House Approves Secure Fence Act
Legislation Largely Mirrors Dreier-Sponsored Amendment Passed Last Year

September 14, 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas,CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, voted today to approve legislation that will authorize strategic fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border. H.R. 6061, The Secure Fence Act of 2006, which is similar to an amendment Dreier sponsored to the House-passed border security bill last year, was approved with bipartisan support, 283-138, with one member voting present.

"We know strategic fencing can be an effective tool in the effort to secure our border and fight crime in border communities," Dreier said. "The 14-mile fence along the San Diego-Mexico border is a great example of this. Not only has the region seen a drop in illegal border crossings, it has also seen a 47 percent drop in violent crime since construction of the fence. This fence has also forced drug smugglers, who once easily crossed the San Diego border, to instead attempt to enter through major ports of entry. This significantly increases the likelihood of discovery and seizure of illegal narcotics entering the country."

H.R. 6061 authorizes the construction of border fencing at five specific border zones where deaths are common, drug smuggling is rampant and illegal border crossings are numerous. The measure also mandates that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) achieve and maintain operational control over the entire border through a "virtual fence" that deploys cameras, ground sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and integrated surveillance technology. In addition, H.R. 6061 requires DHS to provide all necessary authority to border personnel to disable fleeing vehicles, similar to the authority held by the U.S. Coast Guard for maritime vessels. Finally, the bill requires DHS to assess vulnerabilities on the U.S.-Canada border.

Dreier noted that fencing carried humanitarian concerns as well as security ones. "Unfortunately, hazardous border conditions have left more nearly 1,500 immigrants dead over the past four years. For security and humanitarian reasons, we must physically secure the most heavily trafficked sectors of our southern border."

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