Thread: Sessions wants to fence off Mexico

LOCAL: Sessions wants to fence off Mexico

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/i ... thispage=1

Sessions wants to fence off Mexico

Barrier one part of bill to stop illegal immigrants
Saturday, November 19, 2005
MARY ORNDORFF
News Washington correspondent

WASHINGTON - The U.S. government should build a 2,000-mile fence along the border with Mexico to keep out illegal immigrants, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions said Friday.

Sessions, a second-term Republican, introduced legislation to make it harder for people to enter the country without permission, and also make it easier to deport those already in.

The bill would grow the nation's entire immigration-related bureaucracy by adding border patrol agents, prosecutors, detention beds, judges, surveillance equipment and workplace investigators - all with an eye toward cracking down on undocumented immigrants.

"Any improvement in our current failed immigration system must start with a legal system that works," Sessions said in a released statement. "(I) believe this legislation contains many of the provisions that are essential if this nation is to restore the rule of law in immigration."

The fence, however, is the most dramatic and controversial of the proposals.

Similar to a plan introduced earlier this month in the U.S. House of Representatives, Sessions' proposal calls for a massive physical barrier from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.

For two layers of reinforced fencing through the desert, cost estimates range from $4 billion to $8 billion.

Interest groups from across the political spectrum weighed in.

"Some people on Capitol Hill are ready to have a real, rational, solution-driven conversation about immigration, but these other demagogues continue to propose these extreme measures that don't advance the debate," said Michele Waslin, director of immigration policy research with the National Council of La Raza, an advocacy group for Hispanic Americans.

Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, said it is the best of all the immigration legislation now pending.

"Even if it's $5 billion to $7 billion for the fence, that is less than what California spends on education for the children of illegal aliens. When you compare it to the cost of having them here, it's a small downpayment," Mehlman said.

The Senate bill is sponsored by Sessions, Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. Some sections of the bill are similar to one introduced earlier this month by U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., and they could wind up as companion bills.

Officially, the U.S. Immigrations and Custom Enforcement agency has not taken a position on the legislation. But Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has indicated the administration is opposed to a massive fence.

"Let me be clear. We will not build a giant wall across our borders. But in areas where it makes sense to do so, we will look at physical infrastructure and technology improvements to deter illegal border crossings," Chertoff said in Houston Nov. 2, according to a transcript.

Chertoff authorized the completion of a 14-mile fence near San Diego.

About 10.3 million illegal immigrants were estimated to be in the United States last year, more than half of those from Mexico. About 35,000 illegal immigrants are estimated to be in Alabama.

A cost estimate for Sessions' bill was not available on Friday but, according to a summary provided by his office, it would require significant new funding.

The proposed law would create a new Department of Justice position of assistant attorney general for immigration enforcement and add 250 customs and border protection officers, 200 investigators for the Department of Homeland Security, 100 attorneys at DHS, 50 attorneys in the office of immigration litigation, 50 immigration judges, 2,000 worksite investigators at DHS and 1,000 immigration enforcement agents.

The bill also would require the Department of Defense to increase access to unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance; spend $25 million a year from 2007 to 2011 to transport illegal aliens; and create 20 detention centers with room to hold at least 10,000 people.

Other sections would increase the penalties for smuggling aliens, document fraud, benefit fraud or false claims of citizenship; and empower state and local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws.

The plan joins a host of other immigration reform plans under consideration in Congress. The issue has divided Republicans, many of whom oppose President Bush's proposal to allow some undocumented workers a chance to stay under temporary work visas.

Officially, the U.S. Immigrations and Custom Enforcement agency has not taken a position on the legislation. But Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has indicated the administration is opposed to a massive fence.

Now is this a surprise to anybody? This would stop or at least slow down the cheap labor supply sneaking across the border.

"Let me be clear. We will not build a giant wall across our borders. But in areas where it makes sense to do so, we will look at physical infrastructure and technology improvements to deter illegal border crossings," Chertoff said in Houston Nov. 2, according to a transcript.

Who the hell does this guy think he is? If Congress ever gets enough backbone to pass a bill to build the fence, can this guy just tell them NO?

Build the fence already & send Mexico a bill for their half of it

I've read estimates of the cost of keeping the illegals here at $65 billion per year, not to mention the total aggravation of all the battles to try to keep America America. The cost of the proposed fence is a trifle, comparatively speaking.

Everyone in the Bush administration puts up a fight to keep the illegals flowing in, objecting vigorously to anything that just might work. The electonic surveillance system certainly did not at a cost of $250 million. Chump change...unless you consider that it was just one more expensive sell out of the taxpayer....

The heck with Chertoff...Build The Fence!!

RR

Build the fence already & send Mexico a bill for their half of it

Hell yeah, also send them a bill for every illegal we find and the American people have to foot the bill.

Why cant we charge host countries for thier illegals found in this country? I think it is reasonable and if they dont we charge for everyday that they dont take back thier citizens. I am for charging these countries when they say that it will cost alot to deport them all. Also if we have a trade debt with that country and they pay we reduce that trade debt by taking it off for thier illegals. I am still awaiting for an explaination as to if we can and if so why arent we?

Pro