Hunter-Dreier Sponsored Fence Amendment Approved By House

December 16, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, applauded passage tonight of an amendment he co-sponsored with Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and several other House colleagues that will focus federal resources on building border fences where they are most needed. The amendment to H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005, was approved with bipartisan support, 260-159.

"Border fences are a security tool with proven results," Dreier said. "This amendment allows us to target our federal resources where they are need most - five specific border crossings with the highest number of immigrant deaths, instances of drug smuggling and illegal crossings. Building these fences will save money by eliminating the need for more agents and equipment to patrol these sectors. They may also save lives by reducing the probability of treacherous crossings. This amendment is good border policy."

The amendment mandates the construction of specific security fencing in five border zones totaling 698 miles. They are the Tecate, California Port of Entry (POE) which is located in East San Diego County beyond the existing fence structure (22 miles total), Calexico, California POE to Douglas, Arizona POE (361 miles total), Columbus, New Mexico to El Paso, Texas (88 miles), Del Rio, Texas to Eagle Pass, Texas (51 miles), and Laredo, Texas to Brownsville, Texas (176 miles). It calls for at least two layers of reinforced fencing, the installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors. In addition, the amendment allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to use alternative means to secure areas that may be too topographically difficult to construct a fence, such as a mountain range. These alternative means include the use of surveillance and barrier tools.

Dreier pointed to the 14 mile fence along the San Diego-Mexico border as proof that fences can be effective border security tools. Illegal alien apprehensions along the San Diego fenced region dropped from over 202,000 in 1992 to about 9,000 in 2004. Further, it is estimated that the apprehensions versus attempts ratio increased to over 90 percent during the same time period. Additionally, vehicle drive-throughs in the region have fallen between 6-10 per day before construction of the border infrastructure, to only 4 in 2004 and only in locations where the fence is incomplete. Dreier thanked his California colleague Congressman Hunter for his leadership on the issue.

DREIER ON HUNTER-DREIER AMENDMENT: DIAL-UP / BROADBAND