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In Arizona, Bush signs border fence measure

Wednesday, October 04, 2006
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - President Bush has signed a measure that would erect 700 miles of new fencing along the border with Mexico.

But he says it's only a partial solution to illegal immigration.

On a campaign stop in Arizona, the president said he still wants Congress to pass a guest worker plan to relieve pressure on the border by cutting the numbers trying to sneak across.

The fencing's in a package of border upgrades in this year's Department of Homeland Security spending bill. It passed after efforts to include Bush's guest worker program broke down.

Bush signed the bill in between GOP fund-raisers in Arizona and Colorado, as he wrapped up a three-day Western swing.

Bush has used the swing to call Democrats soft on terrorism. He cites recent votes against his plans for warrantless wiretaps and tough interrogation of terror suspects that critics say border on torture.