http://www.dailybulletin.com/search/ci_3610534

Feinstein, senators urge Mexico to act against border tunnels


Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Sen. Dianne Feinstein and six other U.S. senators sent a formal letter to Mexico Wednesday urging them to enact legislation that would criminalize the construction or financing of border tunnels between the two nations.

Earlier this month, Feinstein, D-Calif., proposed similar legislation in the United States after the discovery of a tunnel in January that was more than eight football fields long. The tunnel was between Tijuana and San Diego.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., also signed onto the letter that was sent Wednesday to members of the Mexican Congress and Mexican President Vicente Fox.

The letter outlined the details of the U.S. Senate bill proposal and explained that legislation was a necessary part of national security for both nations.

The tunnel discovered in January could have been used to traffic drugs, humans, guns and even terrorists into the two countries, the letter said.

``It is our hope that Mexico would consider enacting similar legislation,'' the letter stated. ``Our countries must continue to work together to address this problem by discovering and shutting down those who build, finance or use border tunnels for illegal purposes.''

Forty tunnels and subterranean passages into the United States have been discovered since 2001.

The tunnels are typically built first to smuggle drugs, and quickly transition into passages for smuggling illegal aliens, according to Department of Homeland Security officials.


- Sara A. Carter, (909) 483-8552