ANNEXING MEXICO: WHY IT’S THE BEST SOLUTION TO THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM

They come by the hundreds of thousands. Mexican immigrants hungry for work and a better life. They make a desperate journey, risking their lives to sneak through America’s back door. Each year, the U.S. spends tens of billions dollars on illegal aliens, raising the ire of taxpayers and making immigration one of today’s most contentious issues in American politics. So instead of keeping Mexicans out, why not bring America to them?

“The border between the United States and Mexico isn’t just a boundary between nations; it’s a chasm that separates a wealthy global superpower from a poverty-stricken Third World Country,” says political columnist and author Erik Rush. “Until drastic improvements are made in Mexico so that half the population is no longer living in poverty, the massive influx of illegal immigrants will continue.”

In 2006, the U.S. spent $12 billion on border enforcement. But trying to make all 2,000 miles of border impenetrable is like trying to carry water in a sieve. In his new book, “Annexing Mexico: Solving the Border Problem Through Annexation and Assimilation,” Rush makes a strong case for a peaceful annexation of Mexico.

“We’re like a dog chasing its tail,” says Rush. “We spend billions of dollars each year to keep immigrants out, then billions more on their education and healthcare once they get here anyway. We’d be smarter to spend those billions to annex and improve Mexico. We would solve the immigration problem and reap a host of other benefits.”

Balancing the costs and benefits of annexing Mexico is a monumental project. Rush points out that the amount the U.S. spends on illegal immigration now could easily build Mexico’s infrastructure, improve the quality of life and help America fight the war on terror.

“The first step is conceding that patrolling the border does not and will not work,” says Rush. “We have terrorists sneaking across the border-- and they’re not looking for jobs. After annexation, we’d be in a better position to protect ourselves from terrorist infiltration by heavily fortifying Mexico’s narrow southern tip which is much easier to defend.”

Rush share these compelling arguments with my listeners:

40% of Mexicans would like to live in America
10% of Mexico’s population is already here.
U.S. spends $1.4 billion yearly on emergency room care for illegal aliens
Mexico ranks 4th world wide in number of billionaires, yet half the population lives in poverty
Mexico’s huge oil reserves could lead to North American energy independence.

While Rush believes greed and fear are hurdles that must be overcome, he thinks annexing Mexico is the only solution to the ever-growing problem of illegal immigration.

“Our population is growing so rapidly in the U.S.,” says Rush. “We need some relief. Mexico desperately needs relief. It’s ludicrous for a line in the sand drawn more than a century ago to divide ‘the haves’ from ‘the have nots’ when a peaceful union can benefit everyone.”

Questions I asked:

Can this plan really work?
What will it realistically cost the U.S.?
How do we overcome corruption in Mexico’s government?
What type of infrastructure does Mexico need?
How do we upgrade healthcare and vaccinate an entire nation to prevent the spread of diseases?
What kind of dent would this put in the overall immigration numbers?
How do you think other global powers would view this?
Can the oil fields solve our energy problems?
How do most Americans that you’ve talked with respond to your idea