Border to Remain Open
Conference Report Drops DeMint Fence Amendment
The Hill -- Washington -- October 7
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| Border Patrol vehicle seen driving along border "fence" south of Sierra Vista, Arizona. This "fence" is supposed to protect Ft. Huachuca, location of the Army's Intelligence Center, from terrorists and is in a major smuggling corridor. [Larger Image] |
Appropriators deal blow to border fence
Appropriators dropped a requirement in the 2010 Homeland Security spending bill to rush the construction of a fence at the Mexican border, disappointing conservatives who pushed the project as a way to slow illegal immigration.
The conference report for the $42.8 billion appropriations bill left out language in the Senate's version that required the installation of 700 miles of the border fence by the end of next year. The fence requirement was inserted in July as an amendment sponsored by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.). It was adopted with the support of most GOP senators and 21 Democrats. [...]
DeMint blamed Democrats for "gutting the best tool" for securing the U.S. border.
"Virtual fencing won't solve the problem and we need a real fence to deter the real problems of illegal immigration, terrorism, drug trafficking and human trafficking," he said. "A strong bipartisan Senate majority voted to finish the fence by the end of 2010 and its very disappointing that Democrat leaders are thwarting the will of the American people behind closed doors."
American Patrol Report – October 7, 2009
Upon hearing the news of the defeat of the fence, Glenn Spencer of American Border Patrol said, "We are gearing up to educate the American People about the border before the 2010 elections." Tax-deductible donations to ABP may be made here. |
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