http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4383332.html -Dec. 6, 2006, 1:53PM
Perry says border fence a "preposterous" idea


By R.G. RATCLIFFE
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

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AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry, who built his re-election campaign on border security, told a gathering of border mayors today that building a wall along the border with Mexico is a "preposterous" idea.

"Now, strategic fencing in certain urban areas to direct the flow of traffic does make sense, but building a wall on the entire border is a preposterous idea," Perry said.

"The only thing a wall would possibly accomplish is to help the ladder business."

While Perry always opposed fencing the border, his re-election campaign de-emphasized that position.

Perry ran millions of dollars of television advertising portraying the border as an open zone of human and drug smuggling and as a potential pathway for terrorists. He launched a program to put live Internet cameras along the border and said he would ask the Legislature for $100 million for border security.

The campaign was widely seen as an effort to appeal to a Republican voting base angry at the federal government for failing to act to halt illegal immigration from Mexico and Central America.

Perry told the Texas Border Coalition that the national anti-immigrant rhetoric of the political campaigns was not constructive.

"We just concluded an election year that was very heavy on immigration rhetoric, and, I might add, very light on comprehensive solutions," Perry said.

He said the campaign rhetoric did not foster good relations with Mexico.

"Good neighbors do not foster fear and engage in divisive appeals. They seek solutions"

Perry said the federal government needs to quickly enact immigration reform, and he said he supports a guest worker program that would bring illegal immigrants out of the shadows.

The governor also said he believes legislation that has been filed in the Texas House to do away with "birthright citizenship" is divisive.

State Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, has a bill that would challenge a U.S. constitutional interpretation that gives automatic citizenship to everyone born in the United States. Berman's bill would deny such citizenship to anyone born to parents who are in the country illegally.

r.g.ratcliffe@chron.com