Posted on 12/17/2005 6:19:00 AM PST by Borax Queen
Arizona would get nearly 300 miles of new border fencing along key stretches as part of a new congressional effort to crack down on illegal immigration.
The House of Representatives on Thursday approved a measure to build a fence along 700 miles of the U.S.-Mexican border as an amendment to a controversial GOP bill that also would make living in the country illegally a felony and increase penalties for employers who hire illegal workers. In addition, it would require all employers to verify the legal status of all workers.
The overall bill was passed 239-182 by the full House late Friday, but it did not include provisions dealing with a guest-worker program. Another provision that was not voted on was one that would have denied citizenship to babies born in this country to illegal entrants.
The measure that calls for construction of a fence along most of the border in Arizona, and parts of the California, New Mexico and Texas borders with Mexico was introduced by Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter of California.
That amendment to Wisconsin Republican James Sensenbrenner's Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 passed on a 260-159 vote Thursday.
It calls for security fencing to go up in five regions — including 361 miles from Calexico, Calif., to Douglas — where traffic of illegal border-crossers and drug activity are particularly heavy.
Plans call for at least two layers of reinforced fencing, plus the installation of additional barriers, roads, lighting, cameras and sensors.
"The fence is one element of a multifaceted strategy," said Joe Kasper, Hunter's press secretary. "Nobody is saying that the fence is the only solution to our immigration problem."
In San Diego County, Kasper said, construction of a fence significantly has decreased drug smuggling in the past few years."We're hopeful that this bill is going to pass the Senate as well," he said, adding that the cost of building the fence is estimated at $2.2 billion.
In a statement released Thursday, as the Hunter amendment was being considered, Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., said the proposed bill "does nothing to solve the real problems of immigration. In fact, it's worse than nothing.
"It's worse than nothing because it tries to fool the public. It pulls the wool over their eyes. It pretends we are doing something to secure our border when in fact we are doing nothing except throw words and money at the problem."
Kolbe, who announced last month that he will not seek re-election next year, said a solution to the nation's immigration problems must include border enforcement, employer sanctions, and some means of allowing those who want to work to enter the U.S. legally.
"And thirdly, you have to deal with the 10, 11, 12 million people who are already in this country illegally. Now that's the reality," he said in his statement. Kolbe did not cast a vote for the overall bill Friday night.
The legislation has stirred widespread opposition from civic, religious and business groups across the country that have spoken out against it.
Earlier Friday, Arizona human-rights advocates were quick to assail the bill's provision that would have denied U.S. citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants.
"There is nothing that is solution-oriented in this piece of legislation," said Jennifer Allen, executive director of Tucson's Border Action Network.
A key component that is missing from the House debate is how to deal with the estimated 11 million undocumented people who already are in the country illegally, she said, adding that new fences won't keep people out. "Walls do not work," Allen said. "They've already built walls, and people continue to come for reasons that are more profound than 15-foot-high slabs."
The secondary fencing is among improvements that the U.S. Border Patrol proposed last year in the urban areas of Naco and Douglas. Exactly where the second 12-foot fence would be located and what materials would be used are unclear.
"We know double-fencing works," said Jim Hawkins, a Border Patrol spokesman. Should Congress mandate the fence, "it will probably affect our plan in some way, we just don't know how," he said.
Dick White, president of the Arizona Interfaith Network, said he is hopeful that a more comprehensive immigration bill will come out of the Senate early next year. If the House bill's provisions become a reality, he said, they could have "disastrous economic consequences for our country" given the high demand for foreign workers.
On Friday, Republican leaders wouldn't allow a vote on the volatile citizenship proposal.
The legislation next moves to the Senate, where Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., says he will bring up immigration legislation in February that will provide a framework for guest-worker ideas.
There are wide differences on the details of a guest-worker program. Some lawmakers would require those in the country illegally to leave before applying for such a program, arguing that counterproposals allowing those already here to seek legal status are equivalent to amnesty.
Bush has proposed that undocumented immigrants be allowed to get three-year work visas. They could extend those for an additional three years, but would then have to return to their home countries for a year to apply for a new work permit.
Other aspects of the bill require the Homeland Security Department to employ the personnel and technology needed to secure the border; end the "catch and release" policy for non-Mexican immigrants, and require the Defense and Homeland Security departments to design a plan to use military technology to stop illegal crossings.
Pedro, Remember when you were a toro. Now you are a vaca, next time I'll cut your tail off too. Get your skinny ass back across the border, NOW! Movimiento! Mi cuchillo es agudo y soy rápido.
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Support our Minutemen Patriots!
Be Ever Vigilant ~ Bump!
But don't forget, Bush is opposed to any amnesty.
Sure he is...
It's ridiculous. I'm so tired of hearing "awww, but we all came from immigrants" and "awwww, but they only want to work harder than lazy Americans" and all the rest of the party lines.
How long to build it, and qwhen will they start??
They will break ground in 2008, and it will be completed the same year we create West Mexico.
True, they have to somehow stall and and make us think they are doing something until the big plan for the peasants comes to fruition in 2010.
This is fantastic. Looks like even a handful of Dems came on board as well.
Hmm...well maybe this wasn't as good as I thought.
This is one that seriously needs to be addressed. Another is their seemingly unlimited access to "free" services.
" Plans call for at least two layers of reinforced fencing, plus the installation of additional barriers, roads, lighting, cameras and sensors."
They'd better make sure it includes a plan to prevent tunneling. The invasion of parasites will not be easily deterred.
"And thirdly, you have to deal with the 10, 11, 12 million people who are already in this country illegally."
Buses. Lots of buses....and armed escorts.
"There is nothing that is solution-oriented in this piece of legislation,"
I guess it depends on what your definition of "solution" is. It looks to me like a heck of a good start, if it ever actually gets implemented. It needs to be more comprehensive though.
"they could have "disastrous economic consequences for our country" given the high demand for foreign workers."
I think what he really meant to say was,"they could have "disastrous economic consequences for illegals and those who hire them our country" if lawmakers given give in to the high demands for foreign workers Americans are making that they secure the borders."
Bump!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.