experience” that all these claims by open border advocates about the economic and social benefits are utter hogwash. What once was a freely fluid Frontera has become a dangerous virtual wall for people who grew up for generations moving sometimes daily across the border for work, play, and la familia. As recently as 25 years ago, my entire family (Elderly Mother, Sister, Brother in Law, their two kids, my then gf and me) were able to safely stay at La Posada, a famous hotel in Laredo, and cross into Nuevo Laredo for shopping, dining, and a few beers and tequila shots. Last summer I had a case near Eagle Pass so decided to check out the border. While walking out of my car toward the border checkpoint, someone screamed at me “what are you doing?” “I’m going across for lunch” “You can’t do that!” “I’m a native Texan. I’ll be fine.” DON’T DO IT! ITS NOT THE SAME ANYMORE!!”. That person screaming made me return to my car and stay the night instead at a local Native American casino. Every person reiterated a fearful message. And I drove past the largest immigrant processing facility I’ve ever seen on my way home (who knows how much that cost taxpayers). The people on both sides are manifestly less well off with this insane policy and if the advocates don’t believe it, they need to leave their cosseted urban ivory towers, come down here and see for themselves.

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PoetKen, your recent experience at the border, once rather safe, brings it home.

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