Groups Advocate Border Fence Along Mexico
A fence already marks the U.S. border with Mexico but in some places, it’s no more than a strand of wire or metal rail.
Where a real barrier exists, it works. Illegal immigrants (search) are forced to travel long distances to get around miles of tall steel and razor wire.
Click in the video box to the right for a complete report by FOX News’ William LaJeunesse.
Now, a group of border activists are pushing for a new, bigger fence — more like a Berlin Wall — from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean.
“If we don’t stop the illegal immigration problem at the border, the problem will grow in far more dangerous ways … because illegal immigration from Mexico provides easy cover for terrorists,” says one national television ad sponsored by Weneedafence.com, a project of Let Freedom Ring, Inc.
The TV spot focuses not on the politically charged issue of illegal Hispanic immigration but border crossers who may be a security threat, especially those caught who originated from suspected sponsors of state terrorism.
“What are people from Yemen and Syria and Iran doing in Mexico trying to enter the U.S. illegally? This is an issue that requires a wall,” said Colin Hanna of Weneedafence.com. “We are absolutely not anti-Hispanic, we do not think the fence should be perceived as anti-Hispanic, or anti-Mexican, we are not anti-immigrant, we are pro-immigration, but we are pro- legal immigration.”
Hanna’s group hopes to persuade Congress to take on the $8 billion project but aside from the cost, Hispanic activists claim that good neighbors build bridges, not fences, and that a fence will stigmatize people fighting for their shot at the American dream.
“I think what we’re doing is criminalizing work and criminalizing the need of families to be together,” said Angela Sanbrano of the Central American Resource Center, an open-borders interest group.
Years ago, the idea of a great wall on the southern border would have been dead on arrival in Congress, but times have changed. Polls now show that more than 80 percent of Americans like the idea, and it has bipartisan support. One House bill has bipartisan support but is nowhere near ready for passage by the entire Congress.
Many Democrats favor the concept because the downward pressure on wages from illegal immigrants is hurting organized labor .
Source: foxnews.com
Mexico, Latin America rally against U.S. fence
Mexico's ambassador to the U.S. said Thursday, many Americans are opposed to a proposal to build a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Carlos de Icaza told W Radio in Mexico City that U.S. businesses, church groups and politicians have shown opposition to measures he says "could put the economy of the country in danger."
Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez called on other Latin American countries to unite against a U.S. House proposal to toughen border enforcement.
The bill would make illegal entry a felony and enlist military and local police to help stop undocumented
Mexico criticizes U.S. immigration bill focusing mostly on border security
The Mexican government Friday slammed the U.S. Congress for approving the construction of a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, while Mexican human rights groups said it will only cause more deaths.
The U.S. House of Representatives late Thursday approved building 700 miles of fence along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border, giving priority for construction in Laredo, Texas. The city is across the border from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, where warring drug cartels have been blamed for more than 140 killings this year.
The measure is part of a wider immigration enforcement bill that
Virtual fence to protect US-Mexico border
BOEING has been chosen to build a virtual fence using sensors and cameras along the US border with Mexico and Canada to help control illegal immigration in a contract projected to be worth up to $US2billion ($3.2billion).
The Secure Border Initiative, or SBInet, will be launched along a 45km stretch of the border near Tucson, Arizona, and eventually be expanded to some 9656km of border areas, the Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday.
What we are looking to build is a virtual fence, a 21st-century virtual fence, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said.
Mr Chertoff said the
Mexico's Fox Raps U.S. on Plan for Fence
Mexican President Vicente Fox Calls U.S. Plans to Build Fence on Southern Border 'Shameful'
Mexican President Vicente Fox stepped up his attacks on the United States plan to build a fence along its southern border on Sunday, saying it was a "shameful" initiative for a democracy.
Fox said barriers between nations belonged to the last century and had been torn down by popular uprisings, referring to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
"This wall is shameful," Fox said at an event for migrants in his home state of Guanajuato.
More: abcnews.go.com
Senate Votes for Fence Along U.S.-Mexico Border
Today conservatives had their first victory in the immigration debate taking place this week on the floor of the U.S. Senate.
The Senate voted 83-16 to build a 350-mile, triple-layered fence along the U.S.-Mexico border and to add a 500-mile vehicle barrier on top of it.
The bill was an amendment to the current immigration reform bill (S. 2611) being considered by the Senate. The bills sponsor, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R.-Ala.), said that by passing my amendment, we are sending a signal that we are serious about stopping the flow of illegal immigrants over the border.
If
Mexico asks neighbors‘ help to halt US fence plan
Mexico‘s foreign minister will meet with counterparts in Central America to seek their backing against a U.S. plan to build a high-tech border fence aimed at holding back illegal immigrants.
Mexicans are incensed by the proposal in the U.S. Congress to erect the fence with lights and security cameras along parts of the border and make illegal immigration a felony.
The meeting with Central American leaders, whose nations also send many undocumented workers to the United States, is Mexico‘s latest move to block the U.S. proposal, which the government of President
Mexico slams border fence
Mexico’s foreign secretary Monday leveled his country’s sharpest criticism yet at U.S. proposal for a fence along parts of its southern border, condemning it as “stupid†and “underhanded.â€
In a radio interview, Luis Ernesto Derbez said U.S. legislators who approved the bill were turning a blind eye to the contributions millions of migrants from Mexico and elsewhere make to America’s economy and culture.
“It’s a law that looks underhanded to everybody ... stupid,†Derbez said.
On Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 239-182 in favor of an immigration enforcement bill, which includes a proposal to build 700 miles of
Miller votes in favor of fence across U.S.-Mexico border
Rep. Brad Miller, D-N.C., who has been the target of criticism from a GOP opponent on immigration issues, voted Thursday in favor of a comprehensive immigration bill that includes a plan to construct 700 miles of fencing along the Mexican border.
Miller has been the target of a series of blunt ads from his opponent, Republican Vernon Robinson, who recently purchased $30,000 worth of TV ads that criticize Millers stance on illegal immigration.
One radio spot says that if Miller had his way, America would be nothing but one big fiesta for illegal aliens
Schwarzenegger: Border fence with Mexico is return to the Stone Age
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has come out strongly against tough immigration proposals Monday, including the construction of a fence along the border with Mexico - an idea he called going back to the Stone Ages.
I think that it will be ludicrous to limit yourself to just building a wall, Schwarzenegger said in an interview with US television network ABC. Were going back to the Stone Ages here.
We are landing men on the moon and in outer space using all these great things. I think that other technology really
Mexico assails US border fence immigration bill
A bill moving through the U.S. Congress that demands security fencing with lights and cameras be built along the Mexico-U.S. border will not stop the flood of illegal immigrants, Mexico said Friday.
The House of Representatives voted 260-159 late Thursday to require the high-tech fencing along parts of the U.S. border, while seemingly moving away from a White House plan for immigration reform that includes a guest worker program and is backed by Mexico.
Mexican presidential spokesman Ruben Aguilar said Mexico would keep pushing for a comprehensive immigration reform that expands temporary worker programs.
"An immigration reform
