Comment Of Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.,
Ranking Member, Judiciary Committee,
On President Bush’s Signing Of The Secure Fence Act Of 2006
October 26, 2006

“I share the disappointment of tens of millions of Americans who hoped the President would have exercised his constitutional authority to veto this costly, cobbled-together and mean-spirited law.  The President seems to have abandoned his principles in signing the Secure Fence Act, given his previous support for fair comprehensive immigration reform.  This bill is neither fair nor comprehensive.  It will cost between $2 billion and $9 billion and fail to perform as advertised to seal our 2,000 mile southern border with a 700-mile fence.  It is a pricey ‘bumper sticker’ law passed to curry favor before the midterm elections and timed by Congressional Republicans and the White House to achieve maximum impact.  That this President -- who speaks about the need for comprehensive immigration reform and who came to office as a former Governor of the State of Texas -- would abandon his principles and endorse this crass political ploy is disappointing and wrong. 

“The President has said many times that in order for the United States to achieve real security, we must have comprehensive immigration reform, which must include a realistic solution to bring out of the shadows the millions of undocumented immigrants in the country and to meet the pressing needs of employers for willing workers along with border security.  In numerous statements, including a speech in Mission, Texas, in August 2006, he recognized that without all components of comprehensive reform working together, immigration reform will not work.  In addition, his Secretary of Homeland Security has not recommended wasting these billions of dollars to construct a 700-mile fence along our 2,000-mile southern border.  To the contrary, the recommendations of Secretary Chertoff for authority to utilize barriers were followed and incorporated in S.2611, which authorized 370 miles of fencing along the southern border.  

“I will continue working to enact legislation that will secure America’s borders, strengthen our economy and bring about a realistic solution to the millions of people who want to work and live legally in our country.  I will continue to support fair and comprehensive immigration reform and to respect the dignity of those who seek to join mainstream American society and to better their lives in the United States.  Scarring our southwestern landscape with a symbol of fear, pandering and intolerance offends the great heritage of our Nation while sending the wrong message to our neighbors and to the world about American values.” 

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