In fact, President Bush signed into law only one significant piece of legislation dealing with immigration during this Congress, the Secure Fence Act of 2006. This bill, which calls for the construction of 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, fails to address any number of problems with our nation’s immigration system, primarily the fact that between 8 and 12 million undocumented immigrants currently live in this country without the protection of U.S. law.

Earlier this week, a group of the RAC staff traveled from Washington, DC to Phoenix, Arizona, to attend the biannual gathering of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism (CSA). Parting ways from the meeting’s normal structure, the itinerary revolved around a day trip to the town of Nogales, Mexico led by Border Links, a non-profit organization that conducts educational tours of the U.S.-Mexico border. The purpose of this experience was to engage the CSA members in the immigration debate by immersing them in the culture of a border town, where they were able to witness firsthand the state of our nation’s broken borders.

As our bus approached the border security station in Nogales, I immediately noticed the security fence, approximately 15 feet high and covered with graffiti, enforcing the boundary between the U.S. and Mexico. For the next 6 hours we toured Nogales, learning about the dangers that plague those who attempt to illegally enter the U.S., facing harsh conditions due to the extreme desert heat and snow-covered mountains combined with dehydration and starvation. After trekking through the neighborhood’s dirt roads, we split into small groups and had lunch in the homes of Nogales residents. While attempting to converse with our host—the language barrier made this rather difficult despite the presence of a translator—I was taken aback by the state of poverty endured by Nogales citizens.

Sitting just miles from the border fence, I gained a new perspective on why the debate over immigration is so complicated. Despite its obvious presence as a physical barrier between two nations, the security fence also holds symbolic meaning. The issue of reforming our immigration system is not a question of whether it is wrong for people to immigrate illegally to the U.S.; it is a question of why people are willing to risk their lives for the mere hope of finding economic prosperity and personal freedom in this country. With the impending return of Congress, my hope is that members of both parties and in both chambers will embark upon a comprehensive solution to immigration reform that addresses all aspects of the debate. Our trip to Nogales will forever remain etched in my mind as both a unique personal experience and as an educational tool for why our country’s immigration system needs to be transformed.