WASHINGTON — House Republicans on Wednesday launched a renewed bid to stiffen border security and rally voters, unveiling a bill that would mandate construction of 700 miles of fencing in highly populated areas along the U.S. border with Mexico.
The House is to vote today on the "Secure Fence Act," which requires the Department of Homeland Security to prevent "all unlawful entries" into the United States, pushes for border agents to use greater force, and calls for more border surveillance using cameras, ground sensors and satellites.
The new bill is the first of several tightly focused border-security measures House leaders say they will introduce in coming weeks. It represents the latest effort by House Republicans to build momentum for an enforcement-only approach, which they say -- despite objections from the Senate and President Bush -- is the best way to repair the nation's immigration policies.
"House Republicans believe we must address the immediate need to secure our borders," said Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and author of the new bill.
The bill would require at least two layers of reinforced fencing, along with vehicle barriers, roads, lighting, cameras and sensors, around the California towns of Tecate and Calexico and in border areas of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. Surveillance cameras in those areas would have to be in place by May 31, 2007; fence construction would have to be completed a year later.
The bill also calls for a study on constructing a state-of-the-art barrier system along the northern border with Canada.
The House is expected to approve the legislation. When it goes to the Senate, though, it will present a challenge for the bipartisan group that backs the chamber's broader approach to immigration.
Senate legislation approved in May calls for allowing illegal immigrants to gain legal status and creating a guest worker program in addition to increasing enforcement, in part by building a 370-mile fence along the border.
Senators will have to decide whether to support the new House bill and risk losing any leverage they have to get the House to support other measures, such as the guest worker program. If they vote against the House bill, they risk being tarred as weak on security in an election year.
