Readers React: Border fences keep migrants in the U.S.? Then why build prisons?

To the editor: Wayne A. Cornelius states in his Op-Ed piece that an expanded border fence is preventing illegal immigrants from crossing back into Mexico and therefore is a waste of money. He cites statistics showing that in the 1960s, roughly 60% of those here illegally went home within a year, while today fewer than 10% do. (“Border fences are succeeding -- in keeping migrants in U.S.,” Op-Ed, Aug. 10)

I would suggest that that change has occurred as a result of increased incentives to stay in the United States and worsening conditions in their native countries, not because the fence has made it tougher to get back.

By his logic, we should take down the walls around prisons so that if a prisoner escapes, it will be easier to get back in.

Jeff Pressman, Bell Canyon

..

To the editor: Cornelius raises interesting details designed to discredit the idea of securing the border with a fence.

However, the argument about the economy as the reason for higher or lower numbers of trespassers points to the fact that better circumstances in the U.S. economy will attract more illegal entries, and we still need more action and less talk. Thanks to Donald Trump, we are talking about the problem.

Let’s start to agree on something.

Santiago O’Leary, Oxnard

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook