Rick Perry Does Not Support a U.S.-Mexico Border Fence

A prime complaint against Rick Perry is that some have attributed to him that he doesn't support the building of a border fence. This is not true. Perry is for a more comprehensive border security system that includes strategic fencing, better surveillance, and "boots on the ground."

If you have ever visited the border regions of Texas, you will agree with me that constructing a fence along the entire 1,200 mile border is not only horribly expensive, but very disruptive to the environment, private property, and the Rio Grande.

That’s the same “virtual fence” bullcrap that was claimed was going to work in Arizona.

When it looked like pressure was building to have a real fence in Arizona, the open-borders cheap-Mexican-labor RINOS and the La-Raza future-Democrat-voters Democrats were able to avoid that at the last minute by claiming we would have a “virtual fence” instead.

Shirley you remember the “virtual fence” during the second Bush term?

It was going to have high-tech surveillance technologies and fancy state-of-the-art towers, and whenever any untoward occurrence happened on the border, the boots on the ground would be right on top of it!

But guess what?

IT DIDN’T WORK.

It was a huge, expensive failure.

That surprised no one paying attention. It was just a ruse to keep from having to erect something effective like what was built in San Diego County.

“To say Perry is against fencing is a lie, to say he is against the 2000 mile border fence like Michelle Bachman spoke about is true.”

He was against the 700 mile fence that Bush signed into law in 2006.

“In a 2006 gathering of Mayors in Austin, Texas, Rick Perry stated,” that building a wall along the border with Mexico is a “preposterous” idea.” This was after prior President Bush had signed into law the 2006 Secure Fence Act”

In a second private discussion in New Hampshire, he was asked if he was against the border fence and then confirmed in a similar statement.” “No, I don’t support a fence on the border,” he said. “The fact is, it’s 1,200 miles from Brownsville to El Paso. Two things: How long you think it would take to build that? And then if you build a 30-foot wall from El Paso to Brownsville, the 35-foot ladder business gets real good.” The trouble is Rick Perry hadn’t obviously read about the original border fence design, which was drafted by Rep. Duncan Hunter of California. Currently the border fencing is just one single strand, that is still not completed, of which initial concept were two parallel fences and stretching 700 miles along the United States/Mexican border, not the 350 miles we have today. The majority of Democrats voted against the bill, but as a Senator–Obama, a Democrat from Illinois, including his now Vice President Joe Biden (D-DE) backed its passage, drawing irate criticism from the open border zealots. “

Troops on the ground is the way to go and since we already have 15 military installations in TX it would be a great place for them to train. As for the fence that ain’t going to happen, that border ain’t flat and it ain’t straight, your probably looking closer to 2000 miles of fencing and it’s covered with landowners who’s lively-hood depends on access to that river. If a person really wants to see a war on the border just tell all those farmers and ranchers your going to put a fence between them and the river. Troops on the ground and in the air is the only logical way to handle this and demand that Texas go to the E Verify. Stop the flow first then stop their reason for wanting to cross.

A Department of Homeland Security Border Patrol Agent in Del Rio, Texas once told me, "A fence only slows them down enough so that we have a chance to catch them. It does not stop them."

It is a deterrent and it is effective in stopping people from just walking across the border.

It is common sense.

Walk out in your back yard, if your neighbor {or you} have a small, short 4'-6' fence around the property is it easier to get over than just walking where there is no fence?

Now try getting over a 20' chain link electric fence with razor wire on the top. How about going under? Need a tunnel, and if we have boots on the ground, won't they be watching activity near both sides of the fence?

As a Texas native of somewhat advanced years, I have to respectfully disagree with you about a fence along the border.

A fence is a barrier to entry. We already have a barrier, called the Rio Grande. Yes, it has some shallow places, but most of the length, it is pretty effective as a barrier. That is one reason you do not hear much about illegals wandering through Big Bend park, as you do about that park in Arizona. The shallow places on the Rio Grande are well known.

So why not add a fence?

The notable fences along international borders, the Maginot Line, the Wall of China, the Israeli fence around the west bank, all have been less than effective when considered over a long period of history. The time periods when they were effective were the time periods when there were lots of boots enforcing the effectiveness of these barriers.

So, since we already have a barrier in the form of the Rio Grande, and we will need “boots on the ground” anyway, no matter what additional barrier we might add, why not just go for more “boots on the ground” right now?

Just take advantage of the barrier we already have.

Dredge the shallow places in the Rio Grande, put up numerous observation towers (like we have for forest rangers in east Texas), use electronic surveillance and drones, add fences in areas where they are appropriate, but most importantly, have lots of forces strategically placed along the border to respond to and apprehend anyone crossing the Rio Grande.

We could do all of that fairly quickly, and it would have a very big impact. We do not need to wait on a fence along the entire length of the Rio Grande.

Why do I think this approach would work?

We have had illegals cross some land we own which is 70 miles from the border. They have made a mess and obviously are a security concern. Certainly we want that to stop. However, the incidence of illegals crossing our land has decreased significantly in the past several years, including before the current economic downturn. The reduction in illegals on our land directly correlates with the increase in Border Patrol activities at Laguna, Bracketville, and Barksdale, all towns between our property and the border.

It seems to me that increasing in boots on the ground has had an impact, at least in the area that I know something about.

If the above suggestions do not work, then spend the time and money to build another barrier. I just respectfully suggest we try something that seems to work first, because it is faster and probably cheaper.

Perry wants the border sealed. Cain wants the border sealed. They have a different outlooks as to how.

If a huge, expensive fence is contructed, boots on the ground will still be needed to man it. Probably just as many as if the fence wasn’t there. In the end, the fence would keep no one out but the guys and the drones would.

The “tell um what they want to hear crowd” know that a fence will never be constructed by the US government and they are very dishonest to feed you that red meat.

I know how much you guys hate Perry. It seems more so than you hate Romney. The only way Cain’s name is goig to appear on the ballot is if its alongside Mitt Romney’s as his VP and you guys will wind up going for Romney.

In the end you will never get your fence and you will wind up with Mitt Romney or Obama as your president more than likely Obama.

Yesterday I almost posted a vanity listing all the complaints about Rick Perry, with a schedule for what days and times they should be re-posted. I thought it might help keep the Perry-bashing more organized.

Then I deleted it, because I figured with Sarah Palin out, people would stop wasting their time re-posting the same stupid non-stories again and again and again and again and again.

Apparently, I was wrong.

Perry supports a comprehensive border security solution. It includes fences where they will help, boots on the ground, electronic surveillance, and a system to track legal immigrants to ensure they leave when their visa or work permit expires.

People like to say “fences work” and point to Israel. But Israel’s fence only works because they also have an army defending their border. And even Israel didn’t build a fence around their entire country, just in the places where they had the most trouble.

NumbersUsa rated Rick Perry “Good” on Border Security. They said he’d be “excellent” if he would publish his border security plan.

Perry’s problem isn’t border security, it’s his inability so far to explain his solid, conservative positions on these issues in a way that breaks through the stupid sound bites of his opponents. “Build the Fence” is a chant, not a policy.

I urge anybody who thinks a full-border fence in Texas makes sense to pull up Google maps, start at the gulf coast, and walk your way through the first hundred miles of “border”.

Here is what you will see: The river winds back and forth on itself; it might be twice as long as the border. The river has moved from the border in many places. So, there are places where Mexico owns land on this side of the river, and places where Texas has land on the other side of the river.

But if you look at property lines, you will see that the property lines CROSS thsoe borders — meaning some rancher in Texas has a ranch where part of the ranch is in Mexico, and some Mexicans have land that crosses into the United States.

You want to build a fence down the middle of their property?

Or do you want to build a fence on Mexican land? Or do you want to cut off parts of the United States from itself with a border fence, ceding the land to Mexico?

You can’t build a fence in the middle of the river. You can’t build a fence that CROSSES the river. But the border is IN the river in most places, and CROSSES the river in many other places.

We don’t build a fence up the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, even though it would be easy to get in a boat and sail the 3 miles from Mexico, around any “fence”, and onto the beach in the United States. So if we think water is good enough to stop them in the gulf, why do we think we need to wall off a major source of water on the Texas border?

If a huge, expensive fence is contructed, boots on the ground will still be needed to man it. Probably just as many as if the fence wasn’t there

Wow, not a single boot less needed! That's impressive.

I suppose if we tore down the fences at the prison closest to where you live, the same number of prison guards would be perfectly adequate to secure the facility!

If La Raza Ricky told you that he was going to secure the border with magical unicorns emitting laser beams out of their butts, would you be telling us all about the effective range of said laser beams?

If fences are useless, Senor Rico, why not get rid of the fences at Texas jails and prisons?

It's an absurd argument, comparing a small fence keeping an imprisoned population from excaping to the border between two countries.

Where are prisoners going to buy 35-foot fences?

The point is that it is going to cost billions of dollars and be a WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY.

How many people do you think it will take to build the fence? How much money? What if we took that money and paid those people to guard the border?

You'll have to guard the border anyway, even with a fence. You should build a fence where the fence actually decreases the number of people you need to guard the area. Like in populated areas.

BTW, How much of the fence is built today? We authorized the fence back in 2006, and for 5 years the "majority view" has been to build the whole fence, but we hardly have a whole fence built.

Did you know we can't stop everybody from shoplifting? Well, we could, but it would be cost-prohibitive. Stores understand that letting a few people get away with stealing is cost-effective.

We don't stop people from committing crimes either, we go after those who do, because it costs too much to try to prevent all crime. We aren't going to stop every poor mexican from crossing the border.

And even if you could make an impentrable fortress, it wouldn't solve the problem. A large number of illegals came here legally, through the checkpoints. They simply overstayed their welcome. Perry has a plan in Texas to control that, and is pushing for new policies that would make our guest worker programs more secure.

That's part of "border security". But some people just want to blow all of the money we don't have (14.6 TRILLION DOLLAR DEBT!!!!) on useless portions of fence that are easily circumvented, just because it makes them feel good to say so.

The illegals are COSTING US TENS OF BILLIONS every year.

And you whine about the “cost” of a FENCE???

WE COULD FENCE THE ENTIRE BORDER JUST FOR THE ANNUAL COST IN TAX FRAUD BY THE ILLEGALS.

There has never been a more “shovel-ready job” than digging post-holes.

It’s time to get started, and time to toss all these lame excuses.

This whole open-borders business stinks to high heaven and the whole purpose of it is to pad the bank accounts and pay the River Oaks Country Club fees of a bunch of sleazy exploiters of cheap Mexican labor and their pet politicians.

They couldn’t give a damn about their country.

The cool thing about today’s age is that you can use google maps to ACTUALLY SEE the border. I urge you to go look at it, and you’ll understand why you can’t just throw up a fence “along the border”.

I wish I knew how to post a picture of a small google map section.

BTW, I also found that it is actually SHORTER by a few miles to drive from brownsville to Del Rey by going through Mexico (although it is much quicker to stay in the United States).

Commerce doesn’t respect borders either. Texas is a major exporter of goods and services to Mexico. People in Texas work in Mexico, people in Mexico work in Texas — daily commuters, just like people live in New Jersey and work in New York.

There are roads near parts of the river. But it’s just a river. Do you have a river nearby? Go walk it — do you see places where people’s land is on the river? where there are parks? Where it’s marshy? where there are woods? Are there whole communities based around the river?

That’s what it is like in Texas. Imagine going to those property owners and telling them you were going to take their land, tear down the trees, and build a 30-foot fence and perimeter road that would cut them all off from the river. Got a dock and a fishing boat? Too bad. A nice beach area? Tough. Your house too close? We’re taking it away.

Rick Perry clearly wants to be President. And even if he LOVED illegal immigrants, which he DOES NOT, he doesn’t need to oppose a border fence for that — illegals don’t care much about the border fence one way or another, they will find ways to get here. So WHY do you think he opposes a border fence, KNOWING that it hurts his chances to win an election, and saying he would BUILD a fence would HELP him?

It is clear that he opposes a full-border fence because it is a BAD idea. It is the WRONG solution. It is a sound-bite masquerading as a fix. We should be smarter than that.

Nobody who argues for “fencing off our entire border” actually supports fencing the whole border. It’s just a political attack to help their candidates.

Nobody will build a single mile of fence up the pacific coast, or up the gulf coast. Whatever fence is built will come to a stop before the beaches. Anybody who wants can simply walk around the fence at low tide, or swim a shorter distance than going over the Rio Grande. Or they could get someone to take them in a boat.

But nobody wants to build a fence — because while they are CLULESS about what it means to be a rancher or a farmer and have river access, they all love going to the beach to frolic and play. And they know a fence would keep them from their beaches.

They also don’t support a fence with Canada. Why not? because they know that there aren’t nearly as many people trying to sneak through Canada. They understand fully the concept of a “strategic fence” — fences where people are ACTUALLY crossing the border.

But when Perry agrees with them, they act like he doesn’t want to secure the border at all, because they like some other candidate. And Perry does a lousy job of explaining his position, because it is so obvious.

We can’t build a fence near a river! It’s impossible!

Well I have news for you.

There are HUNDREDS of counties in the United States with challenging geography that manage to build roads through all kinds of ravines, valleys, riverbanks and other terrain.

If you can build a road through someplace, you can put a fence next to it. It’s only impossible in Texas, where the powers that be want their cheap Mexican labor and their drug trafficking corridors.

It’s just one straw man after another for you open-borders types.

What about commerce between Mexico and Texas?

PEOPLE AND GOODS MUST PASS THROUGH THE OFFICIAL BORDER CROSSING POINTS!

I know it’s a shocking idea that the government should have knowledge and control over goods and people passing across our borders.

The rest of the country is sick and f’ing tired of having the illegals shoved down our throat for the benefit of a bunch of rich Texas businessmen and their paid-for politicians.

Nobody will build a single mile of fence up the pacific coast, or up the gulf coast.

Oh my God, this is one of the STUPIDEST straw men by the open-borders crowd.

There is no point in securing the border, they'll just come in boats instead! We should just give up on the land border, because they'll just come by sea.

Oh wait, I know, if we monitor the boat traffic, the Mexicans will just build rocket ships and parachute into the US!

So it is pointless to secure the land border because they'll just come by sea, and it's pointless to guard the sea, because they'll just come by rocket ship!

No, no, I take it back.

The stupidest straw man argument is "you can't secure the Mexican border if you don't equally secure the Canadian border cause it jusn't isn't fair!!"

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