Thread: Build Border Fence Now, GOP Lawmakers Say

Build Border Fence Now, GOP Lawmakers Say
Tue, June 10, 2008 - 4:28 PM

A group of North Carolina and Virginia Republican congressmen put pressure on House Democratic leaders Tuesday to fast track funding for a fence along the Mexican border.

Congress directed the Homeland Security Department to build such a fence two years ago, but the money to do so never passed. A group that included Reps. Walter Jones, Sue Myrick and Virginia Foxx of North Carolina and Virgil Goode from Virginia called on House leaders to pass funding this year.

“We know the fence will work, and that’s why the liberals are trying so hard to undo this action,â€

There was also two congressmen on Dobbs today about this, King and Smith saying they are trying to get Dems to bring the funding bill to the floor...but they are pandering to special interest groups and refuse.

Originally Posted by jean

[b]
While the illegal immigration issue dominated national politics a few years ago – and Republican politics especially – it has all but fallen off the radar screen in recent months, trumped by the Iraq war and the dodgy economy. And the chances of it playing a major role in the upcoming election, analysts say, are slim.

That's why gas prices are so high. IMO

Take the light off illegal immigration and shine it on the economy.

Hurt Americans in the pocketbook and while they're not looking, pass Amnesty.

Americans need to wake up!

I can't see why they don't see that the fence would not only stop illegal immigration, but also stop drugs crossing into the U.S. and stop weapons crossing into Mexico. One fence would stop three problems. That would be true compromise.

I heard Rep. King and another Representative today (Goode or Jones) talking about this and the one placed the blame directly at the President's door and said that he could do a directive like he did on the E Verify for the Federal government.

Romans 5:8

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeach

I heard Rep. King and another Representative today (Goode or Jones) talking about this and the one placed the blame directly at the President's door and said that he could do a directive like he did on the E Verify for the Federal government.

Romans 5:8

That's what should have happened the day after 911. Better yet, the day after the Amnesty Bill was passed into law in 1986.

Rep. King, others push for more secure fence on border
BY JANIE LORBER



June 11, 2008

WASHINGTON - Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) joined seven anti-illegal immigration House Republicans yesterday in questioning the Bush ad- ministration's commitment to building a high-security fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced Monday that the department will make good on the goal to construct a 670-mile fence by the end of the year, saying it's nearly half built now.

King's original legislation called for a barrier made of two fences side by side, but most of the current one is a single fence. Also, it is partly made up of barriers that would keep out cars, but not people.

"It's not a 700-mile fence. It's a 370-mile fence, and the rest are vehicle barriers," King said at a news conference. "If we wanted barriers we would have said so. We want the fence."

King's bill passed overwhelmingly in the House in 2006, but the double-layered fence provision was stripped by the Senate a year later. Some Republicans are pressing for legislation that would restore the requirement for a double-layered fence but that bill is tied up in committee.

Barry Morrissey, a Customs and Border Protection spokesman, said it was faster and more efficient to build a single-layer fence. It is just one of the tools being used to stem illegal immigration, including doubling Border Patrol personnel, he said.

Morrissey said most of the double-layer fence along the border now is in the area between San Diego and Tijuana, and there are no plans to build more.

"We don't need a little 2-by-4 barbed wire or woven wire fence," said Rep. Virgil Goode Jr. (R-Va.), calling on both Barack Obama and John McCain "to come forward and say, build it quick and build it now."

www.newsday.com

King's bill passed overwhelmingly in the House in 2006, but the double-layered fence provision was stripped by the Senate a year later. Some Republicans are pressing for legislation that would restore the requirement for a double-layered fence but that bill is tied up in committee.

Stripping the requirement for a double-layered fence was a huge mistake (IMO). A single-layer fence will not fulfill the intent of the border fence legislation. A single row of fencing is almost as useless as 'virtual' fencing (both are a waste of money). Securing our border will require a whole hog (slang) effort. The intent behind single fencing, vehicle barriers, and virtual fencing is public appeasement. A double-layered fence with sensors, stadium lighting, and a high-speed road between layers is what we need.