What Is Goin’ On?

Are you concerned about border security?  Do you think your government is actually doing something to secure our borders?  NOT!

On October 24, 2007 the GAO issued a report on the status of the DHS’s (Department of Homeland Security) efforts to build the fence on the border with Mexico. In 2006 those fine people in Congress passed a law, the Secure Fence Act, that required Homeland Security to build 850 miles of fence along specific stretches of the southern border.

DHS was supposed to construct 70 miles of the fence in the first year. The GAO says it built 73 miles, but according to Steve Elliott, the Executive Director of Grassfire.org, the GAO isn’t exactly telling the truth. Yes, 73 miles of fence have been constructed, but only about 5 miles of it is of the type mandated by the law: a double barrier fence. The other 68 miles might keep out a blind man in a wheelchair during a sandstorm–my analogy and totally without a factual basis.

Steve checked out the GAO report by actually going to the border and inspecting the construction of the fence with Glenn Spencer, a member of the American Border Patrol.

Here is what the Secure Fence Act said should be built and where:

(1) SECURITY FEATURES.
(A) REINFORCED FENCING.—In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide for least 2 layers of reinforced fencing, the installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors—
(i) extending from 10 miles west of the Tecate, California, port of entry to 10 miles east of the Tecate, California, port of entry;
(ii) extending from 10 miles west of the Calexico, California, port of entry to 5 miles east of the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry;
(iii) extending from 5 miles west of the Columbus, New Mexico, port of entry to 10 miles east of El Paso, Texas;
(iv) extending from 5 miles northwest of the Del Rio, Texas, port of entry to 5 miles southeast of the Eagle Pass, Texas, port of entry; and
(v) extending 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry to the Brownsville, Texas, port of entry.
(B) PRIORITY AREAS.—With respect to the border described—
(i) in subparagraph (A)(ii), the Secretary shall ensure that an interlocking surveillance camera system is installed along such area by May 30, 2007, and that fence construction is completed by May 30, 2008; and
(ii) in subparagraph (A)(v), the Secretary shall ensure that fence construction from 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry to 15 southeast of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry is completed by December 31, 2008.
(C) EXCEPTION.—If the topography of a specific area has an elevation grade that exceeds 10 percent, the Secretary may use other means to secure such area, including the use of surveillance and barrier tools.

You can see a presentation by Steve Elliott prepared with the help of Google Earth explaining precisely where the fence is. You can also visit American Border Patrol and see the fence that is being built, as well as videos of activity at the border.

If you want to make sure your representatives know how you feel about border security and the construction of the fence, you can sign Grassfire’s online petition.