It would be smart long-term to have a 50 to 70 year plan where we can have an open border with Mexico. But that is not doable right now or in the best interest of our country you see? An open border right now would be total suicide for the United State's Economy, but we need to work towards that future goal and put in place reasonable safe guards, which indeed allow for trade, tourism and travel.

Recently in an online think thank one member mentioned that no one really understands what an open border policy really means and stated;

Even with that thought I didn't hear one kid we interviewed speak on that notion. And what exactly does "Opening the Border" mean?

Well my thoughts are a 50-75 year plan in the future to have an open border. But of course we must bring the Mexican Government and the flows of their civilization up to speed and tone down the PRI protectionism to money flows and barriers to entry for small business. I believe they would make more in the long-run with a strong middle class than preventing its emerging. Our think tank member next states;

That they can come across undocumented and untracked? I don't understand. What about the drug dealers and thugs and gangsters who want to come here because its easier for their lifestyle to flourish?

Actually in the 50-75 year plan I envision this would not be an issue, but for now we would need to absolutely seal the borders and only allow passing thru check point. ID cards issued with active RFID Chips satellite enabled for pinging. Biometrically encoded. Day passes, worker passes, and etc would all be encoded. One felony you are barred for life, with fingerprints, DNA sample, etc. Misdemeanor you are barred for 5-years.

You cannot come over the border to shop unless you have $100 in your pocket or person, unless in specified zones, like in El Paso where the checkpoints are post city. Process to become citizen would be simplified, but we only take the best qualified, having a skill and/or a sponsor (job, family member). Perhaps we need such a plan and should think on this in 2006.