Calif. congressman to propose fencing U.S.-Mexico border

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...ence02-ON.html

Associated Press
Nov. 2, 2005 04:45 PM

WASHINGTON - A leading House Republican wants to build a fence along the entire 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border, a plan that could cost billions of dollars and that critics say would do little to stop illegal immigration.

Rep. Duncan Hunter of San Diego, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, planned to announce legislation Thursday to create a two-layer reinforced fence with lighting and sensors from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, a 100-yard border zone to the north of the barriers, and 25 new ports of entry.

Currently, most of the westernmost 14-mile stretch of the border is lined with parallel fencing and there's secure fencing at other vulnerable points, but long stretches of the border are protected only by patchy barbed wire or nothing at all.

"Illegal aliens continue to funnel directly into many of our local communities and adversely impact our way of life by overwhelming our schools, inundating our health care system and, most concerning, threatening our safety," said Hunter, who was introducing the bill with Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va . He said building a fence and enforcing immigration laws could reverse the trends.

A conservative group called Let Freedom Ring that is promoting a border fence estimates it would cost about $8 billion.

The plan is controversial. Republican Gov. Bill Owens of Colorado recently announced his support, but Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has said he doesn't think a fence would stop illegal immigration.

Groups including National Council of La Raza, the largest U.S.-based Hispanic advocacy group, oppose a fence.

"It doesn't really deal with why people are migrating or why our economy is so dependent on their labor," said Cecilia Munoz, the group's vice president of policy. "The resourcefulness of people on both sides of the border is likely to be greater than a fence."

Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, planned to join Hunter at his news conference Thursday to support the idea.

"The U.S. and Mexico, if they're going to remain friends they're going to need good fences," Stein said.

Hunter's bill contains other immigration reforms including authorizing 10,000 new Border Patrol officers, empowering local police to enforce immigration laws and increasing penalties for hiring illegal immigrants.

Hunter is a leading opponent of illegal immigration who earlier this year pushed the Bush administration to commit to fortifying the westernmost 3 1/2 miles of the border, over the objections of environmentalists, the California Coastal Commission and the local Democratic congressman.

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Perhaps National Council of La Raza could determine why Mexico's sneaking into the US illegally from the other side of the border.

All of our efforts should be getting the state and federal governments to enforce exisiting laws that deal with employers who hire illegal immigrants. Nip it in the bud. A 20' high concrete wall 10' thick won't keep them out as long as WE hire them.