 For
years, conservatives like me have screaming from the
rooftops that the only acceptable way to stop illegal
immigration is to seal the borders first, then start dealing
with the people who are already here. But time and time
again, politicians have ignored us by continuing to offer
"comprehensive reform" packages that tie security and
amnesty together.
Now, as we sit here watching Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid attempt to bribe conservatives by adding $4.4 billion
in so-called "guaranteed" border security funding to the
immigration bill, it's time for a quick reminder on why we
demand the fence first, with no strings attached. The Real
Story is that, in Washington, absolutely nothing is
guaranteed, and for proof, you only have to look back at the
last two times Congress has "demanded" that a border fence
be built.
In 1996, they authorized 14 miles of double layer fencing
near San Diego and included the funding to get it built.
Eight years later, in 2005, nearly four miles of that fence
was still missing. Why? The Tijuana River. Environmental
groups were so upset that some animals might have to
relocate, that they successfully blocked the fence's
completion for almost a decade. That forced Congress to
pass another bill giving the Department of Homeland Security
the power to waive all environmental regulations and finally
finish the project...which they still, two years later,
haven't done due to "engineering difficulties." Uh huh, I'm
sure that's the reason.
Then, last October, Congress authorized another fence...this
time 854 miles worth, and gave it $1.2 billion in funding.
That sounded great in the headlines, but just 13 miles have
actually been built so far and that may be all we ever get.
House Democrats now want Homeland Security to review local
environmental laws and provide proof to Congress that a
virtual fence wouldn't be a better option before any more
money is released.
And there's another potential roadblock to building any
fence that no politician is talking about. It's called "The
Borderlands Conservation and Security Act of 2007" and if it
passes, it would add even more environmental restrictions on
how and where any new border fence could be built, including
the one currently being debated.
I don't hate the environment; I really don't. I genuinely
like our planet and the furry little animals that live
here. But if we don't seal our borders...completely and
immediately, then our problems are going to be a lot bigger
than endangering the migration of the ocelot or the
flat-tailed horned lizard. I don't know if there are more
snakes on the border or in politics, but if the ones in
Washington don't start listening to us, then I do know that
they'll be on the endangered species list first.
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