House Republicans revisit border fence plan

[ScreamingEagle]

It would be nice to get something on immigration passed this session.

Sept 14, 2006
WASHINGTON - House Republicans are renewing their push to construct nearly 700 miles of two-layered reinforced fences along the U.S.-Mexico border as the first installment in a series of border security initiatives they hope to send to President Bush in the closing weeks of Congress.

The fence proposal is identical to one that was included in an immigration enforcement bill passed by the House of Representatives in December 2005. But with that measure sidelined in a stalemate with the Senate, House leaders plan to resurrect the $2.2 billion barrier in a single-shot bill that House members are expected to pass today.

House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King, R-N.Y., said the Secure Fence Act represents the opening salvo in an end-of-session flurry of initiatives designed to stem the flow of illegal immigration along the Southwest border.

House leaders have refused to consider a more comprehensive Senate-passed bill that would create a foreign guest-worker program and put millions of illegal immigrants on a path toward permanent legal status and U.S. citizenship. Leading supporters of the Senate plan acknowledge that it appears dead for the year.

'Comprehensive reform'

But President Bush isn't giving up on his push for an overhaul of the nation's immigration laws and wants the House and Senate to "work together to come up with comprehensive reform," White House press secretary Tony Snow said Wednesday.

Asked whether the White House supports the proposed fence, Snow responded, "What the administration wants is comprehensive reform."

The other House proposals will be announced today, Boehner and King said, and are expected to include more Border Patrol agents and the expanded use of unmanned aerial vehicles, sensors and other high-tech hardware along the border.

House members approved the five-section fence as an amendment to its immigration bill by a vote of 260-159.

The largest sections include a 361-mile stretch from Calexico, Calif., to Douglas, Ariz., and 176 miles in Texas, from Laredo to Brownsville.

Two other sections of fencing also would be built in Texas - 51 miles from Del Rio to Eagle Pass, and 88 miles from El Paso to Columbus, N.M. A 22-mile section would be built near a port entry in Tecate, Calif., in eastern San Diego County.

Field hearings

House leaders moved forward with the border security package after a series of summertime field hearings that reinforced their opposition to the Senate-passed immigration bill.

Democrats have denounced the initiatives as political posturing by Republicans to appease voters demanding congressional action on illegal immigration.

With less than two weeks left before Congress quits work to campaign for the Nov. 7 election, the outlook for Senate passage of the border security package is uncertain at best.

But two leading architects of the Senate bill, Republicans John McCain of Arizona and Mel Martinez of Florida, said they would be willing to consider the initiatives.

Senators included 370 miles of fencing in their bill.

http://159.54.227.3/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060914/NEWS/609140331

 

[archangel]

solve the illegal immigration problem...having worked the Southern Border a fence may slow them down but not eliminate the problem...it would be better to take the 2.2B and prosecute those who violate existing laws...employers who hire the illegals and those who cross illegally...also stop the welfare programs of which the illegals should not be entitled to..ie:SSI(Medicade) Food stamps,Public Schooling and grants etc...a fence is just(a very expensive) window dressing and turns a blind eye to the real issues...protecting employers who are violating the law and causing the problem in the first place!

 

[Avatar4321]

Its a start. and I think that is what is important. It be nice to do it all at once but i think it will take time. Lets get it done in installments.

 

[Nuc]

This is a great idea! Since Americans are lazy and won't do the work, we can just hire a bunch of Mexicans to build it. Then when the last few feet need to be constructed we can say, "OK amigos, cross over to the other side."

Seriously, who's going to build it? Blacks? Members of the Bush family? How do they build it without using the people they want to keep out?

 

[Hobbit]

This is a great idea! Since Americans are lazy and won't do the work, we can just hire a bunch of Mexicans to build it. Then when the last few feet need to be constructed we can say, "OK amigos, cross over to the other side."

Seriously, who's going to build it? Blacks? Members of the Bush family? How do they build it without using the people they want to keep out?

See, this is just the kind of attitude that has us in this hole to begin with. There's plenty of non-illegals more than willing to work construction. Hell, I'd work for free building that damn wall.

 

[archangel]

This is a great idea! Since Americans are lazy and won't do the work, we can just hire a bunch of Mexicans to build it. Then when the last few feet need to be constructed we can say, "OK amigos, cross over to the other side."

Seriously, who's going to build it? Blacks? Members of the Bush family? How do they build it without using the people they want to keep out?

This might just work...providing the government witholds their paychecks...and deducts from all the illegal benefits they have been receiving over the years...give them a pink slip as they exit!

 

[Nuc]

See, this is just the kind of attitude that has us in this hole to begin with. There's plenty of non-illegals more than willing to work construction. Hell, I'd work for free building that damn wall.

Hopefully you're right. Guess we'll just have to wait until they approve the plan to find out. Isn't this the kind of thing Halliburton excels at? Then it will probably happen.

 

[insein]

Speaking strictly on political strategy, I like the approach House Republicans are taking. They are making immigration an issue and they are forcing both Senate Democrats and Republicans alike to make their opinions known on the matter before election time. If Senate Republicans want to keep their seats, they will support these kinds of Bills in order to not piss off the constituency. It also forces Senate Democrats to make a choice on the issue instead of changing the subject.

The Republicans in the house tend to be more conservative in principle then the Senate Reps do and i think they are smart in trying to force their hand.

 

[musicman]

From the article:"Democrats have denounced the initiatives as political posturing by Republicans to appease voters demanding congressional action on illegal immigration."

This is how hopelessly out of touch Democrats (and plenty of Senate Republicans, as well) are - how utterly mired in politics as usual. "This is nothing but a bald-faced attempt to appeal to the voters by actually REPRESENTING them. Republican House members are just trying to make themselves look good by DOING THE JOB THEY WERE ELECTED TO DO. What a bunch of ass-kissers!"