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Democrats Target Border Fence
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| A Border Patrol vehicle is parked looking south into Tijuana, Mexico from the secondary fence in San Diego on Dec. 20, 2007. Eight congressional Democrats are urging President Barack Obama to suspend construction of a border fence. (Earl Cryer/UPI) |
By Joe Murray, The Bulletin
Eight congressional Democrats are urging President Barack Obama to suspend the construction of a “border fence” separating the United States from Mexico, a move that is sure to reignite the immigration debate months after the economic crisis bumped the issue from the national stage.
The construction of a border fence is a contentious issue in Democratic circles — especially among those congressmen who are of Hispanic decent or represent districts with a large Hispanic presence. They now hope Mr. Obama will undo some of the border-protection policies erected by the Bush administration. And the border fence sits at the top of the list.
“Though there are places where a fence is the most feasible option, we strongly believe the Bush administration’s approach of constructing a fence along much of the Southwest Border was ill-conceived as it was void of any meaningful input from the local communities or the Border Patrol Sector Chiefs who are most familiar with the challenges of securing our border,” eight Democratic lawmakers wrote Mr. Obama last week.
“In an era of advanced technologies, the border fence is an antiquated structure that has torn our communities apart and damaged our cross border relationships.”
In the letter, which was signed by U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz, D-Texas, along with U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas; Susan Davis, D-Calif.; Bob Filner D-Calif.; Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz.; Ruben Hinojosa, D-Texas; Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas;and Ciro D. Rodriguez, D-Texas, the lawmakers argued the fact former President George W. Bush to steps to expedite the fence, coupled with the project’s rising costs, are both grounds for a temporarily suspend the fence’s construction.
“The previous administration undertook controversial measures to expedite the construction of border fencing, such as the waiver of more than 30 environmental laws,” the letter read, adding, “the costs associated with construction of border fencing have rapidly escalated.”
The fence, however, is a success story to the numerous border agents patrolling the still porous U.S.-Mexican border and the need for its completion is undeniable.
“I’ve flown before and come back and had 70-plus [illegal immigrants logged in a tracking book],” Border Patrol pilot Brad Smith told CNN’s John King. “I know guys who have gone on a flight and come back with 100-plus illegals in their logbook. Now it is in single digits, typically.”
In urban areas, the three-layered fence has made illegal border crossings incredibly difficult and when the Secured Fence Act of 2006 was debated, one the bill’s chief sponsors, former U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., joked if anyone could cross the border fence they should be recruited for a spot on the Olympic team.
The act was passed, with the support of then-Sen. Obama, and Congress budgeted close to $3 million for the construction of the security fence deemed necessary to stem the constant flow of illegal immigrants into the country. The fence, when completed, will cover 670 miles of land.
But the Democratic call to stop the fence may be too late as 601 miles of the fence are already complete leaving just 69 additional miles. And time is not the only factor working against open border advocates, as popular support, even among Latinos, favors measures reducing the number of illegal immigrants entering the country.
On the eve of Mr. Obama’s inauguration, the Pew Hispanic Forum asked Latinos what were the issues they deemed “extremely important.” Despite the clamor of Latino rights advocates, which showed up in Washington clamoring for amnesty for the estimated 13 million illegal immigrants, immigration did not even make the top five.
Ordinary Latinos were concerned about the economy, education, health care, national security and the environment.
Joe Murray can be reached at jmurray@thebulletin.us
The construction of a border fence is a contentious issue in Democratic circles — especially among those congressmen who are of Hispanic decent or represent districts with a large Hispanic presence. They now hope Mr. Obama will undo some of the border-protection policies erected by the Bush administration. And the border fence sits at the top of the list.
“Though there are places where a fence is the most feasible option, we strongly believe the Bush administration’s approach of constructing a fence along much of the Southwest Border was ill-conceived as it was void of any meaningful input from the local communities or the Border Patrol Sector Chiefs who are most familiar with the challenges of securing our border,” eight Democratic lawmakers wrote Mr. Obama last week.
“In an era of advanced technologies, the border fence is an antiquated structure that has torn our communities apart and damaged our cross border relationships.”
In the letter, which was signed by U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz, D-Texas, along with U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas; Susan Davis, D-Calif.; Bob Filner D-Calif.; Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz.; Ruben Hinojosa, D-Texas; Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas;and Ciro D. Rodriguez, D-Texas, the lawmakers argued the fact former President George W. Bush to steps to expedite the fence, coupled with the project’s rising costs, are both grounds for a temporarily suspend the fence’s construction.
“The previous administration undertook controversial measures to expedite the construction of border fencing, such as the waiver of more than 30 environmental laws,” the letter read, adding, “the costs associated with construction of border fencing have rapidly escalated.”
The fence, however, is a success story to the numerous border agents patrolling the still porous U.S.-Mexican border and the need for its completion is undeniable.
“I’ve flown before and come back and had 70-plus [illegal immigrants logged in a tracking book],” Border Patrol pilot Brad Smith told CNN’s John King. “I know guys who have gone on a flight and come back with 100-plus illegals in their logbook. Now it is in single digits, typically.”
In urban areas, the three-layered fence has made illegal border crossings incredibly difficult and when the Secured Fence Act of 2006 was debated, one the bill’s chief sponsors, former U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., joked if anyone could cross the border fence they should be recruited for a spot on the Olympic team.
The act was passed, with the support of then-Sen. Obama, and Congress budgeted close to $3 million for the construction of the security fence deemed necessary to stem the constant flow of illegal immigrants into the country. The fence, when completed, will cover 670 miles of land.
But the Democratic call to stop the fence may be too late as 601 miles of the fence are already complete leaving just 69 additional miles. And time is not the only factor working against open border advocates, as popular support, even among Latinos, favors measures reducing the number of illegal immigrants entering the country.
On the eve of Mr. Obama’s inauguration, the Pew Hispanic Forum asked Latinos what were the issues they deemed “extremely important.” Despite the clamor of Latino rights advocates, which showed up in Washington clamoring for amnesty for the estimated 13 million illegal immigrants, immigration did not even make the top five.
Ordinary Latinos were concerned about the economy, education, health care, national security and the environment.
Joe Murray can be reached at jmurray@thebulletin.us
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lccat wrote on Feb 16, 2009 11:19 PM: