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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.