Concerning illegal immigration: How cool is the Yuma moat idea?

I am strongly against criminals entering my country illegally. As a Southern California resident, I see the effects on a daily basis and cannot help but see this as a 'quality of life' issue. While I understand the motivation of foreigners to live in America, especially those from corrupted governments, I simply cannot abide the arrogance, the self-serving attitude and the disrespect of American values exhibited by these criminals. And for this, I am called a racist. How galling, and reprehensible. Many of my personal friends are of Hispanic origin. Several are Black. Some are Asian. Some are European, some South American, and one is Australian. I find myself getting behind any idea whatsoever that stands a chance of stemming the tide of illegal immigrants coming across our southern Mexican border.