Momentum builds for fence along U.S.-Mexican border
By Mimi Hall, USA TODAY Thu Nov 17, 8:02 AM ET
A once-radical idea to build a 2,000-mile steel-and-wire fence on the U.S.-Mexican border is gaining momentum amid warnings that terrorists can easily
sneak into the country.
In Congress, a powerful Republican lawmaker this week proposed building such a fence across the entire border and two dozen other lawmakers signed on.
And via the Internet, a group called weneedafence.com has raised enough money to air TV ads warning that the border is open to terrorists.
Even at the Homeland Security Department, which opposes building a border-long fence, Secretary Michael Chertoff this fall waived environmental laws
so that construction can continue on a 14-mile section of fence near San Diego that has helped border agents stem the flow of illegal migrants and
drug runners.
"You have to be able to enforce your borders," says California Rep. Duncan Hunter (news, bio, voting record), the Republican chairman of the House
Armed Services Committee. He's proposing a fence from San Diego to Brownsville, Texas. "It's no longer just an immigration issue. It's now a national
security issue."
Colin Hanna of weneedafence.com says "there is incredible momentum on this issue," fueled by the specter of another Sept. 11. His group aired TV ads
in Washington, D.C., this fall and plans more next year.
Fencing the border, originally proposed in the debate over how to stop illegal immigration, is controversial. The Bush administration argues that a
Berlin Wall-style barrier would be a huge waste of money - costing up to $8 billion.
Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar says it makes more sense to use a mix of additional agents, better surveillance and tougher enforcement of
immigration laws - and fences.
But Hunter points to the experience in San Diego, where the number of illegal migrants arrested is one-sixth of what it was before the fence was
built.
"People have made stupid editorial comments about the Great Wall of China," he says, "but the only thing that has worked is that fence."upyerbum - 11-17-2005 at 01:56 PM
That's the stupid thing I've ever heard. No offence to the citizens of the USA, but it seems your government has a touch of agoraphobia. It sounds
like they're talking about a huge gated community. How the hell are you going to enforce something like that, and has anyone asked what's gonna'
happen when you want to leave. All this talk of fences and travel restrictions harkens back to a darker time.gavin - 11-17-2005 at 02:12 PM
im all for the fencedefstarsteve - 11-17-2005 at 02:26 PM
where would economy be without all the illegal aliens and drugs...
the police industrial complex sure as hell wouldn't be booming
how hard can it be to stop the flow of drugs?
how many pounds can 1 man carry across the desert?
and I don't know anyone who wants to pick fruit for nothing an hour.
and how many upity white congressmen have illegal housekeepers...
we opened our doors to free trade with mexico and canada, but now we will build a fence to keep the people out....
A wall is not a soultion, only a band aid to bigger social and economic problems facing this country, and a way to line more congress mens pockets
with kickbacks from the Halburton contracts to build the wallclevohardcore - 11-17-2005 at 02:30 PM
BUILD A DAMN FENCE. It's not like they will neot be able to get through it though.Discipline - 11-17-2005 at 05:14 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by MrBadVibes
im all for the fence
