President Donald Trump finally succumbed to the forces of reality when he agreed to end the federal government shutdown without border wall funding. True, our immigration system is broken and needs serious fixing, but erecting a border wall is a solution to a non-existent problem.

According to border security experts and immigration analysts, most of the undocumented immigrants came to America through legal means and overstayed their visas. They did not cross the border; therefore, a wall will not have a deterrent value.

We can fortify our border security by using the enforcement tools that are in our technological arsenal, including video surveillance, drones, ground sensors and radar technologies.

By agreeing to end the shutdown, Trump has shown willingness to compromise.

I hope his action marks the end of his combative and vindictive style of politics and he starts pursuing more tolerant and compassionate policies.

The wall, if erected, serves no purpose other than as a symbol of America’s bigoted image.

Rod B. Catiggay

Mililani

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