Laredo says "No fence here!"

Today the Senate will debate a bill that would authorize building a 700-mile fence along the US-Mexican border. Will they take into account what the people of Laredo want, which is to not build it there?

"I oppose the wall," said Laredo Mayor Raul Salinas, who spent 27 years as an FBI agent.

Salinas said federal officials are failing to recognize the unique relationships between communities on both sides of the border.

"We obviously support the efforts of federal government to enforce the nation's immigration laws, but ... I think we ought to be building bridges of friendship and not fences," said Salinas, who planned to send a letter to Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, asking him to vote against the bill.

[...]

Cornyn and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, also a Texas Republican, said they oppose Congress stipulating where fencing should be built rather than allowing local officials to help the Department of Homeland Security make those decisions.

"The border states have borne a heavy financial burden from illegal immigration," Hutchison said in a statement. "Their local officials are on the front lines. They should be part of the solution."

Cornyn said today he would vote for the final bill.

Apparently, he doesn't oppose it all that much. Those of you who are surprised can stay after class and clap the erasers.

Backers of the fence bill have said it reflects the demand of the American people for border security.

"That's not what I'm hearing from my constituents," said Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, who has voted against the fence both times it has come up in the House.

He said his voters want border security, but also want to see a guest worker program and other reforms aimed at illegal immigrants already living here.

"I think there's a more cost-effective way of using taxpayers dollars than putting up a fence," Cuellar said, noting that Homeland Security is awarding an $80 million contract to Boeing to use high-tech ways to guard the border.

The award is supposed to be the first part of a multibillion-dollar Homeland Security plan to help secure the Mexican and Canadian borders.

Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, said Congress' consideration of a bill that would erect the fence at the same time the agency is awarding such a contract demonstrates how politics is trumping policy on the immigration issue.

"Why we think we can do ... (Homeland Security's) job is beyond me," said Reyes, who spent 26 years in the Border Patrol.

San Antonio Republican Rep. Henry Bonilla, whose district includes Del Rio and Eagle Pass, could not be reached for comment.

Typical. One of Bonilla's opponents, Albert Uresti, had the following to say about the border fence. Click the More link to read his press release.

On September 17, 2006, the San Antonio Express-News reported that republican Henry Bonilla voted with other republicans to authorize the construction of a two-layered fence along the border to separate Mexico from the United States. On Tuesday, September 19th, Uresti traveled to Eagle Pass and Maverick County to get feedback on Bonilla's Mexican Wall. Uresti met with citizens, community leaders, business leaders, and elected officials. "Without exception, everyone in Maverick County was against Bonilla's Wall," said Uresti. "Everyone I talked to said that Bonilla's Mexican Wall would not work, including a retired ICE (INS) special agent and supervisor. Everyone also agreed that a wall would have severe economic consequences for border communities," said Uresti. One prominent business leader who had supported Bonilla said that Bonilla blew it with his vote and that a wall would hurt the economy in Maverick County. Like Mr. Uresti, several citizens also stated that it was not that many years ago that we celebrated the tearing down of the Berlin wall and now Bonilla wants to build another one. Several citizens also stated that Mr. Bonilla had lost touch with border communities. "After my visit yesterday to Maverick County, I am now more convinced than ever that Bonilla's Mexican Wall is a bad idea. His vote on this issue is one that the voters will hold him accountable for," said Uresti. Uresti supports increasing border security to stem the flow of illegal drugs and to protect our country against those who wish us harm. Uresti also agrees that the United States must reduce the flow of illegal immigrants along its borders, but he is against building a wall that will not work. Uresti believes there are other ways to stem the flow of illegal immigrants, including hiring more border patrols, getting more electronic surveillance equipment, barrier construction at certain key locations (far different from a 700 to 2000 mile wall), and providing local law enforcement officials with more funds and resources to police our borders. Uresti also believes that the United States must persuade Mexico that they have a large responsibility to correct this problem and that they must play a major role in preventing illegal immigration into the United States from Mexico and other countries. The cost to build "Bonilla's Mexican Wall" will be in the millions, possibly in the billions. "I would rather use billions of dollars for health care for our senior citizens, education for our children, hospitals for our veterans, and the creation of jobs for our working class then build a wall," said Uresti.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on September 21, 2006 to National news | TrackBack