Chertoff had said using the waivers would be a last resort. The department has held more than 100 meetings with lawmakers, environmental groups and residents in an effort to work out obstacles and objections to fence construction.
The department will conduct environmental assessments when necessary. But the waivers enable the department to start building before completing the assessments. Chertoff said the department will continue to ask for input on the construction plans.
Even as the fence is being built, debate continues about whether it will stem illegal immigration.
Fernando Carrillo, a 32-year-old construction worker who was deported from Arizona six months ago, said the added security wouldn't stop him from trying to get back to his wife and three children in Phoenix. His youngest child was born while he was in Mexico.
"They can do what they want, but we will keep trying," he said while walking Tuesday with two other migrants along the newly built wall west of Nogales.
He said they were heading to an area where the wall had yet to be built.
"Whatever they do, you just have to keep trying because there, if you work hard, you can make ends meet," he said.
Residents and property owners along the U.S.-Mexico border have complained about the fence construction. In South Texas, where opposition has been widespread, land owners refused to give the government access to property along the fence route. The government has since sued more than 50 property owners in South Texas to gain access to the land.
Environmentalists have also complained about the fence because they say it puts already endangered species such as two types of wild cats — the ocelot and the jaguarundi — in even more danger of extinction. They say the fence would prevent them from swimming across the Rio Grande to mate.
"Unwilling to consult with local communities or to follow long-standing laws, Secretary Chertoff chose to bypass stakeholders and push through this unpopular project on April Fool's Day," Sierra Club executive director Carl Pope said in a statement. "We don't think the destruction of the borderlands region is a laughing matter."
Chertoff has said the fence is good for the environment because immigrants degrade the land with trash and human waste when they sneak illegally into the country.
Border Fence PING
I wonder how much of a hand Hunter had in getting this done.
The Bush administration will use its authority to bypass more than 30 laws and regulations to finish building 670 miles of fence along the southwest U.S. border by the end of 2008, federal officials said Tuesday.
If this actually happens, verifiable, then I shall re-evaluate my opinion of Bush.
After the 670 miles are built, they will just use this to pass comprehensive immigration reform. “See...the fence is built and the borders secure...now let’s give amnesty to everyone already here”. 670 miles of fencing helps, but is about 1500 miles short of what it should be. The only way to stop the slow decaying of our nation is to build a 2300 mile “Great Wall of China On Steroids” along our southern border and then deport all illegals and arrest the business owners who knowingly hired them.
It’s all BS and hogwash. Politics as usual and the fence will not be built.
They tried this 2 years ago during the last election. Once the 2006 election was over **POOF** the funding for the fence was canceled! I don’t think I am going to fall for this again.
Bush Administration to Issue Waivers to Build U.S.-Mexico Border Fence.........
jorge...clueless condi and company....won’t build the fence between the US and mexico.....
they are too busy giving money to egypt to build a fence to keep out the f’n pali muzzies!!!!
The first hispanic president actually want’s this! OMG
This should be trumpeted loudly (as needed) when the greenies whine about how the fence will disrupt some delicate ecosystem.
About time!
This isn’t just environmental laws that are waived.
This also streamlines the takings of private land along the border.
You owe it to yourselves to become educated about this! This could be YOUR home next!