You're telling me this fence violates the treaty? I'm not following.
Posted on 09/29/2006 7:40:28 PM PDT by The Spirit Of Allegiance
Edited on 09/29/2006 7:52:46 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
The House version of the bill approving and funding the building of a U.S./Mexico border wall has overwhelmingly passed the Senate, according to KFI News.
Link to station provided.
UPDATE: Senate backs fence along Mexico border
Reuters
By Donna Smith and Richard Cowan
The U.S. Senate on Friday overwhelmingly agreed to authorize construction of a fence along the U.S. border with Mexico, sending to President George W. Bush before the November 7 elections a bill that Republicans hope will showcase their efforts to stop illegal immigration.
The Republican-written bill authorizing construction of about 700 miles of fence was one of the last bills to clear Congress as lawmakers prepared to leave Washington to campaign for the congressional elections. On a vote of 80-19 the Senate approved the bill already passed by the House of Representatives and it now goes to Bush for his signature.
Bush had sought broad immigration legislation that would create a guest-worker program to help provide a steady workforce for jobs Americans are either unable or unwilling to do. But he was unable to marshal support for it in the face of opposition from a solid group of House Republicans who pushed for tougher enforcement and border measures instead.
A separate bill approved by the House on Friday provided an initial $1.2 billion in funding for the fence and other border-security measures for the fiscal year that begins Oct 1. The money is part of a $34.8 billion bill for domestic security programs for the fiscal year that begins October 1.
The broad spending bill also criminalizes the construction of tunnels that could be secret passageways from Mexico or Canada for drug smugglers, illegal aliens or terrorists.
The Senate was expected to pass the funding bill quickly and send it on to Bush along with the fence authorization.
Opponents of the fence said it would be expensive and was not an effective deterrent to illegal immigration.
"This is a political gimmick," said Sen. Ken Salazar, a Democrat from Colorado. "It is not in the long-term interest of of the United States of America and the Western Hemisphere."
The government of Mexico on Thursday issued a statement expressing "its profound concern" with the fence. The statement, translated from Spanish, said such measures "are contrary to the spirit of cooperation that should prevail to guarantee security in the common border."
IMMIGRATION OVERHAUL
Backers of the fence said it was an important tool to clamp down against illegal immigration. An estimated 1.2 million illegal immigrants were arrested in the last fiscal year trying to cross into the United States along the border states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Sections of the fence would be built in each state.
"Fortifying our borders is the first prong of comprehensive immigration reform and it's an integral piece of national security," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican.
Lawmakers and analysts say Congress could tackle comprehensive immigration legislation in a post-election sessions, but they acknowledge difficulties.
"It will be tough but doable," said Rep. Adam Putnam (news, bio, voting record), a Florida Republican.
"There is a lot of pent up pressure and interest in doing something in the lame duck session," said Craig Regelbrugge of the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform.
Democrats accused the Republican majority of playing politics with the fence bill after raising immigration as an election-year issue but having little to show in the way of legislation.
"This is about November. This is about incumbent protection, not about border protection," said Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.
Earlier this year the Senate passed broad immigration legislation that combined border security and employer sanctions with a plan to create a guest-worker program and provide a path to citizenship for many of the 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States.
The Senate and House were unable to compromise and instead resorted to passing a series narrow border security measures.
Don't remember if you pinged this one....a long thread.
This also goes to the fact that passports are not required of USA and Mexican nationals. Mexico does not participate in the Visa Waiver Program. I think that is a bad thing, but it is how it is.
Lieberman (D-CT) Nay
What happened to Lieberman?
It doesn't look too sturdy.
Last that I checked, San Diego is not in Texas. Californians, Arizonians, and New Mexicans are screwed. Maybe Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York will cede some property to them. I wish the southern folks well on that endeavor. Because it is unlikely.
Have you looked at a map of South Texas recently? There's a town in Duval County called "San Diego". It's the county seat of Duval County where Lyndon Johnson won the 1948 Texas Democratic primary due to ballots cast in ballot box 13.
That guy is worse than most Dems. I can't wait until someone beats him in a primary and gets his butt out of Washington.
ping
I don't have a map, just read a description of where it was proposed to be built. From what I read most of it will be AZ, and CA. Roughly 90 miles here in NM to El Paso and East of El Paso through at least some of Hudspeth County, TX. I think possibly some around Laredo was also proposed but I believe I saw an article last week where officials said Laredo didn't want a fence. Not sure if certain proposed areas can opt out- that might be interesting.
I'm going to take this opportunity to offer praise for two men particularly, and a whole bunch of others generally:
Jim Gilchrist of the Minuteman Project, and Chris Simcox of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps have both taken the slings and arrows of the Left like real troupers, and deserve the thanks of all patriotic Americans for their service to this country.
Additionally, I'd like to personally thank every man and woman who has taken their own resources and stood vigil on the border.
The Minutemen have performed in the proud tradition of THE Minutemen, and I think they're awesome.
Now, none of this should be taken as any indication that I think this "war" is anywhere close to being over.
But the progress that has been made through citizen action is the most compelling example of self-government in our generation.
It is so good to see the politicos squirm...
No!
Yep. Their critics can kiss my....
I'll leave the rest to their imaginations...
I just posted this on another thread; it fits here too:
I'll tell you what, IMO, has taken place. A deal has been cut with the House/Senate and the White House. Bush will not veto this bill, as the deal is when Congress reconvenes, following the November elections, the Pubs, assuming they maintain control in the House and Senate, will then fashion a "temporary visitor's program" and pass the bill which Bush will, of course, then sign. They may even try to go for an amnesty measure, as no one at that point will have to worry about re-election for two years in the House, and only some in the Senate will have to worry. Thus, Bush will shortly get what he wants, and if the Dems win in the mid-term election, Bush will get ALL that he wants on immigration, as the Dems will stall funding or de-fund the 700 mile fence, will pass an amnesty bill, along with a guest worker bill, and will leave the floodgates on the border open (got to get more Dem voters, you know, legal or illegal). Either way, a win win for Bush, and he knows it. The truth of the matter.
It's about time! How long as this taken? Good grief.
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