Sen. Ben Nelson
Posted on 03/04/2006 6:50:54 AM PST by Hat-Trick
Nelson wants to fence off Mexico
BY HENRY J. CORDES
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
There's a growing consensus in Washington that before Congress can address comprehensive immigration reform, it must first crack down at the nation's borders, U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson said Friday.
Sen. Ben Nelson
Nelson this week introduced a new border security bill, one that would go even further than the proposal he first outlined in September.
Among the provisions added since September is the construction of a $5 billion, two-layer reinforced fence that would stretch from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico along the 1,900-mile U.S.-Mexico border.
The latest bill also includes a requirement that all employers verify that their workers are in the country legally and adds 10,000 new detention beds to hold those found in violation of federal immigration laws.
"It's a border-security-first bill," Nelson, a Democrat, said at an Omaha press conference.
"If we don't do something about the border, the problem is going to get worse."
Nelson introduced his latest bill on the same day the Senate Judiciary Committee began work on an immigration reform proposal. Bill Frist, the Senate majority leader, has asked for a bill to be ready for debate by the full Senate later this month.
Nelson said the problem with most immigration proposals introduced to date is that they get bogged down over what to do with the estimated 10 million people already in the United States illegally.
There is much disagreement over that, from calls to deport them to various proposals to create amnesty or guest worker programs.
"A huge bill with guest workers or amnesty is going nowhere," he said.
Nelson said it will be possible to bring more people together if the issue of border security is addressed first.
A Nelson spokesman said the senator's bill is the only one in the Senate that includes provisions for a fence, though there have been other fence proposals in the House.
Nelson's bill is co-sponsored by two Republicans, Jeff Sessions of Alabama and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma.
While the cost of the fence might be high, Nelson said, it's modest compared to the cost of dealing with illegal immigration.
He said he didn't think his proposal would hurt companies in Nebraska that have come to rely on labor from undocumented workers. Nelson said efforts to stop illegal immigration should be accompanied by steps to increase legal immigration.
Overall, he said, his proposal would "solve the border security problem where it starts - at the border."
Nelson's Nebraska colleague, Chuck Hagel, is among the senators who have introduced bills for comprehensive immigration reform.
Hagel has advocated legislation that would give legal status to undocumented immigrant workers under certain conditions, such as maintaining a work history in America for several years and passing security and criminal background checks.
Asked about Nelson's security-fence proposal, Hagel said he makes a distinction between immigration reform and border security.
"I'm generally not in favor of building walls," he said.
This story includes material from the Associated Press.
It's good to see that there is still a certain amount of "horse-sense" in Nebraska. It is unfortunate that our RINO Hagel keeps looking at the wrong end of the horse. Hopefully the horse will blow a big load of apples in his lap the next time he stands for election.
My kind of Democrat.
Hope the message has finally reach those in power in DC..America is fed up with accepting the third worlds problems on our own streets.
..I love election years...
NOW is the time to CRACK down on the border, and set up a LEGAL system for those who wants to work in the US!
The fact that it IS controversial speaks volumes about the trouble we're in.
There. All fixed!
If Senator Nelson really wants to do something he should get really tough; down and dirty tough. His fence building will go on through out the election year – make it sound like he is doing something – when he ought to be demanding the Death Sentence for all Drug Dealers. Just more political rhetoric………………………
The fact that it IS controversial speaks volumes about the trouble we're in
The Berlin wall was also controvesial and building one on the souther border should also be and it was Ronald Reagan who brought the Berlin wall down.
Me I would like to see a guest worker program implemented and anybody who has not signed up, immediately deported.
It gives a starting point to bring some sanity to the jumble of immigration laws.
Also instead of ignoring Mexico, try to pressure them into more economic reforms. Mexico is a nation blessed with many resources and a hard working Christian population. Vinente Fox has been a disappoitment, but he did have an agenda to open up Mexico, but was bottlenecked by a Mexican congress dominated by the PRI.
In what way are your two examples similar?
Cheers!
What Indian wall?
On the other thread, click on the word "India".
Otherwise, the link is here.
Cheers!
A militarized wall is a miltarized wall. Why is a miltarized Berlin wall bad, while a militarized southern border wall is good. And by miltarized, I mean with guard towers, mines, etc.etc.
Personally I wish Mexico could get it's economy jumpstarted, but building a wall only gives anti-American sectors there more fuel for their fire.
It ain't an easy problem to solve but the Berlin wall didn't solve the communists problem and a Mexican wall won't solve the US's or Mexico's.
Yes, democrats will pour concrete til the concrete is all used up. It has to do with their link to the construction unions. Concrete is their solution to most everything, education, transportation, immigration, aviation.
And tax their remittances to pay for it.
I sincerely hope you're joking...
Truly, truly I do. And even if you are, it's in poor taste.
I'm all for stronger borders and anti-illegal immigration measures, but slave labor and work camps?...
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