US - Mexico Fence

[Bubba]

Momentum builds for fence along U.S.-Mexican border
By Mimi Hall
USA TODAY

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, 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.”

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Ya think they'll hire illegal workers to help with construction?

[TexKan]

The cat that does this will win Texas this year - without a doubt....LOL....I'll donate my truck for fence haulin.......

[K C Muffin]

Originally Posted by Bubba

Ya think they'll hire illegal workers to help with construction?

he he. Hey, TexKan, I'll loan my truck to the cause too! This one issue is almost as devisive as abortion. Anything we can do to bring a quick close to it, the better.

[Cooldad79]

Originally Posted by Bubba

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.

Now that will take a wooden post or two.

[Bubba]

Another site, for the supporters of this idea.

http://www.weneedafence.com/

[lurker]

Countries have built fences to keep warriors out and fences to keep subjects in, but building a fence to keep "cold tired masses yearning to breathe free" just could be a World Wide First.

Oh wait. It's jobs and social programs they're after..... never mind.

[Detector]

Sounds like a waste of money to me. The fence around my yard is nothing more than a expensive donot enter sign. The reality is it does little to stop someone determined to cross it. I think such a fence would give people a false sense of security prompting us to become slack in real security.

What we really need is to quit the handouts to everyone just because they have a foot in America. The way it is now is as long as you can make it too America you get a free pass. You think a fence will stop illegals as long as they know this? My fence would do little to stop intruders if they knew all my windows and doors were open. Make it so they know crossing the boarder is only the first hurdle. No green card = a trip back and nothing else, period! To avoid fake green cards take the money that was to be spent on a fence and make green cards hard to duplicate.

[TexKan]

I agree - I keep wonderin why we don't go after the business that knowingly hire with obious fake green cards. They know the difference. Lord knows there are enough agencies to tell them the difference. Excel themselves I think has "safe days" when there are a lot of folks gone while INS is doin its obiligatory "sweep". Course we might all starve to death....LOL but if there was nothing to gain UNLESS you came over the leagal way maybe someof this would slow down...

I stil am for the fence - ANY step toward having a deterent is a good one at this point.

[MUD]

I can see the mexicans in mexico, practicing their pole-vaulting skills

[Bubba]

That's when you put up a secondary fence and then put a minefield in between the two fences.