Obama's plan: No extension of border fence

[WoodysGirl]

Rep. Green applauds move, calling barrier ineffective

By STEWART M. POWELL Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle

May 7, 2009, 8:28PM

WASHINGTON — President Obama’s budget blueprint Thursday shelved extension of the controversial border fence beyond the 670 miles already completed or planned — rejecting the much-heralded security approach orchestrated by former President George W. Bush.

The Obama administration’s turnabout left funds for roads, lights and so-called tactical infrastructure — but not a dime to extend the pedestrian fencing and vehicle barriers erected along roughly a third of the nation’s 1,947-mile border with Mexico.

As a Democratic senator representing Illinois, Obama joined 79 other senators in 2006 to support construction of the barrier system, intended to keep immigrants from crossing into the United States illegally.

The top financial officer at the Department of Homeland Security, Peggy Sherry, and her team told reporters Thursday that the Obama administration would not extend a barrier network that has irked neighboring Mexico and raised concerns among immigrant advocates.

Some Texas’ landowners have stubbornly challenged the fence project, denying or delaying federal access to survey their property in legal warfare that prolonged construction along some parts of the border.

As recently as last October, the federal government had completed just a one half-mile section of the 110 miles of pedestrian border fence promised in Texas.

Chad Foster, mayor of Eagle Pass and head of the Texas Border Coalition, welcomed the decision. “We’ve always wanted to stop the fence right where it is,” Foster said.

The Obama administration asked Congress for $779 million for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 for border security-related expenses that included installation of technology, tactical infrastructure and completion of some of the remaining 46 miles of barriers.

That represents a significant drop from the $1.9 billion spent on the same activities by the Bush administration in fiscal 2008 and the $926 million set aside by the outgoing administration for the current fiscal year.

“There are additional funds for implementation, some additional (money for) roads, lights some additional tactical infrastructure,” said one official. “In terms of any particular set (number of) additional miles of fence, there’s nothing specifically identified as money for further miles of fence.”

Cheers and jeers
The Obama administration will continue efforts “to finish up the fencing to get as close to the 670 miles of fence that has been previously identified,” the official said.

Claude Knighten, a spokesman for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, said contractors had completed 322.2 miles of the 370 miles of planned pedestrian fencing and 302 miles of the planned vehicle fencing.

Democratic Rep. Gene Green of Houston applauded Obama’s move, describing the barriers as “a small deterrent and not very effective.”

Others were disappointed by the measure, including Republican Reps. John Culberson of Houston, Kevin Brady of The Woodlands, and Michael McCaul of Austin.

Culberson said it amounted to “more proof that the new administration will not truly secure our borders.”

Jennifer A. Dlouhy and Carolyn Lochhead contributed reporting.

stewart.powell@chron.com

[jrumann59]

How can you claim something a barrier when there are open sections in it? Just wondering, also how can you judge effectiveness if there are ways around it.

[trickblue]

So another 4 years of ignoring the border clearly for political purposes...

[BrAinPaiNt]

Originally Posted by trickblue

So another 4 years of ignoring the border clearly for political purposes...

It's frustrating. When was the last time a President/congress/senate took this seriously?

I think Ronny even was soft on this issue if memory serves and that was a long time ago.

I just don't get it, hard to do anything about the ones in the country if you don't shore up the borders.

Like a boat with a hole in it, you can bail and bail that water out but if you don't plug the hole, the water is just going to keep coming in.

[trickblue]

Originally Posted by BrAinPaiNt

It's frustrating. When was the last time a President/congress/senate took this seriously?

I think Ronny even was soft on this issue if memory serves and that was a long time ago.

I just don't get it, hard to do anything about the ones in the country if you don't shore up the borders.

Like a boat with a hole in it, you can bail and bail that water out but if you don't plug the hole, the water is just going to keep coming in.

It's more frustrating to Texans than anyone...

No need to make new laws since we selectively enforce the ones we already have...

[ShiningStar]

Originally Posted by BrAinPaiNt

It's frustrating. When was the last time a President/congress/senate took this seriously?

I think Ronny even was soft on this issue if memory serves and that was a long time ago.

I just don't get it, hard to do anything about the ones in the country if you don't shore up the borders.

Like a boat with a hole in it, you can bail and bail that water out but if you don't plug the hole, the water is just going to keep coming in.

I think Ronny did quite well considering what was on the plate and other problems we had compared to a border that wasnt a huge deal back than.

[Temo]

Originally Posted by trickblue

It's more frustrating to Texans than anyone...

Then why not build it yourselves?

[trickblue]

Originally Posted by Temo

Then why not build it yourselves?

Be glad to but the US government won't allow it...

Texans are very frustrated with Washington's handling of the situation, but we can't do much about it as it is a federal matter...

[Temo]

Originally Posted by trickblue

Be glad to but the US government won't allow it...

Texans are very frustrated with Washington's handling of the situation, but we can't do much about it as it is a federal matter...

I see. I have to admit I'm not very familiar with the issue.

[trickblue]

Originally Posted by Temo

I see. I have to admit I'm not very familiar with the issue.

Well it's easy to sit in Washington and other states not near the border and cry that we need to have amnesty, but we live in the trenches down here... and it is really bad in regards to the rights they are afforded...

[arglebargle]

How does this fit with the other topic on the board about the push for more modern electronic monitoring of the border? Is it a disagreement about tactics as well?

I know that when I was reading up on it, there were lots of American locals along the border who did not like the Border Wall, and though it was not that useful, and something of a vanity project. Haven't seen much about the actual effect of it in sections where it's up. Would really like to see a lot of off-the-record opinions from the Border Patrol

[Doomsday101]

Well if we can't build the fence maybe we can build a rest stop and little cabins for the Illegal immigrants because it appears this administration has no intent to secure the boarders or stop the flow of illegal immigration into the United States.

[ShiningStar]

Originally Posted by Doomsday101

Well if we can't build the fence maybe we can build a rest stop and little cabins for the Illegal immigrants because it appears this administration has no intent to secure the boarders or stop the flow of illegal immigration into the United States.

Thats what they want to do DD, the government just wants to make us pay for it.

[Doomsday101]

Originally Posted by ShiningStar

Thats what they want to do DD, the government just wants to make us pay for it.

We always pay for it Government only gets money from us. From what I can see this administration has no intent at all to stop or slow down the mass illegals entering the US. It may not be a big deal in Chicago but when you are living on a boarder state it is a big deal for many or us.

[ShiningStar]

Originally Posted by Doomsday101

We always pay for it Government only gets money from us. From what I can see this administration has no intent at all to stop or slow down the mass illegals entering the US. It may not be a big deal in Chicago but when you are living on a boarder state it is a big deal for many or us.

Why would they stop it, thats future votes they can count on.