Sigh.

You need to explain the difference between "open," "more open," "more open than it was," and "more open than I want it to be." At the moment you're running them together.

Remember, this is a rational discussion, not a debate to be won with debate tactics. Words need to have definite meanings, and those can't be "custom " meanings, such as "more open than I want" that can be flexed to suit.

Minor details: history shows people did in fact escape from East German and East Berlin. Even so, installing Berlin Wall-level security here would be damn near impossible and absurdly expensive. It would also strengthen the narco and organized crime elements, since people wouldn't have the wherewithal to cross on their own and would have to pay.

Also left unmentioned, there is a way to actually bring illegal immigration to a near standstill with one law: a year in jail for every undocumented worker employed illegally. They come for the jobs, get rid of those and not only will they stop coming, many will leave of their own accord, largely removing the need for mass deportation. No need for expensive building projects or Iron Curtain-style borders.

Mind you, it will crash the economy, just as a deportation would. Undocumented workers are woven through most of the economy. You think we had inflation before, you ain't seen nothing yet.

It's why all the deportation and border security will be for show - business LOVES hiring cheap, powerless laborers who can't complain. If they leave, there'll be a labor shortage and massive increases in labor costs.