The Long History and Controversy of the US-Mexico Border Wall

This article explores the historical and political significance of the US-Mexico border wall. It highlights Donald Trump's recent inflammatory comments on immigration and discusses the long-standing debates and racialized narratives that have shaped US border policies since the early 1900s.

Last month, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump reignited the debate over illegal immigration with a fiery speech at the US-Mexico border in Arizona. His address underscored the supposed dangers posed by migrants and called for the completion of a border wall.

Trump's rhetoric, accusing Democrats of enabling crime waves and even repeating outlandish claims about migrants, mirrors arguments from the early 1900s. Back then, officials also used fears of crime, disease, and immigration to justify building barriers at the border.

The media have often overlooked the deep-rooted history and racialized narratives behind the US-Mexico border wall. This issue continues to be a contentious point in American politics, with nearly 700 miles of fencing already constructed under various administrations, reflecting its enduring symbolic and political relevance.

(With inputs from agencies.)