White House to Fortify U.S.-Mexico Border
September 15, 2005
SETH HETTENA
Associated Press Writer
www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-5279174,00.html
SAN DIEGO (AP) - The Bush administration said Wednesday it will fortify the westernmost stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border, despite concerns the project will harm a refuge for endangered birds.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff signed an environmental waiver that expedites the Border Patrol's plans to fill in canyons and erect additional fencing along the final 3 miles of the border before it meets the Pacific Ocean.

Chertoff said the fortifications would help reduce illegal border crossings. But Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar told reporters the project was a broader effort to close gaps that terrorists and others could exploit.

``This is about border security,'' Aguilar said.

Construction of the fence seemed all but certain after the California Coastal Commission decided Wednesday not to challenge the waiver, said Peter Douglas, the panel's executive director.

Plans call for two additional fences running parallel to the 12-year-old corrugated steel barrier along the border. Sensors and cameras would track any movement.

Previous estimates have pegged the project at $58 million, but Aguilar said the final cost had yet to be determined.

Concern over illegal immigration led Congress to pass legislation in 1996 requiring the Border Patrol to strengthen the westernmost 14-mile stretch of the border. Nine miles were fortified, but environmental concerns and lawsuits held up construction on the last 3 miles leading to the ocean and 1 miles farther east.

Earlier this year, Congress gave Chertoff the power to sign a broad environmental waiver to finish the job, citing fears that terrorists could slip through an unsecured border.

The coastal commission feared that filling a half-mile long canyon known as ``Smuggler's Gulch'' with 2.1 million cubic yards of dirt would erode soil near a federally protected estuary that is a refuge for threatened and endangered birds.

But Congress had thwarted court challenges by eliminating judicial review of the project on anything but constitutional grounds, Douglas said.

``It's a sad day and we'll have to live with this wall of shame for the rest of our lives,'' he said.

The Border Patrol said it would take measures to reduce environmental harm, including stair-steps on the slopes to reduce erosion.

Mexico has also objected to the fencing. A spokesman for Mexican President Vicente Fox said in May that the president lamented the project and constructing walls was not the best way to solve the challenges on the common border.

Quoted: Mexico has also objected to the fencing. A spokesman for Mexican President Vicente Fox said in May that the president lamented the project and constructing walls was not the best way to solve the challenges on the common border.

I have not heard v fox make ANY suggestions YET as to what WOULD be "the best way"

what I HAVE heard him say, for the record, was that he is unable to
legally prevent his citizens from leaving the country if they choose to do so

Land Mines!!!!!

Sniper towers with .50s?

How bout those motion sensing MG's from Aliens?  That would, rock, with a 20 second warning of course...

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ



Too little, too late.





Oh yeah... and fuck Jorge Boosh.

Quoted: Quoted: Mexico has also objected to the fencing. A spokesman for Mexican President Vicente Fox said in May that the president lamented the project and constructing walls was not the best way to solve the challenges on the common border.

Exactly.

As LugerMan said: MINE THE BORDER!

Let Princess Diana roll in her grave. Hook up a dynamo and take the power.

Bush says Israel shouldn't put up a fence , but the US can.  The UN will pipe in about this one like they did with Israel.

Here is another article about it

Chertoff waives rules on fence
By Jerry Seper
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
September 15, 2005
www.washtimes.com/national/20050914-102408-4002r.htm
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff yesterday exercised his legal authority to bypass regulatory obstacles that had long delayed completion of a 14-mile border "enforcement zone" near San Diego.
   "Completing the border infrastructure system will strengthen our efforts to reduce illegal entry to the United States. Congress provided us the authority to ensure this project is completed, and I intend to use it," Mr. Chertoff said.
   The order came under the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the Real ID Act of 2005, both of which mandated construction of necessary infrastructure in the region to reduce illegal entry and improve border security -- but that has been delayed since 1996 by litigation and environmental challenges.
   U.S. Border Patrol chief David V. Aguilar, during a press briefing, called the project "the next important step in border security," saying it would allow an enforcement zone in San Diego that would free up manpower and resources for other areas.
   "This is not about building a fence but managing our borders more effectively. That's a good thing, not only for San Diego and California, but also Mexico," Mr. Aguilar said, noting that elevated levels of illegal immigration had increased crime on both sides of the border. "This is about border security, about the responsibility we have to protect our nation."
   He said primary and secondary fences, parallel roadways to give Border Patrol agents immediate access to the boundary and speed response efforts, stadium lighting to deter border crossers, and sensors and surveillance cameras to monitor incursions would create "a certainty of arrest in that zone."
   "This is not so much about apprehension, but about deterrence. It will give us accessibility and mobility on the border," he said.
   Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., Wisconsin Republican and author of the Real ID Act, said that although U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) deserved credit for improving security in the area, "completion of this congressionally mandated border fence continues to be stymied by litigation and obstructionism."
   "This intolerable situation forced Congress earlier this year to pass the Real ID Act, which gave Secretary Chertoff the authority he announced today he will be exercising," he said.
   Mr. Sensenbrenner, who is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said the project would improve the security of the American public, especially those in the San Diego area; allow CBP to use its resources in a more effective manner; and clean up the environmental destruction that has resulted from illegal border crossings.
   Mr. Chertoff noted that construction within the middle nine miles of the project area has begun, and that an extension of the roadway system, barriers and lighting would expand the project to areas west and east of the current enforcement zone.
   He said the initial construction efforts resulted in a decline in border crossings and reduced what he called the "negative environmental impacts" to the region caused by illegal migration, such as trails of garbage, destruction of vegetation and trampling of sensitive lands.
   Mr. Chertoff said that by completing both phases of the project, damage to the surrounding environment will be sharply reduced.
   "The Department of Homeland Security is not compromising its commitment to responsible environmental stewardship in the area," he said. "We will act in an environmentally responsible manner consistent with the security needs of the nation."

3 miles down... another 1,000+ to go!  

Anyone else see the irony in the fact that a lot of the problems in Iraq have to do with the military not controlling the border?????????????????



These 'leaders' are some semi-retarded asshats.

Am I reading that right?
$58M for 3 miles?
That is $3600+ per linear foot.

I guess it is not real $, just taxpayer $.

DanM

Glad to see something being done. Much more work to do still.

IIRC this stretch of the border is loosely fenced due to environmental concerns.

CRV

Quoted: Land Mines!!!!!

Then they'll simply send a half dozen cows through the mine field and follow right behind them.

Quoted: Quoted: Land Mines!!!!! Then they'll simply send a half dozen cows through the mine field and follow right behind them.

Our government keeps VERY good track of the cows
they are just not interested in keeping track of illegals

eta: just say YES to NO MA'AM

good news!

I'd rather see my monies on a Great Wall of Tijuana than New Orleans.

Quoted: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Too little, too late.

Yeah know that there's only about 20 Million of them here let's finally do something about it


Oh I don't think they want to keep 'em out

I think they want to keep the cheap labor in