House Approves U.S.-Mexican Border Fence

[gilliam]

The House voted for the second time in a year to erect a fence along a third of the U.S.-Mexican border, part of a Republican effort to keep illegal immigration an issue before voters.

A new 700 miles of double-layered fencing won approval on a 283-138 vote, a bigger margin than last December when the House passed it as part of a broader bill that also would have made being an illegal immigrant a felony. The nearly 2,000-mile border now has about 75 miles of fencing.

http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/...ap3018417.html

[Jeffrey]

Good... at least its a start.

Originally Posted by gilliam

The House voted for the second time in a year to erect a fence along a third of the U.S.-Mexican border, part of a Republican effort to keep illegal immigration an issue before voters.

A new 700 miles of double-layered fencing won approval on a 283-138 vote, a bigger margin than last December when the House passed it as part of a broader bill that also would have made being an illegal immigrant a felony. The nearly 2,000-mile border now has about 75 miles of fencing.

http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/...ap3018417.html

[Lance]

IMO this is just white wash. No party either the Dems or Reps are serious about the problem. We have an illegal woman in Chicago who was scheduled for deportation over a month ago, she is holed up in a store front church and claiming sanctuary. She was working at O'Hare using a fake Social security card and has a long history of being deported and then returning illegally. She says just because her son is an American she should be allowed to stay. She never married the childs father and it looks like the only reason she had him was so she would have a reson to stay in the US. Why is she still here? No one in government wants to really solve the problem, they just hope we won't notice that they are not doing anything to solve it.

[Ituyu]

"Democrats accused Republicans of playing upon voters' fears to score political points. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, said Republicans were trying to confuse Americans into thinking "Osama Bin Laden is heading north in a sombrero."

It's silly! Not one "illegal" immigrant coming across our southern border had any connection with 9/11 but we're willing to spend 2 to 7 billion dollars to stop people that weren't part of the problem. All we need to do is to provide a viable legal option to these people that they will underwrite with fees and we can concentrate on the real culprits. Instead, we feed off fear, paranoia and prejudice in order to garner a few votes. As a Republican, I'm ashamed to admit my party affiliation.

[Oscar Ubaldo]

Although the US government have the responsability to look for a resolution to what remains a serious problem, I believe building a fence will send an extremelly damaging message concerning the will and the ability of the US to deal with the greatest challenges which lie ahead.

First of all, it will send the wrong message. One of fear and doubt. This will ressemble the situation during WWII when many japanese people where put behind fences just for beeing japanese. Now the US wants to use other fences to keep other people away. This will represent a victory for terrorism whose aim is not to cause damage per se but to force a change in behavior by introducing permanent fear in everyday's life.

Second, another wrong message will be the one received by those who will see that fence built in front of them. A fence between them and some of their dreams. Most of the people who enter the US, and illegally stay, do so out of desire for a better life. Mexicans and latin americans, will feel humiliated and this is not the best way to collaborate and work together to address this problem. The real solution is to motivate people to stay in their countries. That's where the US should concentrate its efforts.

Third, the fence will most certainly be a waste of money. Many of the illegall immigrants, if not most of them, enter the US through legal means, as the 9/11 terrorists did. The resources need to be used elsewhere.

A final though, for now,through effort and ingenuity, the US have succeded in creating a society that attracts many people from all over the world. One of US's success factors has been its demonstrated capacity to integrate these people. A growing population is still a strong motivation for economic growth. Moreover, the US still endeavors to attract the best people in many areas, with the consequence that quite often the very people who could help improve the situation in developing countries already live, legaly, in the US. Instead of building fences to block those deem unworthy of coming to the US, why not have the will and imagine ways to motivate the bright people to go back to their countries to help improve the situation back there?

In conclusion, the fence is a waste of money and a bad response to a real problem.

[wabrams]

Originally Posted by Oscar Ubaldo

Second, another wrong message will be the one received by those who will see that fence built in front of them. A fence between them and some of their dreams.

They can have the fence between their dreams of coming here illegally taken doen as soon as the fence around Ft. Knox is taken down so I can live out my dreams by illegally taking something and be filthy rich.

[LRThunder]

Originally Posted by Ituyu

"Democrats accused Republicans of playing upon voters' fears to score political points. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, said Republicans were trying to confuse Americans into thinking "Osama Bin Laden is heading north in a sombrero."

It's silly! Not one "illegal" immigrant coming across our southern border had any connection with 9/11 but we're willing to spend 2 to 7 billion dollars to stop people that weren't part of the problem. All we need to do is to provide a viable legal option to these people that they will underwrite with fees and we can concentrate on the real culprits. Instead, we feed off fear, paranoia and prejudice in order to garner a few votes. As a Republican, I'm ashamed to admit my party affiliation.

We agree that illegal immigration has/had nothing to do with 9/11, but it is a problem in of itself. A country that cannot, or should I say, will not control its own borders is proving less and less that it should be sovereign.

[Damascus]

Fence the whole thing in for crying out loud already. What is the point if I only fence in a small section of my property? Do it right or don't do it at all.

If I leave my home with the door open or unlocked, should I be amazed if I return to a crime scene?

[Ituyu]

Originally Posted by LRThunder

We agree that illegal immigration has/had nothing to do with 9/11, but it is a problem in of itself. A country that cannot, or should I say, will not control its own borders is proving less and less that it should be sovereign.

Well at least you admit that we have no reason to fear these people as a security threat. But, guess what? A fence is only as good as its weakest link. Heard that before? It's almost comical that we would waste time, resources and personnel saving ourselves from poor people who want to work? We can easily funnel them through a legal process that they would underwrite through fees and weed out undesirables. A fence along our southern border will not net us a "security" benefit without a fence around our northern border and around the rest of the country. I think this really unmasks the true intent of this fence and it has nothing to do with our security.

[mlchance]

Originally Posted by Ituyu

Well at least you admit that we have no reason to fear these people as a security threat.

Drug dealers with small private armies on the Mexican-American border aren't a security threat?

Originally Posted by Ituyu

It's almost comical that we would waste time, resources and personnel saving ourselves from poor people who want to work?

How about saving those poor people from the coyotes who exploit and sometimes kill them? Would that be okay with you?

Originally Posted by Ituyu

A fence along our southern border will not net us a "security" benefit without a fence around our northern border and around the rest of the country.

Because there's lots of illegal immigrants from, say, Guatemala that are booking passage to Canada in order to come across the St. Laurence River?

Originally Posted by Ituyu

I think this really unmasks the true intent of this fence and it has nothing to do with our security.

Ah, yes. The only people who want to secure the southern border are racists, right?

-- Mark L. Chance.

[Damascus]

Originally Posted by Ituyu

Well at least you admit that we have no reason to fear these people as a security threat. But, guess what? A fence is only as good as its weakest link. Heard that before? It's almost comical that we would waste time, resources and personnel saving ourselves from poor people who want to work? We can easily funnel them through a legal process that they would underwrite through fees and weed out undesirables. A fence along our southern border will not net us a "security" benefit without a fence around our northern border and around the rest of the country. I think this really unmasks the true intent of this fence and it has nothing to do with our security.

Your post is so absurd. Fine, if the fence as you say is only as strong as its weakest link- then lets make it stronger.
You think the Northern border has been a problem? Ha. Prove it.
Somehow, I think you will find that they don't have a propensity to break our laws like our "friends" you speak of.
"and the rest of the country"- hey if you want to get here the way some cubans have - and have landed on our soil after the way they had to get here- WELCOME in! But to jump a border - to break the law, hey-no cigar, cuban or otherwise.

You won't be happy until we go over there in a luxury bus and pick these law breakers up and bring them here.

Good Luck with that one.

[Ituyu]

Originally Posted by Damascus

Your post is so absurd. Fine, if the fence as you say is only as strong as its weakest link- then lets make it stronger.
You think the Northern border has been a problem? Ha. Prove it.
Somehow, I think you will find that they don't have a propensity to break our laws like our "friends" you speak of.
"and the rest of the country"- hey if you want to get here the way some cubans have - and have landed on our soil after the way they had to get here- WELCOME in! But to jump a border - to break the law, hey-no cigar, cuban or otherwise.

You won't be happy until we go over there in a luxury bus and pick these law breakers up and bring them here.

Good Luck with that one.

Don't be ludicrous! Canada is the number 4 source of "Illegal" immigration in the US. But, "terrorism" is the issue. None of the 9/11 terrorists came here "illegally". A fence fails to address the real issue at all.

[Damascus]

Originally Posted by Ituyu

Don't be ludicrous! Canada is the number 4 source of "Illegal" immigration in the US. But, "terrorism" is the issue. None of the 9/11 terrorists came here "illegally". A fence fails to address the real issue at all.

Dear Ituyu-
I have 2 questions for you.
1) who is number 1 source of illegal immigration?
2)Terrorisim is not mentioned as the reason for this fence.
Why do you bring it into the conversation?



Also- I note you have no objection to the luxury bus pick up plan.....

[Ituyu]

Originally Posted by mlchance

Drug dealers with small private armies on the Mexican-American border aren't a security threat?



How about saving those poor people from the coyotes who exploit and sometimes kill them? Would that be okay with you?



Because there's lots of illegal immigrants from, say, Guatemala that are booking passage to Canada in order to come across the St. Laurence River?



Ah, yes. The only people who want to secure the southern border are racists, right?

-- Mark L. Chance.

Those are not part of the people coming here to work. Violante Felons on our side of the border are fair game. But those guys already have tunnels to get here.

I'm glad to see that you're so concerned about "coyotes" might do. But again, if we had a viable system to bring them here they would not resort to them.

I don't fear the poor who come here to work no matter where their from. I fear the fearsome, paranoid and prejudiced minds that would put the blame on them.

While there is without question a "racist" element to this issue there are those who are simply afraid and paranoid and allow themselves to believe that the poor are the bad guys.

[Damascus]

Yes terrorism is mentioned, i will concede to that- but it is not the only reason or the compelling reason if one really thinks about it.

It is however a valid concern.

Mexico is not a country I want to trust to keep terrorists from using them to get here.

You can buy off any mexican offical w/enough money.

If it were a honest government- Mexico would be a thriving country. Not one that has its citizens literally risking their lives to get here.