08/16/2007
Hunter Pledges To Build Border Fence In Six Months
By: Joe Murray , The Bulletin
Las Vegas - On Tuesday night, it wasn't the ring of the slot machines or the glow of the neon lights that was attracting the attention at Arizona Charlie's, a small casino a few miles off the famed Vegas Strip. Rather, it was the pledge of Duncan Hunter, a California congressman and GOP presidential hopeful, to build the 854 miles of border fence signed into law last year within six months of his election that won hearts and, quite possibly, votes of the Las Vegas crowd.
Despite a poor showing at the Iowa Straw Poll last week - Hunter placed ninth with 174 votes - the determined congressman wasted no time jumping back on the saddle and taking his message of border security to Nevada. And while Hunter may not have been the big recipient of Iowa votes, his message of border security, national sovereignty and a renewal of conservative values was warmly received by the crowd of over 100 people.
Representing a part of San Diego, Hunter has been dealing with the immigration crisis since he came into office with the Reagan Revolution in 1980. Recognizing that San Diego's border was a "no-man's land" and a major "smuggler's corridor" controlled by "armed gangs," Hunter took action to secure the border.
"The border was so bad," explained Hunter, "that plainclothes San Diego police officers used to dress as illegal aliens and wait for the border gangs to attack them."
With rapes, murders and robberies in the stratosphere, Hunter fought for, and won, a triple border fence in 1996.
Hunter's triple-layered fence consisted of a fence on the border, then a border patrol road, another fence, followed by a border patrol road, and then the final fence. Hunter explained that the Clinton administration was apprehensive about building the third layer, so a deal was struck that only the two layers who be built and the third layer would be built only if there was a need. According to the California Congressman, there was never a need.
"It has worked so well that we have reduced smuggling in that area by 90 percent," stated Hunter. "When we finished doing that fence, murders dropped dramatically. ... It has literally saved lives. ... Crime went down 53 percent." Knowing his fence is a success, Hunter had some words for CNN's Wolf Blitzer over his characterization of the fence.
"I have to keep reminding Wolf Blitzer that that our fence is not that little straggly fence they show all the time on CNN. I have said that if someone can climb my fence, we need to sign them up for the Olympics," Hunter said.
Hunter is a solid conservative and does not try to hide that fact. Rather, it is his conservative charm that has attracted a number of new faces to his campaign.
"I am a very political guy and wear a political hat. ... I am a partisan Republican," Hunter said. But on the issue of immigration, specifically the extension of his border security fence that was passed by Congress and signed by the president, Hunter makes his dissatisfaction with the White House known.
"Last year, I wrote the law to extend that fence 854 miles. ... Only 13.4 miles of the 854 miles has been built," asserted Hunter. "As president of the United States we will build this entire fence ... all 854 miles ... in six months. That is my commitment to you." Hunter told the crowd of border security activists that there was no reason for the delay and the excuses of Michael Chertoff, secretary of homeland security, failed to withstand scrutiny.
"When asked why he has not built the fence, Mr. Chertoff stated that the issue was complicated. I am sure glad that he is not part of the space program or we would never have gotten a man on the moon," Hunter said.
While others try and shape the immigration debate in terms of xenophobia, Hunter told the audience that such arguments are red herrings and that border security is a matter of national security.
"In 2005, the border patrol captured 155,000 people crossing the southern border that were not from Mexico. ... 1,100 were from China," stated Hunter. "Everyone in the world knows the way to get into this country is not through an airport, but to cross the southern border."
Hunter told the crowd that the southern border was a "major vulnerability" and that U.S. policy toward the border is mind-numbing.
"It makes no sense that we are trying to figure out how to secure the Iraq/Syria border while our own border is vulnerable," asserted Hunter. And while some critics argue the fence, which will cost $3 billion, is too expensive, Hunter says the fence is worth every penny.
"Right now we have 250,000 illegal immigrants in jail and we spend $3 billion on incarcerations costs. ... We can't afford not to build the border fence," proclaimed Hunter.
While the issue of the border fence constituted a huge portion of Hunter's 40-minute presentation, it was not the only issue discussed. Hunter expressed his discontent with the NAFTA Highway, a 12-lane super highway that would connect Mexico with Canada, cutting right through the heartland of the United States.
Hunter noted he offered an amendment barring the administration from building this highway, arguing that it is foolish to let Mexican truck drivers on American roads.
"We will have people behind the wheel with criminal records and have no way of knowing about it," commented Hunter. And on the same token, Hunter said he would like to see NAFTA repealed.
Hunter also said that as president he would pardon Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, the border security agents jailed for trying to apprehend a Mexican drug smuggler.
As for the 12 million illegal immigrants already in the nation, Hunter told the crowd, "They have to go home."

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