Bush Signs Border Fence Bill

Authorizes 700 Miles Of New Fencing On U.S.-Mexico Border

(AP)  President Bush signed a bill Thursday authorizing 700 miles of new fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, hoping to give Republican candidates a pre-election platform for asserting they're tough on illegal immigration.

"Unfortunately the United States has not been in complete control of its borders for decades and therefore illegal immigration has been on the rise," Mr. Bush said at a signing ceremony.

"We have a responsibility to enforce our laws," he said. "We have a responsibility to secure our borders. We take this responsibility serious."

He called the fence bill "an important step in our nation's efforts to secure our borders."

The centerpiece of Mr. Bush's immigration policy, a guest worker program, remains stalled in Congress.

And a handful of House Republican are at the brakes, blocking negotiations with the Senate for a bill that includes the president's proposal.

Still, Mr. Bush argues that it would be easier to get his guest worker program passed if Republicans keep their majorities in the House and Senate after the Nov. 7 elections. His proposal would allow legal employment for foreigners and give some of the estimated 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States a shot at becoming American citizens.

The measure Mr. Bush put into law Thursday before heading for campaign stops in Iowa and Michigan offers no money for the fence project covering one-third of the 2,100-mile border.

Its cost is not known, although a homeland security spending measure the president signed earlier this month makes a $1.2 billion down payment on the project. The money also can be used for access roads, vehicle barriers, lighting, high-tech equipment and other tools to secure the border.

Mexican officials have criticized the fence. Outgoing Mexican President Vicente Fox, who has spent much of his six years in office lobbying for a new guest worker program and a chance at citizenship for the millions of Mexicans working illegally in the U.S., calls the fence "shameful" and compares it to the Berlin Wall.

Others have doubts about its effectiveness.

"A fence will slow people down by a minute or two, but if you don't have the agents to stop them it does no good. We're not talking about some impenetrable barrier," T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, a union representing Border Patrol agents, said Wednesday.

Customs and Border Protection statistics show that apprehensions at border crossings are down 8 percent nationally for the budget year that just ended, Bonner said. Apprehensions were up in the San Diego sector, he said, an area of the nearly 2,000-mile border that has the most fencing.

A spokesman for Customs and Border Protection would not confirm the statistics or discuss reasons for the increase in the San Diego sector.

Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison, both Texas Republicans, had wanted to amend the fence bill to give local governments more say about where fencing is erected. They lost that battle, but Republican leaders assured them the Homeland Security Department would have flexibility to choose other options instead of fencing, if needed.

Cornyn said he voted for the fence because he wanted to help demonstrate that Congress was serious about border security.

"The choice we were presented was: Are we going to vote to enhance border security, or against it?" Cornyn said. "I think that's how the vote was viewed."

[bluestardad]

great did he allocate money to build it, and are the illegals going to build the fence too?

[getcentered]

Is there actually a fence going up though?

Bush signed something saying it would but that don't mean a thing.

A couple of things I don't get:

Farmers use immigrant help on their farms and get cheep labor. Lots of businesses use immigrant workers. Why is the GOP NOT protecting the ability of the worker to get here?

Secondly, we as human have wondered all over this planet, it is what we do. We find the best place to live with hopes of making our families lives better. Why do we need a fence to stop what humans have done for 80,000 years?

[xenalily]

Maybe the fence is being built to keep all of our soldiers from running AWAL to Mexico. :)

[mjv2944]

700 miles is 2000 miles short. Let them wonder around Mexico not here. Paying a decent wage would raise tomatoes 20 cents a pound. Had enough of this big business BS shove down my throat. Kick them all out and make them come here legally. Now whats wrong with that?

[trueprogress]

It is about time.

"Good fences make good neighbors." vs. "Family values don't stop at the borders."

[usawatchman]

people, have NO DOUBT we had to get rid of Saddam..
but what this administration did afterwards is down right CRIMINAL
all they need to do was secure the borders after the initial invasion...
but no, they left the entire country open for anyone who want to fight the USA

"" THEY WANTED TO LEAVE THE BORDERS OPEN ""
WHERE have we heard this???
GUESS WHAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE PLANNED FOR US..

Where is the money to pay for the fence??

===============

OUR GOVERNMENT and OUR COURTS are CORRUPT

The TROOPS are DYING IN-VAIN for a LIE

ALL of these people who think they are fighting for AMERICA
the AMERICAN WAY
for FREEDOM, and LIBERTY

it is a LIE

The TRUTH IS IT all comes down to the COURTS and
COURTS are CORRUPT

UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
James B. Veasaw v. Cari M. Domingues,et al.
No: 05-1467

the U.S. SUPREME COURT COVERED UP GOVERNMENT CRIME
even when the CRIMES showed up
on paper in the COURT RECORD..!

I guess we have a DOUBLE STANDARD JUSTICE SYSTEM
you know
ONE for the GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
(Bureaucrats / Politicians)
and
ONE FOR THE PEASANTS
(The People)..!


I can't even begin to list the names of
REPUBLICANS (CONSERVATIVE) TALK SHOW HOSTS
(They are ALL COMPLICIT- I spent years asking for their help)

THESE REPUBLICANS (CONSERVATIVE) TALK SHOW HOSTS
who helped this administration
who helped this administration court appointees
who helped these CRIMINALS COVER THESE CRIMES AGAINST ME.

[bluestardad]

xenalily dont get mad you have a good point on both your blogs.

[bluestardad]

Be Ever Vigilant. Bush and Rove will do anything to stay in power up to an including flooding key districts with fake absentee ballots tampering with electronic voting machines, and bussing in voters who are not from the districts to vote, or even starting another war with and suspending civil liberties postponing the mid term vote. There is a great possibility for this administration to tamper with the electronic voting machines to the point that very subtle differences will take place in Key races just enough to tip the vote in their favor but not enough to cause a full scale American Revolution leaving some doubt, but just enough to throw key races in the Republican Favor. Watch out for this election coup.

[tomar0317]

I don't care what Mexico or the other countries think. If these countries paid as much attention to the needs of their people instead of the drug lords their folks would want to stay home. It's our country and if it takes fence to keep others out because our border neighbors(?)have no border control, that's their problem. They'll be the first to yell anti-American chants when we get hurt or do something wrong... and since we can't make everyone in the world happy, lets start by making our own legal citizens happy.

[jn122736]

Nearly all manufacturing jobs have been sent overseas. Cheap, illegal emigrant labor are being used to perform work American citizens can%u2019t survive on. All the people I know who are not politicians or people of wealth (mostly inherited) are employed as servants of one type or another. Building a 700 mile fence does nothing but divert attention from the real problem and solutions.

[connapa]

Putting up a fence is not the answer. Pouring (hundreds of) millions of dollars into a short length of fence will not deter people from coming over illegally from the southern border. this will just encourage entrepreneurs to come up with new ways to get people over the border- at a higher rate, no less- to get into the land of opportunity.
The only way to disencourage illegal immigration is to decrease the level of poverty in countries south of the border. If people in Mexico were better able to make a living wage for their families, they might not be as willing to cross over to El Norte.

[cathaleen]

We need to put a fence up around India because that where all our good jobs are going. The poor mexicans are just doing the jobs that we don't want: picking veges, cleaning houses etc.

[boston1954]

I wonder how much of it I am paying for.........

[squiz2]

"Its cost is not known, although a homeland security spending measure the president signed earlier this month makes a $1.2 billion down payment on the project."

How f'ing ridiculous. For that amount of money, we could have just bought Mexico. Then no one would be illegally coming into our country. We wouldn't have to worry about anyone taking the amazing landscaping and dishwashing jobs that Americans LOVE so much to do. This fence is a complete waste....did no one learn to share in kindergarten?

[xenalily]

Maybe they should also put fences around every politician's home in Washington DC to prevent the illegal aliens from getting the nanny, maid and gardener jobs that so many Americans have applied for.

[nadeau4201]

Maybe they wouldn't come here if our government stop giving them welfare and free health care. Police, rescue workers and now some doctors and nurses all askes to learn spanish some at their own expense. It makes no sence to waste money on a fence, when we spend millions on accomadating the same people we are trying to keep out. Press 1 for English 2 for spanish. Some day it might be the other way.

[laurieleemoo]

i hate to tell you people but i am in a position to see corporate payroll returns and these illegals are getting the higher paying jobs now---not these minimum wage jobs---they are doing construction and landscape jobs while they all claim 5 or more dependents so they don't have to pay federal w/h (the biggest portion of payroll taxes). Is real easy to spot the illegals when you look at a corporate payroll tax return you will see al the american names having federal w/h taken out while the spanish names have zero federal w/h taken out----that would definitely be a red flag and should be to the IRS with these companies hiring illegals using false documents. If I were the gov't i would look at all these returns and ask double check the documents on all individuals not having federal w/h taken out of their checks. Normally no one in their right mind would not have withholding taken out of their pay and only to have to pay it all at the end of the year. No, these people could care less 'cause they don't file a 1040 return at the end of the year!!!!

[laurieleemoo]

why the heck should we allow criminals not paying taxes---to have a free ride in this country and BUTT in line ahead of all the people who come into this country legally. WHY THE HELL SHOULD WE REWARD BAD BEHAVIOR AND CRIMINALS!
They should be arrested for illegally being here and also TAX INVASION!!!

[laurieleemoo]

Further, I read about a hospital in California who happens to be overflowing with illegal patients who don't pay their hospital bills and have never paid taxes. The hospital I heard will have to close down because they say they can not get reimbursed by the federal gov't and can no longer cover these costs themselves. So not only is that hospital right now probably having to give less than satisfactory service to the LEGAL AMERICANS----THE LEGAL AMERICANS will no longer have the hospital at all because of all the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS! I say we embrace the spanish community, but not on THEIR terms, but OUR TERMS. Who the hell are they to tell us how WE should run our country. WHO THE HELL ARE THEY TO GET OUT AND PROTEST ON OUR SOIL---WHEN THEY ARE HERE ILLEGALLY!!!

[jn122736]

These "illegal imigerants" are not just running back and forth across the border the come to stay and they will find a way to get here. corporations (including Big farmers) will help them.
No fence will stop that

[laurieleemoo]

the fence they are building is double and with sensors in between so that when they jump over the 1st one, a sensor goes off, alerts the authoriites and by the time they try to get over the second fence they will be caught by the border control driving in between the two fences.
So, it may be productive in stopping a lot of these people. Hopefully!

[xenalily]

Does it not alarm anyone that the bigger picture is the facade of Homeland Security and how many millions of tax dollars has been poured into extra security at airports, port inspections, deputy dogs to spy on people and listen in on phone conversations, etc, etc, when all anyone who wants to drop a dirty bomb or do any other terrorist act can simply go to Mexico and then jump a fence? Honestly- reframe this so that it doesn't involve the illegal aliens taking just jobs- reframe this so it involves terrorists and the (false) sense of security against homeland attacks that the Bush administration would like us to believe in.

[alphaa10-2009]

"Bush signs border fence bill." And just in time, too-- every backlash constituency Bush can appeal to is but more fuel for the Bush machine.

Bush pretends to speak to Hispanics, but when it comes to an election, he throws his funding behind electric fences, running for 700 miles between Mexico and the US.

Bush believes 12-foot barbed wire, electric fences make good neighbors. After all, it worked at Abu Graib and Guantanamo, why not here? If you want the position of Bush on immigration, there it is.

Yet, a dilemma remains for Bush-- how to retain his big-time industrial clientele at Tyson Foods, Halliburton, etc., who hire masses of illegals at subpar wages? Bush has a neat solution-- do not arrest and deport, but keep them on perpertual hold and use them as quasi-slaves, an economic sub-class, right here in the good old USA. But the GOP needs a better name than "slave" or "indentured servant", so these will be called "Guest Workers".

[emhawks]

It has gotten to the point where I wonder what is the best thing to do about the illegal immigrant issue. I don't think building a fence is the answer. It's a huge waste of taxpayer money.
To bluestardad:
I agree completely with your post! The Bush adm. has shown by its' actions that they are capable of anything.
Alot of info. on the Internet about the following for those who are interested:
The Carlyle Group
Project for the New American Century(PNAC)
Bechtel
Halliburton
Brown & Root
The Saudi Binladen Group(SBG);also, read about the history/connection of the Bush family & the bin Laden family.
Scholars for 911 Truth
Read the books: "Crossing the Rubicon" by Michael C. Ruppert; "The Price of Loyalty" by Ron Suskind; "The One Percent Doctrine" by Ron Suskind; "House of Bush-House of Saud" by Craig Under; "Worse than Watergate" by John W. Dean.

[shingles1]

"The measure Mr. Bush put into law Thursday before heading for campaign stops in Iowa and Michigan offers no money for the fence project covering one-third of the 2,100-mile border."

Um, whatever your perspective on this particular issue may be: if the bill doesn't provide any funding for this fence, then what exactly is the point?

Politics, pure and simple.

[mjv2944]

ozilot

Its been a part of AMERICA since 1848!!! Do you think we should give it all back to Mexico?

[xenalily]

Hey ozilot I say let's be nice and give them Florida too that way the whole Bush family can stay together. :)

[shingles1]

Can we give them Colorado Springs while we're at it?

[meboard]

You would think that both Jebb and Big W would have this all figured out after being border Govs. Hmmm, seems odd that they don't have a plan? They usually plan out every little detail...

[meboard]

Give then all the red stats and we in the blue states can merge with Canada.

[laurieleemoo]

i say give them miami and let the cubans and mexicans FIGHT over it.

[laurieleemoo]

no-we keep the red states and let the blues merge with Canada if they like

[nadeau4201]

ozilot Thanks but no thanks for the history lesson. It has nothing to do with what is going on now. Security is what matters. And yes I am well aware what was done to the Indians,mexicans,blacks,jews and whoever else was screwed over by my so called people hundreds of years ago that we are still being punished for today. Maybe if everyone was taught less about who did what to whom or how aweful people were towards each other then maybe everyone would stop harboring such negetive feeling they have for one another

[clestes-2009]

Waste of money, as usual per gw.

[smallgov]

I'm from NY, and I watched the planes hit the WTC, so to all of those who live elsewhere and think we have reason to spend more billions (which by the way, we don't have) on "security" -please keep your fear in perspective. The only people who suffer from the delusion that a fence in the desert will do anything to stop poor people from coming across (as most of our grandparents did) for a fair chance at life - are the most devout believers of the Bush administration. You have been hoodwinked by this man and his cronies - I have travelled in high circles, and I know these are not honest people. They have taken one of their impressionable sons, and convinced him that we are in a fight against Islam. None of them are well traveled, and most of them are cultural illiterates. Barbara and George H.W. were married in the Church nearest to where I currently live, and her family is largely still in the area. These are elitist American royals, who sent their sons to Andover and Yale despite (especially in George W's case) a general lack of academic prowess. The fact that he developed a drawl has more to do with their inability to cure his nagging speech impediments, than with his upbringing (which was entirely in the Northeast - really)

[smallgov]

I'm not done - This fence is a boondoggle of the highest order - and with each of us holding over 250,000 of the national debt - we should be in the streets of DC stopping this pillage. You have been lied to, and you continue to be lied to unless you seek, recognize, and act on the truth when you see it. I am an ex-Republican, and am looking at forming a new political party called the "Party for Small Government". Anyone who wants to be involved in fixing this country - please let me know how we can start to change this before it's too late. A fence financed by the Chinese is not the answer...

[agnim]

Can we make a "Great Wall of USA" instead of a mere fence? LOL

Won't those 'coyotes' just dig under a mere 'fence'? LOL

Let's seek to outdo the Chinese for posterity.

[bluestardad]

STEP BACK FROM FEAR!
We in America need to pull back from this Frenzy of Fear that has spellbound us since September 11, 2001. I am not saying to let down our guard or not be prudent with our Law enforcement, Intelligence agencies or Military as their constant job is to protect the American people and they do it well. Rationally speaking it is more likely that a person will be killed in a car accident on the way to get milk than killed by a Terrorist in America. Hispanics coming across our border for work are not the terrorist or the enemy. Unfair trade practices initiated by our government are the cause of our jobs leaving and the demise of the Middle Class in America not some Terrorist plot. Political Parties have been using fear in an attempt to maintain power in this country. Americans do the math you are more likely to do yourself bodily harm than to be harmed by a Terrorist. America is a Land of Opportunity and hopes where people live in Freedom. America is not a land were people will be governed by Fear.

Michael C. Boetjer
Captain U. S. Army
Double Blue Star Father

[nadeau4201]

smallgov Dem or Rep they are all the same. Things will not change unless the country is run by the people for the people and not by greedy politions who's only concern is there own. They don't care about public schools there kids go to private schools. They get free health care for life. Gas what the hell do they care how much it is they all have government issued vehilcles paid for by the tax payers. We can whine about these things all day long or do something about it. There are more of us then there is of them. We shouldn't have to live with one mans vision of how things should be.

[diegogrl1980]

KM - What do you see for the future?

AS - Chaos, confusion and ultimately a battle between the individual and the State. The individual is the stronger; and will win. The state is a fiction sanctified by Hegel and his followers to CONTROL the individual. Sooner or later people will wake up. First we have to dump the trap of right and left, this is a Hegelian trap to divide and control. The battle is not between right and left; it is between us and them. The message is getting through. ASE has sold for 15 years, small but steady. No advertising. Its an underground work. But the breadth of interest is amazing. From Black Africa, to Russia (12,000 copies), right, left...it cuts across all ethnic, political, social lines...The spirit of God is within us as individuals. Skull & Bones represents death. It has no life spirit and pretends that the State "is the march of God on earth". The thinking of immature juveniles, deadly and destructive and has almost totally infected Washington. What to do? Find yourself and then go to work.....tell your friends and put out the message. The answer is within you.

[j-whitman]

Take Bush, send him to Iraq Immediatly, have him stand in front of the Emerald City with Cheney & Rove, all with signs saying, "We are making your country safer, throw flowers".

[sirsean]

Don't want them coming here illegally ? Then make it legal.
Don't like them claiming benefits ? Then make it legal for them to come here to work & make them pay into it like the rest of us.
Don't like them roaming around the country undocumented ? Then make it beneficial for them to be documented & legal & paying their way.
If you want the benefits you can't take it all back to Mexico with you. If you want to take it all back with you then don't ask for the benefits.

A fence, or a Berlin Wall, is just a huge waste of money & a huge national embarassment except for the big busines that gets the contract to build it. Could they (you know who) be sucking us dry enough in Iraq to not bid on it ?

[emhawks]

To j-whitman:
Wonderful idea! Let's send Rumsfeld too. The sooner the better!

[bellal-2009]

kenbrbkr, maybe we should just annex Mexico. Do you understand the concept of a soveirgn country?

[bellal-2009]

Smallgov, you need to spend some time in a border state to fully understand the illegal immigrant problem. Living in NY you are too far removed to get it. The people of Texas,Colorado,New Mexico, California have been more than patient. Crossing the border is wrong. It's illegal. And these people need to be deported and start demanding that their country clean up the corruption and join the global economy.

[cbgb31]

Way to go, Mr. Bush. Right move, right time.

[bluestardad]

What a pimp, he provided a photo op signing but no money to build the fence.

[bluestardad]

We in America need to pull back from this Frenzy of Fear that has spellbound us since September 11, 2001. I am not saying to let down our guard or not be prudent with our Law enforcement, Intelligence agencies or Military as their constant job is to protect the American people and they do it well. Rationally speaking it is more likely that a person will be killed in a car accident on the way to get milk than killed by a Terrorist in America. Hispanics coming across our border for work are not the terrorist or the enemy. Unfair trade practices initiated by our government are the cause of our jobs leaving and the demise of the Middle Class in America not some Terrorist plot. Political Parties have been using fear in an attempt to maintain power in this country. Americans do the math you are more likely to do yourself bodily harm than to be harmed by a Terrorist. America is a Land of Opportunity and hopes where people live in Freedom. America is not a land were people will be governed by Fear.

[rsoxfan1123]

someone wrote earlier that he is using illegals to build this since he is not funding it....

[bluestardad]

CALL TO AMERICAN VOTER
STAY FOCUSED AMERICA IT IS ABOUT TO GET TOUGH. WE HAVE A FEW MORE DAYS OF INTENSE ATTACK ADS, SMOKE SCREENS, DIVISION OF ELECTORATE, DECEPTION, MISREPRESENTATION, AND LIES, TO ENDURE BEFORE WE CAN UNCOVER THE ELECTION FRAUD, RECOUNT THE VOTE, AND THROW THESE CRIMINALS OUT OF OFFICE. THEN WE CAN START HEALING AMERICA.