At the end of last year, the President signed into law an omnibus spending bill that included provisions which will dramatically weaken our ability to secure the border and stop the flow of illegal immigrants and potential enemies entering our country. As a staunch supporter of a secure-the-border-first immigration policy, I joined over 100 of my House Republican colleagues in sending a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi requesting that the contentious language included in the omnibus spending bill be removed.
The language undermines important parts of the Secure Fence Act which became law in 2006. The Secure Fence Act contains important requirements and guidelines for the construction of fences along the southern border. It mandates the use of double-layered fencing and outlines specific construction zones and benchmarks to be used.
“ Americans have watched Washington bureaucracy and red tape get in the way all too often. When it comes to the integrity of our borders, the security of the American people, and the sovereignty of our nation, we cannot afford to ignore the damage done by the omnibus spending bill. ”
The American people have been loud and clear about their disappointment with the lack of action on the part of the Federal government to secure our borders. Past Congresses and President Bush have made improvements along the border with the increase in border agents and bringing an end to the policy of ‘catch and release’. However, there is a substantial need for a physical as well as technologically advanced border fence to help stop the flow of illegal immigrants across our borders. This will ensure that our enemies do not use border loopholes to enter the country and harm American families.
The Secure Fence Act was rightfully explicit in requiring a double-layered fence, a specific set of locations to maximize the impact of this security measure, and reasonable benchmarks to hold the government accountable. The giant omnibus spending bill that was rushed through Congress at the end of last year directly undermines our ability to implement this act. Additionally, it contains language that could apply burdensome and wasteful layers of bureaucracy that will hinder and slow the construction of a fence.
Americans have watched Washington bureaucracy and red tape get in the way all too often. When it comes to the integrity of our borders, the security of the American people, and the sovereignty of our nation, we cannot afford to ignore the damage done by the omnibus spending bill.
Congressman Wilson represents the Second Congressional District of South Carolina. He is a member of the Immigration Reform Caucus.
_________________________________________
This post is part of The Palmetto Scoop’s ongoing Sunday Guest Post Series where South Carolina’s leaders make weekly contributions about important political issues. Our thanks go out to Congressman Joe Wilson and his staff for taking part.
This entry was posted on Sunday, February 3rd, 2008 at 8:00 am and is filed under Sunday Guest Post Series. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
NO FENCE!! I hate that idea! Would a fence along the Mexican border stopped 9-11?
We need to move away from this dividing mindset and begin using a united one. This fence idea is a over reaction brought on by too much unrealistic, unnecessary fear!
Rememder “Tear Down That Wall”? So now it’s “Put Up That Wall”.
Ask an American Indian what happens when you do not secure your border.
I hope Joe Wilson made his concerns clear to McCain BEFORE he endorsed him. McCain has been very clear about border security first, but not said whether he still supports the amnesty that renewable “Z” visas would allow.
Joe: If you think we’ve forgotten about all that, think again.
If you have ever received one of Wilson”s form letters in response to an important question, you will understand that you are not dealing with the sharpest crayon in the box.
John McCain will do exactly what he said that he will do and that is to secure the borders and then deal with what is inside these borders. Do not mistake McCain for a Bush because that is a mistake. McCain is a leader not a follower and he will secure the borders and deal with Mexico as a hostile if need be concerning that president of Mexico that is benefiting hand over fist from United States profitt. Of course he doesn’t want the borders secured do you really think that Mac really cares what he wants? Mac’s only concern is our United States and the People within it. The immigration border problem will be first and foremost on his agenda and as you can tell he does not forget anything nor does he go back on his word.
There are so many people in Congress that are wishi-washe that nothing can get done. The only thing that will get these fat-assed idiots off the fence is another 9-11. This will probably happen if we don’t do something about our uncontrolled immigration. We are being taken over by the drug dealers, illigal aliens, and trash from other nations.
WHAT ARE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? ….NOTHING! THEY JUST LOOK AFTER THEIR OWN REARS!
Thank you for this update on the border fence. I normaly could care less about washington issues, because they don’t seem to care about us. But I would like to know who I need to write to get this fencing back on track.
A fence would have not been needed, if the employers of America would not have created this terrible out of balance situation along with our government backing them up. The quest for cheap labor in many areas of business finally got way out of hand, along with terribly undermining the American workforce in the process. The sad thing is, that the American government was knee deep into selling the border patrol and the Americans out, by supporting all the lies and rethoric spewed about (i.e. their just doing the jobs that Americans won’t do). President Bush even spoke this from his own mouth/lips as a supposed representitive of the American workforce of this nation. Talk about betraying the nation for the greed of another. The shamelessness of it all is totally outrageous and obsurd IMO.
All Washington needs overhauling. They don’t think of the middle man, we get taxed with everything. Go after the fat cats and use that tax money for border security, etc. I’m not sure I’m for a fence. I’m for shooting those that come over illegally. That will stop them. I’m tired of our Social Security going to Mexicans and anyone else that comes over here, can’t work or retires and gets the money we have been paying into when they don’t pay .1Cent. Why does our daughter take her son to the emergency room and have to wait 6 hours, and Mexicans come in, no insurance, but get free health care. Is something wrong with this? Also, they get free tuition, free books, etc. for schools and colleges. Hello.
You dig a moat along the border, take the dirt removed from the moat and send to New Orleans to help build up the Levees and fill the moat up with alligators that have been attacking people in Florida for years. Three problems solved at one time.
Charlie
I have not noticed that our current government has done one thing to stop any criminal activity in America. In fact, it appears many members of Congress are complicit in criminal activities of many natures.
We the bigots, are just about tired of all the elected’s get out of jail free cards. Certainly you must be close to playing all of them.
Greed, Congressman Wilson, will get you every single time. It’s important to know that.
Illegal immigrants are almost as convenient a scapegoat as muslims, eh?
Joe Wilson is one of the very few congressmen that is still grounded in reality and has the incite to deliver what his constituants need - the voice of a neighbor , someone who has been through the trials and tribulations of raising children properly in today’s no-holds-barred society. Keeping in mind Joe Wilson’s ‘common struggle,demand,and adventure’ with keeping a family together today, his stance on maintaining the momentum of keeping the ‘great wall of America’ alive is commendable . How can one person honestly see him or herself in the mirror each and every morning if that person does not stand by his or her convictions to not only do what is right , but to MAINTAIN a higher set of standards and goals ….and STAND by his or her actions?
Keep up the good fight and maintain the correct heading and help to steer those that seem to be straying away to special interests back on course Joe !
Thanks for your honest efforts is what I say .