Definitely Not The Berlin Wall

By Janice Castro

Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter and a passel of Southern California officials have been celebrating the completion of the first 14 miles of the 12-ft.-tall black metal wall along the U.S.-Mexican border. The barrier is supposed to keep out illegal immigrants and drug runners, but it is riddled with gaps. Just a mile from the Pacific Ocean, for example, a dry riverbed crosses the border through a gorge so popular with illegals that it is known as Smuggler Gulch. Because the wall comes to an abrupt halt jutting out over the western rim of the gorge, travelers continue to scurry through. Nearby, Mexican vendors who sell snacks to folks headed north report that the fence has helped their business, since it has funneled more customers through the inviting opening.