The southern border is home to many unique and endangered species that know no borders. Their ecosystem and habitat spans from Mexico, across the Rio Grande, and into the US. A border wall would cut their habitat and have negative impacts on their survival rate. There would be less access to food and, if the animals were on the US side of the wall, they would be cut off from a major water source in the Rio Grande. Because of these concerns, an opportunity exists for a binational park.
Most people talking about border security in the Southern United States have never actually been to the border. They haven’t seen the sheer wilderness that exists, and how difficult it is to pass through. Although I have been close to the border, I had not seen what it actually looked like until I watched five filmmaking and science-loving friends — including one former undocumented immigrant and one son of formerly undocumented immigrants — travel 1200 miles from El Paso to the Gulf of Mexico in “The River and the Wall.”
A possible border wall also affects human access to resources. The Southern border of Texas contains many farms and productive farmland that is important for our food production. Their irrigation comes from the Rio Grande, and if a border wall was constructed, then access to the water would be cut off. In these areas, the wall would be built miles inland of the border. The country would be losing land, and it would affect the amount these farmers can work with and produce on.
On the Mexico side of the border, the Rio Grande plays a significant role in daily life. The group interviewed people as the canoed, and they constantly saw people fishing and playing. No one from the US side was on the river or near it because they are blocked by the wall, protected land, and other natural barriers. They also highlighted, however, that the river is a crossing point for drugs and people entering the US.
As demonstrated in the film, the wall that exists is relatively easy to climb. After such a long journey through extremely difficult and remote terrain, and with such a strong sense of determination to make a better life for themselves and their families, these people will not be deterred by a simple wall. If they made it that far, the wall is just the last obstacle to overcome before those that come with being in the US.
The film also included interviews from representatives Beto O’Rourke and Will Hurd. Both agreed that a wall across the entire border would be largely ineffective. Representative Hurd went so far as to say, “a border wall is the most expensive and least effective way to secure a border.” The focus needs to shift on to improving conditions in the countries people are coming from and improving and revising policy within our own country.
Instead of bisecting the last large stretch of untouched land between Mexico and the US with a border wall that would be ineffective and disrupt countless habitats and ecosystems, an opportunity exists for a binational park. An establishment similar to the Glacier-Waterton Binational Park could be created, and instead of a message of xenophobia and hate, one of acceptance and partnership could begin.
Creating this park would be difficult, I’m sure, but if it could be done it would preserve the natural beauty that exists and that is home to so many unique species. Border patrol could still be stationed throughout the park and at its boundaries, along with Park Rangers. It would be easier to call border patrol so they could get where they needed to be.
The binational park would create jobs and boost the economy on both sides of the border with visitors from both countries. Building a wall creates jobs, but it doesn’t have the lasting jobs or economic impact that a binational park might have. Productive farmland and other lands would not be lost to a border wall, and people would actually be able to enjoy what the beauty of our Southern border has to offer.
A binational park would create a sense of community and cooperation between the US and Mexico, which would hopefully continue South. It may not decrease strife in other countries, but it could be a start. Instead of being a band-aid solution there is the opportunity to create lasting change while being good to the Earth and its inhabitants. And we would get to experience it, not just the five friends in “The River and the Wall.”