LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND:

“Complete the Fence Act” that will require the completion of 700 miles of reinforced pedestrian fencing along the nation’s southern border by December 31, 2010. The bill also requires the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report to Congress by June 2009 on fence construction progress and how it plans to complete the full fence by the 2010 deadline.

In September 2006, Congress overwhelmingly passed and the President signed a bill that required 700 miles of reinforced fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border. The “Complete the Fence Act” will require DHS to complete the 700 miles fence by December 31, 2010, using only reinforced pedestrian fencing, not vehicle barriers or “virtual” fencing.

At a U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee hearing, U.S. Border Patrol officials admitted that the “virtual fencing”, which was to account for nearly 300 miles of the 700 mile fence, is not working as promised and will not be operational for at least 3 more years. The technology encountered numerous problems that included: software integration, synching cameras with the radar systems, trouble identifying objects among desert trees, rain interference, and easy targets for drug traffickers to disable.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION:

The nonpartisan Pew Hispanic Center estimates that about 850,000 illegal immigrants enter the U.S. each year.

TERRORISM:

The Office of National Drug Control Policy released an unclassified counternarcotics strategy for the southwest border in 2007, stating: “Since the events of September 11, 2001, the Southwest Border has assumed even greater significance. The threat of terrorism looms large wherever criminals regularly exploit gaps in homeland security. Terrorists could conceivably attempt to enter the United States or smuggle weapons of mass destruction (WMD) across the Southwest Border by utilizing routes and methods established by drug and alien smugglers.”

DRUG SMUGGLING:

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 65% of the cocaine smuggled into the U.S. comes through across the Mexican border. DEA also reports that large amounts of heroin, crystal meth and marijuana are routinely smuggled at the southern border.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING:

The U.S. State Department estimates “about 17,000 people are being "trafficked" from Mexico into the United States each year. That number includes migrant workers, and women and children brought into the United States for purposes of commercial and sexual exploitation.”

DRUG VIOLENCE AT THE BORDER:

More than 2,500 people were killed in drug violence in Mexico last year and more than 300 have died so far this year as cartels smuggling cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana fight each other for control of routes to the United States. -Rueters “Five killed in Mexico border city amid drug war” 3/5/2008

Since the beginning of the year, Juárez has suffered an onslaught of killings – 72 as of Wednesday – most of them tied to organized crime. They are the result of a bloody fight for control of drug distribution routes to U.S. cities, including Dallas. And U.S. and Mexican law enforcement officials say the worst is yet to come...The surge in violence is generating much concern across the border in El Paso – worries buttressed by a recent El Paso Times/News Channel 9 poll that showed 64 percent of El Paso residents fear that Juárez violence is spilling into the U.S. -Dallas Morning News “Many worried Ju�rez's bloody drug war spilling into U.S.” 2/28/08