Could Crowdfunding Help Pay for the Border Wall?
By RJ Hauman | May 25, 2018
The most recent omnibus spending bill was an appropriate vehicle to provide full funding for the construction of a border wall – an essential tool for regaining control of our borders and stopping illegal immigration, drug smuggling, and terrorism. Instead, at the behest of House Democrats, the bill contained a paltry $1.6 billion for repairs, drones, and pedestrian fencing – no wall construction. Even worse, the measure explicitly restricted funding for any of President Trump’s border wall prototypes, only allowing spending for designs deployed before the prototypes were constructed.
With Democrats seemingly unwilling to fund any new border infrastructure, some Republicans are getting creative. True immigration reformer Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.) recently introduced FAIR-supported legislation that would create a border wall trust fund, allowing the American people to donate money towards President Trump’s signature campaign promise.
Rep. Black released the following statement after introducing H.R. 5876, the Border Wall Trust Fund Act:
“While Democrats block commonsense border security and put illegal immigrants before our families, we are going to put America first. Real immigration reform cannot be achieved without a secure border – President Trump has been clear about this since day one. The most important job of the federal government is the safety and security of the American people, and if citizens in our country wish to contribute to this effort, they absolutely should be given the opportunity. Americans know that President Trump is committed to protecting our nation for future generations, and we are ready to stand with him to build the wall.”
While Rep. Black should be commended for identifying a unique funding source for the border wall demanded by the American people in 2016, Congress still has every authority to fund it, and should do so in September without additional legislation. As President Trump has consistently noted, a border wall is a necessity if our government wishes to meet its obligation to protect the sovereignty and security of the United States. Besides helping stem the tide of illegal immigration, a wall also limits the ability of drug cartels, human traffickers, terrorists and other national security threats to access the United States from our southern border. Furthermore, a secure border sends the message that prospective immigrants are expected to follow the rule of law.