Border fence will be built

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib ... fence.html

Border 'fence will be built'

By Chet Barfield
STAFF WRITER

October 7, 2006

OTAY MESA – On a windy bluff overlooking Tijuana, Rep. Duncan Hunter yesterday rejected suggestions that high-tech security measures might replace some segments of a 700-mile border fence project newly enacted by Congress.

JOHN R. McCUTCHEN / Union-Tribune
"It's fine if . . . Homeland Security defines where that 700 miles is built, but it must be 700 miles," Rep. Duncan Hunter told the media yesterday. The House and Senate gave the Bush administration leeway in distributing the fence money.
“The fence will be built,” the Alpine Republican told reporters at a border news conference. “This is not a recommendation. It's a mandate by Congress.”
Hunter was a co-sponsor of the so-called Secure Fence Act, which the House and Senate passed last week and President Bush signed Wednesday. The legislation requires double-layered fencing, similar to that erected in the late 1990s along San Diego County's border with Tijuana, to be installed along huge swaths of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

But congressional and White House officials have said the Department of Homeland Security would have the flexibility of using ground-based radar, cameras and sensors in some areas where fencing might be impractical or ineffective.

Hunter bristled at those notions, saying Congress intended no such wiggle-room.

“These people in the bureaucracy need to reminded that this is a mandate,” he said. “It's fine if the secretary of Homeland Security defines where that 700 miles is built, but it must be 700 miles.”

He gave reporters a copy of a letter he sent to Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff yesterday “to clarify the intention of the legislation.”

Hunter acknowledged that Arizona's Tohono O'odham tribe strongly objected to walling off the entire 75 miles of border on its reservation, and said Chertoff would have discretion to leave limited areas unfenced as long as major smuggling routes were secured.

Gesturing toward a nearby gully that was a primary route for illegal immigration from Mexico before 14 miles of double-fencing began being installed a decade ago, Hunter said the high metal barrier has been effective in sealing the border along San Diego.

“Where we're standing right now, before they built the fence, this was a no-man's land,” he said. “We've cut smuggling down more than 95 percent in this area.

But critics say fence construction has not decreased the amount of smuggling, but moved it to more remote and dangerous areas.

Hunter disagreed with critics in the United States and Mexico who say fencing off the border is bad for diplomacy.

“We're just doing what's right for the American people and for border security,” he said.

Shortly before recessing late yesterday, the House and Senate gave the administration leeway to distribute the $1.2 billion allocated for the fence on a combination of projects, including roads and technology. It is estimated the fence will cost about $3 million to $10 million per mile.

Quote:

---

Hunter bristled at those notions, saying Congress intended no such wiggle-room.

“These people in the bureaucracy need to reminded that this is a mandate,” he said. “It's fine if the secretary of Homeland Security defines where that 700 miles is built, but it must be 700 miles.”

He gave reporters a copy of a letter he sent to Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff yesterday “to clarify the intention of the legislation.”

---

Representative Hunter, you're going to need a whole lot more than letters to direct this Administration. If you want our fence to be built, then you will have to Impeach Bush and Cheney and make Dennis Hastert President of the United States.

That's just a simple fact that everyone in the Republican Party and the US Congress needs to face and accept. See, Bush is a Traitor and everyone who works for him...is a Traitor. They haven't enforced one of your US Immigration Laws for 6 years and trust me when I say, they 'aint startin' now.

:(

JUDY
he doesn't need one damned letter to the administration.
He needs CONGRESS to grow a set and DEMAND that their {disjointed, haphazard} mandate be obeyed!!! :evil:

Congress en toto holds the power & the House holds the purse.....PERIOD!
They could, if they wanted to, make life a living hell for the administration AND homeland of non security & bs.

We're all very skeptical of this fence ever being built including talk radio hosts, John and Ken of kfi640 am which I'm sure a lot of you know by now. Great show.
Anyway, yesterday John and Ken were livid over the talk the fence may not be built which mainly came from an article in the Washington Post. They talked to 3 congressmen live re this situation. First was Rep Dana Rohrabacher who kind of ho-hummed about the situation. I didn't hear that part but John and Ken kept referring back to the conversation and they were not impressed. Next they talked to Rep Ed Royce who was adamant the fence would be built. He said the Washington Post is anti-fence and often lies. He said Sen Bailey and Cornyn did try to water the bill down but failed. Ed Royce said the bill is very specific, such as there would be 700 miles of fence, etc. He said that bill is law and the only way to change it would be for the law to change which probably would if the Dems get control in Nov. He said he was working on this issue all day investigating the Post's story. He was passionate about it and obviously quite upset. Next they had Rep Gary Miller of Brea, CA on who backed up what Ed Royce said by insisting there would be 700 miles of fence built. Still, in the end, I don't know which one it was, John or Ken, who said he had a splitting headache over the issue. They also said they will go down to the border to check on the situation themselves. Bet they do too.
To be continued....

I'll bet my last dollar that Bush won't do a thing with regards to the fence...ever. It's contrary to his program to end the USA and merge our population with Canada and Mexico...to literally WIPE US OFF THE MAP. He'll be clever and lie about it. He'll say "so far as I know it's moving forward" but get on his cell phone and call Chertoff to make damn sure nothing is being done. The Executive Branch has the power to do nothing and our only option when that happens is to remove them office.

It's very disappointing, but if anything at all is done it will be a little piece here or there so they can say "we're working on it". And the surveillance cameras and the "virtual fence" is just that...a mirage. If the cameras work they'll only be used as "counters" to keep track of how many are pouring in so they can report it to their Open Borders Globalist Cronies.

:(

If it's any consolation to the cynical among us, there are some folks in the U.S. Congress that actually want to see that fence built. As Ed Royce said, the 700 mile fence is mandated by law! President Bush and Secretary Chertoff don't have a whole hell of a lot of choice in whether the fence gets built or not. Bush can't erase the fact that he signed the bill. Basically, Secretary Chertoff has been directed to gain operational control of the border within 18 months. As things stand, I think the fence will get built unless the law is changed by a Democrat controlled Congress. Hey, ask me again after the November elections about the fence - I may be singing a different tune then - depending on who gets elected to the House and Senate. 8O

Rest assured, there will be some folks in Congress keeping a vigilant eye on the whole process. Don't let the illegal immigrant friendly media dampen your spirits. :wink:

Quote:

---

He said Sen Bailey and Cornyn did try to water the bill down but failed.

---

Our friends in Texas need to get these two jokers straightened out, and quick! :wink:

MW said:

Quote:

---

Rest assured, there will be some folks in Congress keeping a vigilant eye on the whole process. Don't let the illegal immigrant friendly media dampen your spirits.

---

Good reminder! The more I read, especially on forums around the country, the more I believe illegal immigration is the top issue for most people. Seems the media likes to tap dance around it as some politicians do too. Sure, some areas of our country aren't affected so it isn't an issue. And where it once was only a major concern in border states it has spread like wildfire and communities are looking around and saying 'wait a minute, what's happening?'

Just remembered something else Ed Royce said and I don't think I mentioned it before. He said when they return after the elections they want to address the employers of illegals. Please do, that's the magnet and root of the problem.

I like your attitude MW! :D

It's prudent to know the enemy and to be able to understand their tactics.

TRUTH is in their past actions and verbiage. When you've been in this game for a long time, Ya learn to smell the sewage they put in your path long before you step in it.

Personally, I don't hear cynicism........I hear intelligent, experienced, thoughtful conclusions. This prevents being blindsided in the fight.

If one chooses to ignore fact, one will have many serious shocks along the way and that can only cause setback.

FACT: fence or not.........AMNESTY is where the battle lies. Best get your boots on cause it's going to be a very long hike up this mountain.

FORGET THE FENCE - it's a joke, a bone tossed to divert your attention. If it should be built, it will have been built LONG AFTER AMNESTY so what good will it have done to waste all this time on a blasted fence?

These traitors are dealing behind closed doors as we speak.

It will be us Americans who build the fence, because we know congress won’t do it and neither will the current administration. Talk is cheap. They should have laid out clear plans: where the fence would be built and when it must be completed by, with consequences if it was not done on time.

Geez 2ndamendsis, you need to temper constant cynicism and pessimissim with a little hope and optimism on occasion - it's good for morale. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MW

Geez 2ndamendsis, you need to temper constant cynicism and pessimissim with a little hope and optimism on occasion - it's good for morale. :)

---

I'm not cynical, MW :D I refuse to be dooped and very much dislike my friends being snowballed as well. That's how this thing became the monster that it is. Would you rather that folks falsely believe that this 'fence' is going to solve problems & loose ground or would you rather know the truth?

If I didn't have HOPE & BELIEF, I wouldn't be here. I've many years of experience in this fight that have taught me well.

From the beginning of this 'fence issue,' I've called every step they've taken before they've taken it. That's not pessimissim, MW, that's simply being smart and staying one step ahead.

Again.......AMNESTY is the battle---not some fence 'to be built whenever, funded how?'

.