One reason so many people can cross is the border fence is in some places nothing more than a single line of barbed wire. On some stretches, the fence disappears under the sand, buried by the dunes.

Some Israelis say it is no border at all, and certainly not enough to protect a nation faced with constant terrorist threats.

This is one reason why the Pinchas welcome news of government plans to reinforce it.

"Who knows what kind of stuff has been going over, also like weapons or things like that," Jolanda Pinchas said. "We don't know. But it's open for everything right now. Israel I think needs to do something about the border."

Her husband, Avishai, says a beefed up border may at least end the violence against migrants that he has witnessed firsthand.

"We have so many sad stories about this border, what's going on here," Avishai Pinchas said. "You know what? For their health, for their life, it's better for them either to stay there and not to try to cross to be beat and killed. Women and all kinds of (people) get killed there. And I feel sad about this. It's horrible."

Once in the country, life for Sudanese immigrants is not easy.

Ahmed has not been able to find steady work. He says Israelis have been kind to him and his children are getting an education as well as healthcare benefits. However, the family can never consider this home.

Israel welcomes Jewish immigrants, but Muslims like Ahmed are not eligible for citizenship.