Posted on 05/01/2008 9:23:54 AM PDT by DaveyB
CNSNews.com) - Two years after President George W. Bush signed the Secure Fence Act into law, requiring 700 miles of double-layer fencing to be constructed along five stretches of the southern U.S. border by May 2008, only 90 miles of fencing have been built -- and just 12 miles of it is double-layered.
"By eliminating the double-fence requirement, the Democratic Congress is going to make it easier for drug and human smugglers to cross our Southern land border," Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), who wrote the original fencing specification in the Secure Fence Act, said when the U.S. House passed a resolution altering the language of the act, including eliminating the double-layer requirement for the fencing.
The resolution also said that "at least" 370 miles of fencing should be built, with no time table given.
Now, with a new administration coming in eight months, the future of the border fence may be linked to who wins the presidency.
"In the minds of many it should be the goal to get as many miles of fencing built before the end of the Bush administration," Hunter told Cybercast News Service. "It's difficult to predict what position the next administration is going to take on border fencing."
In January, Hunter introduced new legislation to reinstate the original Secure Fence Act, but no action has been taken.
Hunter has been critical of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and and his department, which is in charge of the project. But in recent weeks, the former presidential candidate who built a fence along the border of San Diego County that is credited with reducing the number of people and drugs coming into the country by 90 percent since its completion in 2000, has been more complimentary of Chertoff and his agency.
In recent months Chertoff took advantage of Homeland Security's authority to waive laws that impeded construction of the border fence.
"I commend Secretary Chertoff for utilizing his authority to ensure the construction of physical infrastructure along our Southern land border" and trust it "continues as necessary," Hunter said on Monday, following a field hearing of the House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands in Brownsville, Texas addressing issues concerning Chertoff's recent actions.
Hunter is very familiar with the difficulties of building a fence along the southern border. Three miles of the 14-mile fence he helped build in San Diego have been incomplete for years because of environmental challenges. Now, fencing off the three-mile stretch is set to be complete by late May or early June.
But Hunter acknowledged that, despite the law - and the will of the American people - the southern border is a long way from being secure.
"We certainly know where the Americans stand, with the vast majority supporting a border fence," Hunter said. "But (its future) will depend entirely on how committed the next administration is to this effort."
They get their marching orders from Bush. ‘Nuff said.
Stupid sheep. Ending up with "No Choice" because they don't deserve one.
Don’t blame me. I voted for Hunter.
Hunter mention
“Now, with a new administration coming in eight months, the future of the border fence may be linked to who wins the presidency.”
I don’t see how it makes a difference, unless their considering the Constitution Party candidate viable.
Same here
Or maybe it’s because until just recently most of the fence construction was bogged down with environmental and land use lawsuits. Just because a law is passed does not mean that those opposed can’t use other laws to slow things down...
Note that Hunter is now supportive of DHS and Chertoff. Just Google “border fence lawsuits” and you’ll find hundreds of them. And each one will delay construction until the plaintiff has their day in court.
So you disagree with Hunter?
Hunter knows you can catch more flies with honey. IMO he is flattering an administration that has no desire to follow through, they signed the bill planning on the delays to make the issue go away. Hunter is trying to figure out a way to get er done! The N.American Union folks are keeping that form happening. In other words there is simply no desire from this white house to see this fence built, but it is politically expedient to pretend and feign at trying.
Hunter has raked Chertoff and Bush over the coals time and time again for the delays. Chertoff just waived the environmental laws that were causing SOME of the delays. So he deserves thanks for that, anyway.
Typical example of the BDS. But you have company, the Sierra Club is pissed off too.
"The Bush administration's latest waiver of environmental and other federal laws threatens the livelihoods and ecology of the entire U.S.-Mexico border region," said Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope. "Secretary Chertoff chose to bypass stakeholders and push through this unpopular project on April Fool's Day. We don't think the destruction of the borderlands region is a laughing matter."
Environmentalists' concerns are that a fence could, among other things, disrupt the migration corridors of butterflies and two endangered species of wildcats: the ocelot, which resembles a miniature leopard, and the jaguarundi, an otter-faced relative of the puma.
12/670=>1.79% - wow that is an F on my grading scale. If Bush wanted this fence he would be beating the drum to get not making lame excuses, if he thought it was necessary for national defense (and it is) he would make a priority. The silence is deafening and the lack of progress is a demonstration of the desire to thwart the fence and secure the border.
Homeland Security has completed about 300 miles of pedestrian and vehicle barriers. An additional 370 miles remain to be built, along with all-weather roads, cameras, lighting and other infrastructure projects.
Better to get any barrier up over a longer stretch than get bogged down in double layer. Get the most property secured for fencing as possible under this administration. It'll be easy to go back and add fencing to what is already there.
Same here, friend. Too bad so many here said he was the best candidate, but unelectable. So we end up with McCain. Oh well.....
FMCDH(BITS)
And as I write this, the Mexican Army is in the streets of downtown Tijuana due to the constant battles going on with the drug cartels. 14 killed last weekend.
And today thousands of Mexicans will be marching in the streets of San Diego for their May Day crap.
Duncan Hunter has been on the border and illegals issue for decades. To bad so many others think this is a joke.
“Too bad so many here said he was the best candidate, but unelectable”
It’s amazing how a vietnam vet, patriot, distinguished congressman, and defender of the Constitution of the United States can be considered UNelectable
Yet, a racist, marxist, elitist, friendly with terrorists, empty suit is considered electable.
Surely, this country hasn’t fallen that far?
“”It’s difficult to predict what position the next administration is going to take on border fencing.” Hunter said”
Not really. I wouldn’t bet on any of the 3 of them to do any border security, much less follow and enforce the LAW.
“Better to get any barrier up over a longer stretch than get bogged down in double layer. “
No, as I’m pretty sure you know, single fencing stops nothing.
Maybe a diseased cow from Mexico, at best.
You are missing the point. Obtaining the property to build the fence is the primary objective at this point.
You know what’s funny? Not funny ha-ha, but funny, ‘I think I need to stock up on survival gear because the end is near’? The next president (regardless the letter after his/her name) will put the border fence on the farthest back burner s/he can reach. See, isn’t that funny?
“You are missing the point Obtaining the property to build the fence is the primary objective at this point.”
Oh, please, don’t change the subject. I addressed your comment:
“Better to get any barrier up over a longer stretch than get bogged down in double layer. “
With this:
“No, as I’m pretty sure you know, single fencing stops nothing.
Maybe a diseased cow from Mexico, at best.”
Now, do you want to talk about what you posted or not?
Hey Aunt B time to get those bifocals checked.
Get the most property secured for fencing as possible under this administration. It'll be easy to go back and add fencing to what is already there.
The above was posted along with the part you extracted. It clearly addresses the need to obtain as much property as possible to build the fence.
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.