A Wall is Finally Being Built, But in the Wrong Place

FAIR Take | May 2022

After years of opposition to a southern border wall — and after shutting down the federal government to prevent one — congressional Democrats suddenly became fond of physical barriers on their own doorstep while depriving Americans of the same protection. This week leaders in Washington, D.C. erected a wall of their own, 1,700 miles from the Southwest border, around the Supreme Court building. 

The leaked draft opinion showing that a majority of Supreme Court justices may be set to overturn the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade prompted immediate protests outside of the Supreme Court building. Security forces immediately erected a tall security fence around the court because of concerns about the protesters. This is the same type of fence that surrounded the Capitol after last year’s January 6 riot, and then again in February for the State of the Union.

As our southern border is overrun with illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and misery, the Washington establishment showed where their priorities lie. The establishment feels that walls between Washington elites and the general public are far more necessary than any barriers protecting our southern border.

As fencing around the Supreme Court rises, congressional Democrats maintain their opposition to any kind of barriers at the Southwest border. On day one of his presidency, Joe Biden’s first executive orders ended construction of the border wall put underway by Trump, wasting hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars in unused equipment. While a border wall would not address the root cause of our current immigration crisis – our weak and exploitable asylum laws – it would make a significant impact on illegal crossings and force drug smugglers through the regular ports of entry.

The debate over walls captures the stunning hypocrisy of America’s political elite. Whether it is fencing constructed around their mansions or barriers erected around the halls of our democracy, the message is clear: Walls for me, not for thee.