When Is A Fence Not A Fence?
Playing Word Games With America's Security

American Patrol Report   This is not a fence.     In Wednesday's New York Times report on the border, says DHS Secretary Chertoff has acknowledged that " as of last month, about 309 miles of fence had been built." This differs greatly from a recent report from the American Border Patrol that says DHS has built only 95 miles of border fence, and very little of it is of the double fence specified by the Secure Fence Act of 2006.     One difference is that much of the fencing for which Chertoff is taking credit has been in existence for more than ten years, long before the Secure Fence Act of 2006. Adding the old and new fencing gives a total of 183 miles along the Mexican border, not 309 miles as claimed by DHS.     Why the big difference? ABP and DHS figures differ because ABP includes in its fence survey only those structures that are designed to keep people out whereas DHS says a fence can let people in, but keep vehicles out. "Ask the average person who sees a bollard-style vehicle barrier outside a federal building if that is a fence and he will say, no," said Glenn Spencer of ABP. It is clear that the DHS is playing word games with national security.     Adding fencing and vehicle barriers ABP reports there is total of 312 miles. This agrees well with DHS¹s figure of 309 miles. .. Click here to read more