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Bush Signs Border Fence Bill
AP ^ | October 26, 2006 | DEB RIECHMANN

Posted on 10/26/2006 8:51:12 AM PDT by PittsburghAfterDark

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush signed a bill Thursday authorizing 700 miles of new fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, hoping to give Republican candidates a pre-election platform for asserting they're tough on illegal immigration.

"Unfortunately the United States has not been in complete control of its borders for decades and therefore illegal immigration has been on the rise," Bush said at a signing ceremony.

"We have a responsibility to enforce our laws," he said. "We have a responsibility to secure our borders. We take this responsibility serious." He called the fence bill "an important step in our nation's efforts to secure our borders."

The centerpiece of Bush's immigration policy, a guest worker program, remains stalled in Congress.

And a handful of House Republican are at the brakes, blocking negotiations with the Senate for a bill that includes the president's proposal.

Still, Bush argues that it would be easier to get his guest worker program passed if Republicans keep their majorities in the House and Senate after the Nov. 7 elections. His proposal would allow legal employment for foreigners and give some of the estimated 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States a shot at becoming American citizens. The measure Bush put into law Thursday before heading for campaign stops in Iowa and Michigan offers no money for the fence project covering one-third of the 2,100-mile border.

Its cost is not known, although a homeland security spending measure the president signed earlier this month makes a $1.2 billion down payment on the project. The money also can be used for access roads, vehicle barriers, lighting, high-tech equipment and other tools to secure the border.

Mexican officials have criticized the fence. Outgoing Mexican President Vicente Fox, who has spent much of his six years in office lobbying for a new guest worker program and a chance at citizenship for the millions of Mexicans working illegally in the U.S., calls the fence "shameful" and compares it to the Berlin Wall.

Others have doubts about its effectiveness.

"A fence will slow people down by a minute or two, but if you don't have the agents to stop them it does no good. We're not talking about some impenetrable barrier," T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, a union representing Border Patrol agents, said Wednesday. Customs and Border Protection statistics show that apprehensions at border crossings are down 8 percent nationally for the budget year that just ended, Bonner said. Apprehensions were up in the San Diego sector, he said, an area of the nearly 2,000-mile border that has the most fencing.

A spokesman for Customs and Border Protection would not confirm the statistics or discuss reasons for the increase in the San Diego sector. Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison, both Texas Republicans, had wanted to amend the fence bill to give local governments more say about where fencing is erected. They lost that battle, but Republican leaders assured them the Homeland Security Department would have flexibility to choose other options instead of fencing, if needed.

Cornyn said he voted for the fence because he wanted to help demonstrate that Congress was serious about border security.

"The choice we were presented was: Are we going to vote to enhance border security, or against it?" Cornyn said. "I think that's how the vote was viewed."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; bush; elections; immigrantlist; immigration; mexico; signedandfunded
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To: tumblindice

He signed the bill, it's a start. The news coverage of the signing was pretty entertaining, too. Loved the way he slammed down the pen. HA!


41 posted on 10/26/2006 9:32:04 AM PDT by ShandaLear (Perfect People Need Support, too.)
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To: ZULU
But he DID NOT have to appoint Alito. He could have appointed somone else.

Illegal immigration is A BIG PROBLEM that did not start under GW. I sure is hell did not see the hammering of Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr. and Clinton that GW is getting.

All Bush bashers should be careful what you wish for because ther may be a change in 12 days that will turn the clock back on conservatism for many years to come. I know I will not be blaming GW but those that chose to punish him and the GOP.
42 posted on 10/26/2006 9:33:06 AM PDT by jrooney ( Hold your cards close.)
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To: pissant

So lets build on this. We have the opprotunity to fix this problem for good.
-----
Excellent idea -- BUT, who is going to do it? The Senate? God help us. You saw what trash pro-illegal legislation garbage they came up with. You know what Bush's REAL position on illegal Mexicans is...WHO is going to do something about it??? WHO will take advantage of this opportunity??...will Washington do it, or does it take a revolution among the people to do it?? Or is Washington just waiting for the first dirty bomb to come across the border to do the "politically correct thing" and REALLY shut down the border...??

Only seeing is believing, while we continue to feed, educate and medicate 12 million (or more) illegals....at $100 BILLION per year.

Handwaving and philosophy does not get it for the American citizen any more -- only real results.


43 posted on 10/26/2006 9:33:15 AM PDT by EagleUSA
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To: PittsburghAfterDark

China knows how to do it and WHY it should be done.

Snip (yahoo news)
Scores of soldiers have descended on farmland near the border-marking Yalu River to erect concrete barriers 8 to 15 feet tall and string barbed wire between them, farmers and visitors to the area said.

Last week, they reached Hushan, a collection of villages 12 miles inland from the border port of Dandong.

"About 100 People's Liberation Army soldiers in camouflage started building the fence four days ago and finished it yesterday," said a farmer, who only gave his surname, Ai. "I assume it was built to prevent smuggling and illegal crossing."


44 posted on 10/26/2006 9:33:26 AM PDT by MadeInAmerica (- If ILLEGAL means Undocumented - Then Breaking and Entering means Unannounced Visit)
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To: kellynla

There's a slight difference in no funding and $1.2 billion down payment which both are included in the same article.


45 posted on 10/26/2006 9:33:30 AM PDT by tobyhill (The War on Terrorism is not for the weak.)
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To: ShandaLear

I missed it. He did? Wonder why.


46 posted on 10/26/2006 9:33:38 AM PDT by tumblindice (patience is a virtue)
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Comment #47 Removed by Moderator

To: tumblindice

Let's see what the donks can do for you on border security. Look into the crystal ball, nothing! Much less than what has already been done and they will undo the progress being made on this BIG PROBLEM. The ball is rolling forward at least. With Pelosi and Ried at the helm, the ball will roll backwards.


48 posted on 10/26/2006 9:35:38 AM PDT by jrooney ( Hold your cards close.)
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To: PittsburghAfterDark

And the conservative base. We forced the GOP and the President to get this wall built. We forced the President to dump Myers and give us Alito. This is why conservatives must get out and vote on Nov. 7th. The GOP is our means to effect change.


49 posted on 10/26/2006 9:38:48 AM PDT by jsmaineconservative
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To: EagleUSA

Bush's position, as he stated time and again, was to stop the flow of illegals, increase detention space and deportations, create a guest worker program and then figure out what to do about the ones already here...all as a comprehensive reform package.

He heard from us via the house GOPers, that it needs to BORDER FIRST. He listened. He will continue to listen cause he ain't stupid. 700 miles of fencing sounds like a good start to me, as do the increased deportations, the shitcanning of "catch and release". Its a start that we conservatives demanded.


50 posted on 10/26/2006 9:40:11 AM PDT by pissant
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To: jrooney

The dims might do even less than President Bush, who has done less than Slick Willie?
Well, you're right there, that sounds absolutely dreadful . . .
http://philosophy.lander.edu/logic/force.html


51 posted on 10/26/2006 9:41:06 AM PDT by tumblindice (patience is a virtue)
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To: jsmaineconservative

No one forced GW to appoint Alito. He could have appointed someone else after Myers. We could have someone up there not as qualified as Alito. Did we force GW to appoint Roberts, the best Chief Justice the court has ever seen? No he did all by his little self.


52 posted on 10/26/2006 9:41:08 AM PDT by jrooney ( Hold your cards close.)
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To: RockinRight
I'm all for a reasonable guest worker program...AFTER THE BORDER IS SECURE.

How do we define reasonable? Should we ignore millions of individuals waiting overseas 10 to 30 years to immigrate here legally, and grant a way for lawbreakers to become citizens. That concept should be a stench in the nose of all Americans.
53 posted on 10/26/2006 9:41:39 AM PDT by GarySpFc (Jesus on Immigration, John 10:1)
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To: jrooney

No, we did force him to put up a known, proven conservative. The conservative base was given what we wanted.


54 posted on 10/26/2006 9:43:32 AM PDT by jsmaineconservative
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To: tumblindice

So sorry, GW has done more than Slick Willie. Keep smoking that donk pipe with Howie. Attitudes like yours are not helpful to the GOP. Seems like you would prefer to drag down GW and the GOP and give us a Pelosi and Reid Congress. I wonder why......


55 posted on 10/26/2006 9:44:20 AM PDT by jrooney ( Hold your cards close.)
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To: GarySpFc

First priority are those that wish to come here legally and permanently.

I guess this is my position: Securing the border will begin the process of proving whether or not our economy really needs "guest workers" in the first place. Then if we do, we can implement a reasonable plan that would allow a certain amount per year here, with the following stipulations:

-no birthright citizenship if the guest worker bears a child while here
-specific amount of time allowed then GO HOME and reapply for permanent status if you wish
-pay all taxes everyone else does, but not eligible for welfare, food stamps, etc. If you lose your job go back to Mexico and let them take care of you


56 posted on 10/26/2006 9:44:24 AM PDT by RockinRight (Maintaining a Republican majority is MORE IMPORTANT than your temper tantrum.)
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To: jsmaineconservative

Because he listens and tries to do what is best for the country.


57 posted on 10/26/2006 9:45:27 AM PDT by jrooney ( Hold your cards close.)
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To: GarySpFc

Its real simple really, just put in that fence, and then round up the illegals and take them to the local military base and send them to Irak and Afganistan. Give em a rifle and a canteen and a MRE and git goin. If they come back then make them eligible for the guest worker program. Those that dont want to fight for our military can be sent to Irak or Afganistan without the rifle or canteen or MRE. It would also reduce the amount of gasoline being burned and most likely lower our gas prices. Simple, huh?


58 posted on 10/26/2006 9:46:01 AM PDT by Concho (IRS--Americas real terrorist organization.)
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To: jrooney

"So sorry, GW has done more than Slick Willie."
And I too am sorry to say that the facts don't bear you out.


59 posted on 10/26/2006 9:46:45 AM PDT by tumblindice (patience is a virtue)
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To: jrooney

President Bush has done a great job. But when he veers to the left it is the conservative base that gets him back in line.


60 posted on 10/26/2006 9:47:16 AM PDT by jsmaineconservative
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