U.S. Mexico Border Fence now 500 Miles Long, Only 170 More To Go

11.21.09

LIFESTYLE

U.S. Mexico Border Fence now 500 Miles Long, Only 170 More To Go

by Yuliana Gomez | 12.18.2008 | 3:25pm | 9 Comments

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Officials at the Department of Homeland security are reporting that Customs and Border Protection has added about 93 miles of fencing to the controversial anti-immigrant fence along the U.S.-Mexico border in 2008, bringing the total length at the end of the year to about 520. “The goal is to complete roughly 670 miles of fencing,” the Department states.

The fence, which has its share of opponents and supporters, has been in construction for several years and was originally scheduled to be fully up by the end of this year. The September 11 attacks reignited the debate to put up a physical barrier between our southern neighbor and the continental U.S. to deter illegal immigration; the fence stretches along the most used illegal traffic areas from the Pacific Ocean to the Texas-New Mexico border.

According to the NY Daily News, since 2006 Congress has set aside $2.7 billion for the fence, but there is no final number for how much it is eventually going to cost to build and maintain. An additional $400 million was recently approved to complete the project.

And the question still remains: how effective is this fence even going to be at curtailing illegal immigration? Supporters cite the already reduced numbers in apprehensions but many detractors still believe, “If you build it, they will climb.” Tell us: What do you think about the border fence?

9 Comments

s0yp0p
12.22.2008
3:16am

First off... . Instead of spending money to rebuild New Orleans (remember that hurricane that destroyed the poor neighborhoods???) or at least throw part of it to education... or health care.... we have a fence. A fence that is supposed to stand against dust storms and the hellish heat of the desert. It represents the arrogance of Americans. *Remember that is was created in the fear of another air attack... that came from Canada.... Second: immigrants help the economy. Unions are great concepts but its going to raise the price of your lettuce 400%. You want to pay 8 dollars for lettuce? Go for it. Third: illegal or not, immigrants are the most responsible citizens this country has. In California you don't have to have a social security to get a mortage... there's another way to get around it. Statisticly speaking, less than once percent of those types of mortages have gone to foreclosure; where as American citizens that went around spending 130% more than what they made ended with a forclosed home because they took out a loan on their home. (this is not the case for everyone... but it is a strong reason WHY it happend.) Immigrants are the most responsible home owners. Period. Fourth: that whole "protect the country" motif is aggravating. Remember that an American citizen blew up a building that had a child day care. This person had a name and an identity that was far from any ethnic or racial stereotype. It was not a minority that went through a high school and slaughtered students and teachers... it's ironic where the biggest threat that is presented on our country is ourselves.

Juan Pesos_The ...
12.20.2008
6:44am

Here's a question, why did the U.S. Government give 1.4 Billion Dollars to Mexico so that it could secure it's southern border with Guatemala and Belize. You know, so that it could keeps out all those dirty illegals from coming into Mexico. What's that called again, oh yeah the Merida Initiative! Could it have something to do with the Security and Prosperity Partnership? What's the SPP you ask it's the PR name for the North American Union, if you don't believe me just go to the State Department website and read or watch for yourself, peace!!!

usafirst
12.19.2008
10:57pm

The fence is great and there should be mine feild along with it. When these border jumping illegals start getting killed, illegal immigation will all of a sudden stop, amazing , illegals get out,and all you mexican loving liberals can get out too. MEXICO SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nae325
12.19.2008
1:37pm

my father entered this country illegally. It doesn't mean he was a bad man or didn't desirve to be here. Just like ALL immigrants, he paid his taxes and worked crazy hours. We forget that those jobs americans do not want, immigrants take. The government makes money on the wages the immigrants earn, so building a fence is contradictory.

honor
12.19.2008
12:21am

people will just climb it? run electric curent on fence! i'am surprised thats not all ready running through fence now! something must be done to really secure that open border to many are being killed just because of that! but to ask american citizens to pay for illegal invaders health care cost" thats nothing more than a scam on american citizens period. texas 678 million dollars spent on people who have no rights even being in our country please! california BUSTED in debt so sorry? why? illegal immigration? over ruled majority on giving benefits to forein invaders when? 1998? clinton years? now today in the nafta bush years californis is BUSTED flat so sorry broke? legal honest american citizens must pick up this criminal tab? border fence security thats the issue PROTECTION of american lives and it's TAX paying people! just the fact MEXICO is in drug war and most if not all drugs come across that open border ding dong! STOP ALERT!!! gangs people peddle drugs for quick easy making cash" to our children??? their is no argument for american security if fence will help protect it's citizens from HARMS WAY! INDEPENDENT michigan little big horn AMEN.

texan84
12.18.2008
8:30pm

The Border Patrol Agents themselves say the fence is helpful.. It buys them time until they can get there. If there is a breach, many times they are alerted via a camera and have to get there quickly.. Even 5 seconds is helpful. As far as being barbaric, they are coming over illegally. Most of the world would want to live in the USA, but we cant just let them all in because they "want to work". Otherwise we would deplete our natural resources in a week with billions of people living here. Because illegal aliens from Mexico are coming over here without permission, we need a wall to keep them out. We also need Border patrol Agents and sanctions against employers. But we also NEED a BARRIER on the border. My parents came over here legally. I have no problem will legal immigrants, but I have a problem with the USA not doing enough to keep out the illegal ones. So do many hispanics who fought for this country.

OhSoSassy
12.18.2008
4:18pm

I don't know how I feel about it yet... I do think people entering this country should do it legally... but to physically block them out with a fence that might prove to be more of a nuisance than an impenetrable barrier seems a little barbaric.

juliegirl
12.18.2008
4:10pm

I'm actually really torn on this issue, and I know it's a prickly subject with many points of views and many, many gray areas. I came into this country illegally with my family years ago, and we were all lucky enough to obtain legal status within a few years. To me the people coming in this way are just plain trying to work, send money back to their countries, and just live their lives here in peace--they are not terrorists. The attacks of 9/11 created this whole xenophobic vibe in this country, and it's unfortunate because immigration is what we're built on. And it's been proven that undocumented workers pay their share of what they "take" from the economy (they're consumers and as wrong as it may be, they help our capitalist society).

Polmexi8
12.18.2008
3:36pm

I do believe that if people are willing to risk their lives to get to the USA, they will most definitely climb this fence. The fence is usless without other forms of security at the border. I am under the impression that majority of the people illegally trying to come into this country via the Mexican-US border are mostly those looking for work. The scary aspect of all of this is the small percentage of people looking to harm the American people, who would perhaps try to come to the US through this border. It's a sticky situation, and unfortunately the whole "fence" issue doesn't leave a good taste in my mouth with the message it sends, especially since half of my family lives in our neighboring country. I do however, want safety measures put into place to protect this country, so if this is one means in aiding that, so be it.