After my recent post on Redstate.com, I spent time going through the comments. One of the many points taken from reading those comments was that the American people no longer trust the government to do what it says it will do. Especially when it comes to the issue of immigration, many feel that any legislation, regardless of the language, is not worth the paper it is written on because the federal government does not follow through. With that in mind, I recently sent a letter to DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff in an effort to get the ball rolling on re-establishing trust.

As I said in the letter, on the issue of immigration, the border fence is an issue that is foremost on the minds of most Americans. However, there is no way, currently, for the taxpayer to see what has been built, what is scheduled to be built, and what is yet to be planned. In the letter I said,

Giving the American people mechanisms to monitor the progress of the fence will go a long way toward restoring confidence, and helping us move forward with needed reforms. Securing our borders is a fundamental responsibility, and it is worth devoting some modest resources to let people see what is being done. When millions map their trips online or view their own neighborhoods on GoogleEarth®, making it possible for concerned citizens to see for themselves where the fence has been completed, where it is being built, and where it is scheduled to be built, updated in real time, is not a Herculean task. In addition, webcams at construction sites would allow Americans to see the progress with their own eyes.

When you and I traveled to the Yuma sector last February to see the progress of the border fence, what we saw and heard show that the fence is beginning to work. With information so readily available, and technology so inexpensive, there is no reason the American people should not be able to view the progress being made toward securing the border. The men and women who patrol everyday deserve their efforts to be known and the American people deserve to see what they are paying for.

Some will say “why show coyotes and smugglers where the fence has been built?” However, I can assure you that the areas that have yet to be constructed, or areas that are not scheduled for construction, are already well known to smugglers, criminals, and drug traffickers. What I believe this will do is light a fire under DHS and the government in general, to complete the fence mandated by Congress. In addition, it will allow the American people to see that words on paper here in Congress, get translated into action. Only after the American people have faith in their government to do what it says it will do, can we hope to enjoy the support of the people in reforming our immigration system.

Permalink