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Up To Date

Why A Border Wall Won't Work, And Holding Out Hope For Small Midwestern Towns

By Steve Kraske,
Luke X. Martin
Published June 28, 2017 at 4:14 PM CDT
Ryan Bavetta
/
Flickr - CC
U.S. Representative Will Hurd, a Republican from Texas, said in January that President Trump's proposal to build a wall along the entirety of the border between Mexico and the United States is "a third-century solution to a 21st-century problem."

It's easy to claim that Mexican immigrants, workers or political policies are what ails the American economy, but the problem is more complex than that. Today, we learn why simple solutions won't solve complicated issues between the United States and its southern neighbor. Then, we meet a journalist and author who toured small towns throughout the Midwest, and was pleasantly surprised by the resilience and hope she found in them.

Raúl Rodríguez Barocio, chairman of the board of the U.S.-Mexico Foundation, will discuss border issues and why Kansas and the Midwest should care about the border at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28. For more information, visit DoleInstitute.org.

Tags
Up To Date Talk ShowMexicoimmigrationTradeinternational relationsdrugsDonald TrumpMidwestBooksruralwestern Kansas
Steve Kraske
When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
See stories by Steve Kraske
Luke X. Martin
As culture editor, I oversee KCUR’s coverage of race, culture, the arts, food and sports. I work with reporters to make sure our stories reflect the fullest view of the place we call home, so listeners and readers feel primed to explore the places, projects and people who make up a vibrant Kansas City. Email me at luke@kcur.org.
See stories by Luke X. Martin