Thread: First step needs to secure borders says US Rep Souder

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/ ... 099974.htm

Posted on Sat, Jul. 22, 2006

First step needs to secure borders
Prevention is key in illegal immigration, only after can reform happen.

By Nicole Lee nlee@news-sentinel.com

Conversation about what to do with the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in this country is a secondary issue, said U.S. Rep. Mark Souder, R-3rd District, during a news conference Friday. First, he said, the United States must take greater measures to secure its borders before any effective discussion on immigration reform can occur.

“All of this is simplistic talk if you don’t know where your border is,” he said.

In his office at the federal building on Harrison Street, Souder pointed to three photographs showing different border controls – two along the Mexico/New Mexico border and one in El Paso, Texas – to underscore his point that various types of security are needed to curb illegal activity depending on the area’s geography.

He discussed one cement-enforced barrier built two weeks ago along parts of the Mexico/New Mexico border. Such barriers, said Souder, could be good replacements for fences regularly toppled by vehicles carrying illegal immigrants, drugs or other items into America.

Souder said a similar barrier is being built in Yuma in southwestern Arizona, adding that more border security is needed in New Mexico and west Texas. Souder also showed an example of a triple-chain link fence in El Paso with sensors stationed above it.

Souder said Congress also is working to increase the number of eyes watching the border.

“Most border patrol agents are out there alone,” he said. “You have to have periodic fencing (to help them).”

Mexico is the largest source of illegal immigrants in the U.S. – 68.7 percent – based on 2000 U.S. Census figures, according to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. In 2000, an estimated 45,000 illegal immigrants lived in Indiana.

In June, Souder voted for the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (HR5441), which includes several initiatives such as:

♦ $2.33 billion for border security, and adding 1,200 new border patrol agents for a total of 13,580

♦ $4.1 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and adding 1,212 officers for a total of 11,500

♦ $273 million for transportation and removal of undocumented aliens

♦ $535 million for Air and Marine Operations for border and airspace security

The act passed the House of Representatives; a separate Homeland Security bill passed the Senate. Souder spokesman Martin Green said Congress is reviewing both pieces of legislation to present a final version to President Bush. Souder voted against another bill that, among other things, amended the Immigration and Nationality Act to make illegal immigrants’ presence in the U.S. a criminal violation. Law states those living illegally in the United States are only violating civil law. The legislation has undergone several revisions and is in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Although he hasn’t personally talked with Souder about the issue of securing America’s borders, Max Montesino, president of the Hispanic Leadership Coalition of Northeast Indiana Inc., was pleased the congressman voted against the bill.

In March, the coalition led a rally of thousands protesting the legislation, and the group will host a discussion on immigration issues and citizenship Monday.

Montesino said equitable immigration reform should be discussed simultaneously with conversations about border security. “I believe we can have both,” he said. “Our coalition’s position in general is that enforcement types of measures don’t (fully) solve the problem.”


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More information

What: Leadership program on immigration issues and citizenship sponsored by the Hispanic Leadership Coalition of Northeast Indiana, Inc.

When: 6-7:30 p.m. Monday; networking time is set aside for 5:30-6 p.m.

Where: The fourth floor of the Wells Fargo Indiana Center, 111 E. Wayne St.

Upcoming program topics: taxes and voter registration, Latino flavors and culture, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and auto insurance.

For more information: Call Noemy Pastrana at 428-7933 or Rick Robles at 427-5267.


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What do you think of Souder’s position of securing the borders? Respond at www.news-sentinel.com.

http://www.wane.com/Global/story.asp?S=5183662&nav=0RYb

Local Congressman Pushes for More Fencing Across U.S.-Mexican Border

July 21, 2006, 09:34 PM

(Fort Wayne - WANE) Congressman Mark Souder said America's borders are a threat to national security, and in a press conference Friday he said more fences and efforts to tighten border control need to be done before immigration policy can be fixed.

"We have complicated immigration questions. We need better IDs, better employer enforcement, how we handle work Visas, but first and foremost, all this other talk is quite frankly stupid and simplistic talk if you don't even know where the border is," Souder said. "If you can't have a basic definition of where the border is, and control your borders, everything else everyone is talking about is irrelevant."

Souder heads a House subcommittee focusing on putting up more fences along the border, and yesterday building contractors, border patrol and fence manufacturers met in a six-hour hearing discussing which fences would best keep people out.

"If you can smuggle five tons of marijuana in, you can certainly get chemical and biological weapons in and you can smuggle terrorists in," Souder said. "We do not have control of some of these open areas."

Souder said the 12,000 border patrol officers on duty now are better than the 6-8,000 several years ago, but said that even with 20,000 officers, it'd be hard to keep some people out without fences to help.

"Most of our border patrol's out there alone and if a big armed caravan comes at them, they can't take them down," Souder said.

Several local Hispanics, however, disagree with Souder's priority of fences first.

"Fences and armies won't help at all," Pastor Jaime Flores said. "What we need is comprehensive immigration reform and to legalize the Mexicans we have because they are hard workers."

Lilia Martines came to the U.S. from Mexico eight years ago and can see arguments on both sides of tightening border control.

"It makes me sad, but I understand some people don't follow the rules," Martines said. "But I think it all works better when everyone sits down and listens to each other and everyone's opinions; it's better than fences."

Martines also said lawmakers need to be more understanding of immigrants.

"Maybe if they switch places and feel what other people feel, then they'd understand both places better," Martines said.

Still, Souder maintains that if you don't start better border control right away, illegal immigrants will keep coming in, and undermine any policy reform.

"You have to control the borders if you have a problem while you are looking at long-term solutions to the other questions," Souder said.