With voters wondering whether President-elect Donald Trump is really going to build a wall along the southern border to help slow the rate of illegal immigration, at least one person is confident he can and he will fulfill his most talked about campaign promise.
"We are going to build the wall," House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) wrote in an op-ed for Fox News on Friday. "In fact, we are already starting to work on an emergency plan in Congress to build the tough barriers we need along the border, close all gaps, and defend this country’s sovereignty."
They physical barrier will be accompanied by an increase in border patrol agents and aerial surveillance, McCaul explains. Trump offered similar details in his highly anticipated immigration speech in August, dispelling any rumors that he had "softened" on the issue.
Like Trump, McCaul insists Mexico is going to pay for the wall - and he has a few suggestions as to how they can submit payment.
Our neighbors have failed to contain the crisis within their own countries, and they must have skin in the game to fix it once and for all.
That is why I’m proposing we put Mexico on a “payment plan” and fulfill President-Elect Trump’s demand that our allies help resolve this mess.
There are many reasonable ways to do this. For starters, we can put in place new immigration fees from Mexico, institute a security toll at border crossings, “seize and freeze” drug cartel assets, and more.
Also on the docket for the incoming administration in regards to immigration, McCaul explained, is to enforce E-Verify so illegal immigrants do not take jobs from American citizens, end the catch-and-release program, overturn Obama's executive actions and put in place a more stringent vetting process for those wanting to visit the United States.
McCaul will be going into more detail about all of these policies at his annual State of Homeland Security Address this Wednesday in Washington, D.C.