The Border Fence that Isn’t: DHS Fiddles While the Invasion Continues

Cross posted from   The Virtuous Republic

I came across an interesting story from Congressional Quarterly regarding the status of the Secure Fence Act of 2006.  The gist of the story is that it isn’t being built.

Here is the original text of the Secure Fence Act that passed by Congress and was signed by the President:

 

H.R.6061

One Hundred Ninth Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,

the third day of January, two thousand and six

An Act

To establish operational control over the international land and maritime borders of the United States.

      Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

      This Act may be cited as the `Secure Fence Act of 2006′.

SEC. 2. ACHIEVING OPERATIONAL CONTROL ON THE BORDER.

      (a) In General- Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take all actions the Secretary determines necessary and appropriate to achieve and maintain operational control over the entire international land and maritime borders of the United States, to include the following–

            (1) systematic surveillance of the international land and maritime borders of the United States through more effective use of personnel and technology, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, ground-based sensors, satellites, radar coverage, and cameras; and

            (2) physical infrastructure enhancements to prevent unlawful entry by aliens into the United States and facilitate access to the international land and maritime borders by United States Customs and Border Protection, such as additional checkpoints, all weather access roads, and vehicle barriers.

      (b) Operational Control Defined- In this section, the term `operational control’ means the prevention of all unlawful entries into the United States, including entries by terrorists, other unlawful aliens, instruments of terrorism, narcotics, and other contraband.

      (c) Report- Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the progress made toward achieving and maintaining operational control over the entire international land and maritime borders of the United States in accordance with this section.

SEC. 3. CONSTRUCTION OF FENCING AND SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS IN BORDER AREA FROM PACIFIC OCEAN TO GULF OF MEXICO.

      Section 102(b) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-208; 8 U.S.C. 1103 note) is amended–

            (1) in the subsection heading by striking `Near San Diego, California’; and

            (2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

            `(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.’.

SEC. 4. NORTHERN BORDER STUDY.

      (a) In General- The Secretary of Homeland Security shall conduct a study on the feasibility of a state of-the-art infrastructure security system along the northern international land and maritime border of the United States and shall include in the study–

            (1) the necessity of implementing such a system;

            (2) the feasibility of implementing such a system; and

            (3) the economic impact implementing such a system will have along the northern border.

      (b) Report- Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that contains the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).

SEC. 5. EVALUATION AND REPORT RELATING TO CUSTOMS AUTHORITY TO STOP CERTAIN FLEEING VEHICLES.

      (a) Evaluation- Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall–

            (1) evaluate the authority of personnel of United States Customs and Border Protection to stop vehicles that enter the United States illegally and refuse to stop when ordered to do so by such personnel, compare such Customs authority with the authority of the Coast Guard to stop vessels under section 637 of title 14, United States Code, and make an assessment as to whether such Customs authority should be expanded;

            (2) review the equipment and technology available to United States Customs and Border Protection personnel to stop vehicles described in paragraph (1) and make an assessment as to whether or not better equipment or technology is available or should be developed; and

            (3) evaluate the training provided to United States Customs and Border Protection personnel to stop vehicles described in paragraph (1).

      (b) Report- Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that contains the results of the evaluation conducted under subsection (a).

Now that you have read the bill, here is the bad news, the DHS isn’t following the law.  So far,  only “Fourteen of the 700 miles of the fencing required by the Secure Fence Act have been built, in Arizona, and it is a single rather than double layer, according to Kasper, who said Hunter’s office consults with Border Patrol.”  And this little bit of fencing isn’t even up to the standards set in the legislation.

Notice the evasive response from a DHS spokesman Keehner who said, “86 miles of fencing exist on the Mexican border…” Notice he didn’t say that DHS had built 86 miles of the required fencing so far, just that 86 miles of fencing exists.  

Funding is not an issue and over $1.2 billion has been allocated for the construction of the fence in bill PL 109-295 according to this article. 

According to a spokesman for Hunter, the bill, which you can read above, sets out several dates that are to be met.  One was a May 2007 date, in which a camera system was to be installed along the border in California and Arizona.  This hasn’t been accomplished.

Do we really think the 2008 and 2009 deadlines for fencing along the Arizona and Texas borders will be met?  Do you believe Chertoff when he says that DHS will have control of the southwest border by 2011?

If you do, you might want to reconsider our elite’s commitment to border security as signified by their actions.  Not only have they not followed the law as set forth by the Secure Fence Act of 2006, they are now withdrawing half the the National Guardsmen that  were patrolling it: 

The National Guard plans to reduce the number of troops serving along the US-Mexico border in Texas and three other states from about 6,000 to about 3,000, a National Guard Bureau spokesman said Wednesday.

 

Last year President Bush directed the guard to provide support to Border Patrol agents along the 2,000-mile border in a temporary move designed to give the US Customs and Border Protection Agency time to add and train personnel.

 

The reduction should be complete by Sept. 1.

 

“It was never meant to be a permanent solution,” National Guard Bureau spokesman Army Maj. David Kolarik told American Forces Press Service Wednesday.

 

“It was just an intermediate measure to provide support for border security efforts until they brought the additional resources and personnel in line that they needed.”

Have the operational imperatives at the border improved so much that the Guard can be withdrawn? I doubt it.  Instead, it just shows that our elites are more interested in cheap labor than the security of the United States and the safety of its citizens.

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email stiknstein-at-gmail-dot-com and let us know at what level you would like to participate.

Read what other members of CAII have written on the immigration crisis:

States Doing the Jobs American Congressmen Won’t Do

Bush Removes National Guard From Border

Bush removes National Guard from border

Cross posted from    Right Truth

President George W. Bush is now punishing Americans for defeating the immigration bill, by removing national Guard troops from the border. Anyone with a brain would hope Bush and Chertoff would be sealing the border to keep terrorists out. But, alas, they’ve all lost their minds.

National Guard To Withdraw Half Of Its Forces Assisting U.S. Border Patrol (AHN, hat tip Mary Chamberlain)

The National Guard will slash the number of troops stationed along the U.S.-Mexico border in half, according to a new deployment order.The Pentagon will cut the number of soldiers assisting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency from 6,000 to 3,000, following a surge put in place by President George Bush last year to help combat illegal immigration and the drug trade.

President Bush initiated “Operation Jump Start” which put a mostly volunteer force along the 2,000-mile-long border with Mexico. The troops helped take care of administrative duties, freeing up Border Protection agents to keep vigil and make arrests.

National Guard Bureau spokesman Army Maj. David Kolarik said that the deployment “was never meant to be a permanent solution.”

“It was just an intermediate measure to provide support for border security efforts until they brought the additional resources and personnel in line that they needed,” Major Kolarik said.

Also of importance is this news, “Senate hearing to probe Ramos-Compean prosecution
Feinstein examines controversial case of imprisoned U.S. Border Patrol agents“

Others:

Deported Illegal Immigrant and Sex Offender Returns to Butler County, the Virtuous Republican

Iced, the Video Game, GA Crime Watch

Invading the US for Dummies, Tom’s Flashbacks

Expose of North American Union shoots up best-seller charts, Freedom Fighter’s Radio Show

This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to
learn more. Afterwards, email stiknstein-at-gmail-dot-com and let us know at what level you would like to participate.

States doing the Jobs American Congressmen won’t do

Cross posted from    Stiknstein…has no mercy

WHY DO WE PAY THESE GUYS ANYHOW?

Congress failed to give the gift that would keep on giving.
Public outrage prevented them from giving big businesses a never ending supply of legal cheap labor…..
As disappointing as that must have been to those who need slave labor, our Representatives DID manage to do the next best thing………………

NOTHING!

It’s the one thing (besides voting themselves raises) they seem to be proficient at. So the status Quo will continue…….The border will not be secure, Illegal immigrants will continue to clog our hospitals and prisons, swell the ranks of folks on the public dole, commit the extra crimes in our neighborhoods congress feels we need, and business?……Because they couldn’t get their legal cheap labor, will continue to hire cheap illegal labor…..providing the incentive for millions of citizens of other countries to help themselves to our tax dollars.

ONE SMALL STEP…………..
There are a couple of bright lights shining on the slackers and incompetents in our Federal Government.

Gov. Janet Napolitano, on July 2, signed into law the Legal Arizona Workers Act, which imposes penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants.

“Because of Congress’ failure to act, states like Arizona have no choice but to take strong action to discourage the further flow of illegal immigration through our borders,” the governor wrote in the legislation’s signing statement.

Under provisions in the law employers who “knowingly” or “intentionally” hire illegal immigrants can lose their business licenses for 10 days followed by three to five years years of probation.

Second offences, which are defined as occurring within the probationary period, can result in the permanent loss of a business license.

……OF COURSE NONE OF ARIZONA’S LEGISLATORS WANTED TO PASS IT, BUT THEY HAD NO CHOICE…THEY WANTED TO KEEP THEIR JOBS.

We all know the reason…..those pesky CONSTITUENTS!
Of course the Contractors Association is already educating it’s contractors as to their loophole options…..

“This (law) could have a devastating effect if it’s not taken carefully,” said Ed Taczanowsky, president of the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association.
Taczanowsky said the group will focus its efforts in the coming months to educate its membership on compliance with the law.

TRANSLATION: How to get around the law……….

Flavia Jimenez, an immigration policy analyst with the National Council of La Raza, said the legislation will likely push industries such as construction into relying more heavily on subcontractors.
Jimenez said by using subcontractors, construction firms can easily “look the other way” when it comes to workers’ immigration status.

How far the law will go to reduce illegal immigration in a state with an estimated 500,000 illegal immigrants remains to be seen.

“This state relies on cheap labor,” Rep. Saradnik said. “It’s a dirty little secret.”
SOURCE

AND ANOTHER ONE………..
And there is actually one Federal employee willing to do what Chertoff says we are incapable of doing. In Salt Lake City, The U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed a request in federal court for forfeiture of the homes to the government because they allegedly had been used to harbor people who had entered the country illegally.
An illegal immigrant making $10 an hour somehow managed to buy four houses to rent to other illegal immigrants. When they busted her on drug charges, and arrested the dozens of illegal immigrants in her houses, probably figured she couldn’t afford four houses without something unlawful going on……..
DOH…….!
STORY HERE

One way of another, Americans will see that their demands met. Lawmakers will be forced to recognize the impact illegal immigration is having on us. Business may have the ability to buy them off, but we outnumber them when it comes to the voting booth.
Our politicians will have to be dragged kicking and screaming to do the jobs we hired them to do…..

We know that now…….

IT USED TO BE EASIER FOR THEM TO IGNORE US.

NOT ANY MORE

ARE WE BECOMING SMARTER?

WE WILL SEE HOW SMART COME ELECTION TIME

This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration
(CAII).
“illegal immigration”
If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email the coalition and let us know at what level you would like to participate.