Press Releases - Brady Votes to Build Fence Along U.S. Mexico Border
Brady Votes to Build Fence Along U.S. - Mexico Border
Fence will Deter Illegal Crossings, Support Border Patrol Agents Efforts
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) voted to pass a bill that would erect a 700 mile two-layered reinforced fence along the southwest border of the United States aimed at deterring illegal crossings and help improve border security efforts by the United States Border Patrol.
"Once you've traveled the border it's obvious that each region requires a different strategy. In some areas a well placed fence would be strategic in deterring and delaying illegal crossings, freeing up border agents to apprehend illegal immigrants, drug traffickers, and maintain heightened levels of border security," said Brady.
Border fencing has proven to be an especially effective deterrent against illegal immigration. As an examplein 1996, Congress mandated the construction of a 14-mile fence along the San Diego-Mexico border to stop drug trafficking and the flow of illegal immigration. In the region, illegal alien apprehensions have dropped from approximately 200,000 in 1992 to about 9,000 in 2005. Crime rates have dropped by 47% since construction of the fence.
The length of the Texas-Mexico border is around 2/3 of the total US-Mexico border.
The Secure Fence Act is an emergency measure that would mandate operational control of all borders and ports through enhanced Border Patrol operations, physical barriers, and state-of-the-art technology along the southwest border, including reinforced fencing.
This includes:
· Providing for over 700 miles of two-layered reinforced fencing along the southwest border with prioritized placement at critical, highly populated areas and requiring an evaluation of infrastructure needs along the northern border;
· Mandating 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;
· Requiring DHS to provide all necessary authority to border personnel to disable fleeing vehicles, similar to the authority held by the United States Coast Guard for maritime vessels.
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/tx08_brady/Fence.html