New Border Chief: Walls Are Not the Answer

AP ^ | 6/20/6 | ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN

[SmithL]

Two weeks on the job, the new head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Tuesday he does not favor building a huge wall along the Mexican border.

"I don't support, I don't believe the administration supports a wall," Commissioner W. Ralph Basham said in Tucson, where he met with patrol officials and agents before embarking on a tour across the Arizona desert.

Asked about proposals in Senate- and House-approved immigration measures to build security walls 380 or 700 miles long, respectively, Basham said, "It doesn't make sense, it's not practical."

As Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano put it, "You build a 50-foot wall, somebody will find a 51-foot ladder," he said.

Fencing, including so-called smart fencing with imbedded sensors, vehicle barriers and lighting will be part of the infrastructure improvements needed, Basham said. But a layered approach that mixes technology and air operations for observation and responding to illegal crossings will be necessary to control the border, he said.

"There is not a silver bullet out there, there's not one answer," he said.

[SmithL]

So, build the wall, and take whatever other measures are needed to protect the border.

[Graybeard58]

I don't believe the administration supports a wall,

The administartion does not. Only the American people do.

[truthkeeper]

Asked about proposals in Senate- and House-approved immigration measures to build security walls 380 or 700 miles long, respectively, Basham said, "It doesn't make sense, it's not practical."

Oh, come on. Methinks they all protest too much.

Build the damn wall already...and let those hearings begin.

[Spiff]

"I don't support, I don't believe the administration supports a wall," Commissioner W. Ralph Basham said in Tucson, where he met with patrol officials and agents before embarking on a tour across the Arizona desert.

And, apparently, the administration doesn't support the necessary interior enforcement either according to DHS's own statistics. Meanwhile, 9,125 Americans are being killed every year by illegal aliens and 3,000 American children are being sexually abused by illegal aliens. Build a barrier, enforce the laws, end the benefits and jobs. How hard is that?

[ncountylee]

Janet Napolitano put it, "You build a 50-foot wall, somebody will find a 51-foot ladder," he said.

20 million illegal aliens would not be here now if they were forced to line up at your ladder Gov.

[Anti-Bubba182]

".. Build the damn wall already...and let those hearings begin."

Ditto!

[American Quilter]

"I don't support, I don't believe the administration supports a wall," Commissioner W. Ralph Basham said in Tucson,...

Yes, we know. Now we also know how you got your job.

[Chuckster]

Why bother? After all, the plan is to erase the border completely in a few years. Then we'd just have to tear it down.

[calex59]

So we already know what Bush wants, an open border and cheap labor for his business pals, this is not news to us.

A wall would work, and work well. It won't stop all of them but it will stop enough of them that our border patrol will be able to round up the ones who do make it across.

The main to do, is to enforce our existing laws, fine and jail the employers and the criminals coming here illegally and obtaining forged documents. They are all criminals, every one. Send them home, jail the employers, this will stop most of them coming across without a wall. The rest will be easy pickings for the border patrol.

[cripplecreek]

Jail for the crimminals who hire illegals is part of the answer.

[Kakaze]

" "But until you get up there and you look and you see what kind of terrain you're dealing with and the difficulties of it, you really don't have a true appreciation." "

Build the wall.

Then get a "leg up" to the top of it and your view will suddenly clear up!

[pierrem15]

We need to find the 3 foot ladder that goes into the Arizona gov's office.

[Jaysun]

yawn. When does construction start?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

As Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano put it, "You build a 50-foot wall, somebody will find a 51-foot ladder," he said.

Typical knee-jerk answer to a pressing problem.

[all4one]

"9,125 Americans are being killed every year by illegal aliens and 3,000 American children are being sexually abused by illegal aliens."

Plus untold kidnappings, rapes, carjackings, etc. Build the wall....it seems to be working just fine for Israel. Maybe a fact finding trip to Israel; to get a before and after report on statistics based on how things have changed after they constructed their wall.

[savedbygrace]

Asked about proposals in Senate- and House-approved immigration measures to build security walls 380 or 700 miles long, respectively, Basham said, "It doesn't make sense, it's not practical."

Actually, he's correct, but not for the reason he thinks. To be effective, the wall/fence needs to be much more extensive than these proposals.

[beezdotcom]

Why bother? After all, the plan is to erase the border completely in a few years. Then we'd just have to tear it down.

And I can hear it now: Putin saying, "Mr. Bush, tear down that wall."

[wordsofearnest]

minefield

[Frohickey]

HOW DO WE GET THIS MONEY OUT OF ENFORCEMENT AND INTO FEDERAL RETIREMENT, OR AT THE LEAST CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT?

[johnny7]

Breach the walls at the Governor's mansion... she'll soon be singin' a different tune.