Secure Fence Act Denounced

“SECUREFENCE ACT” IGNORES COMMUNITIES, PROMOTES DEATH, AVOIDS SOLUTIONS

“FIRST THEY REFUSE TO HEAR US, NOW THEY WANT TO BULLDOZE OURNEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESSES,” SAY IMMIGRANTS AND BORDER RESIDENTS

Onthe heels of a damning Government Accountability Office report linking the dramatic increasein migrant deaths to enforcement-only border policiesin effect since 1994, House Republicans passed the “Secure Fence Act”,authorizing the construction of 700 miles of new double fencing along theUS-Mexico border and easing already lax restrictions on the use of potentiallylethal force in high speed chases conducted by Border Patrol. 

“Peoplefrom border and immigrant communities – elected officials, communityorganizations, teachers, local law enforcement — have put a lot of thought andenergy into proposing workable, comprehensive solutions,” said Jennifer Allenof the Border Action Network, “but House Republicans remain intent on proposingmore of the same policies that are proven failures.”

InJuly and August, House Republicans conducted a series of staged events, billedas “hearings”, in border communities throughout the southwest, but refused toallow most community members to speak. “Those hearings were profoundly divisiveand exemplified the unwillingness of anti-immigrant advocates to look for realsolutions,” said Allen.    

“Withthis new proposal they seem to be willing to let the clock run out, to lethundreds more people die, and to risk the safety and future of our communitiesrather than even listen to the constructive proposals for reform that literallythousands have worked hard to put forth,” added Fernando Garcia of the BorderNetwork for Human Rights.

“Peoplein this country are fed up with this failed status quo approach,” said Garcia.“We need and deserve solutions that will ensure safe and humane borders andcommunity security – not divisive rhetoric and political posturing.”

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