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Posted by: Marc Demshock
Exposing DHS's Border Fence Myth: How 302 Miles Is Actually Less Than 10

Secretary Chertoff is riding into the sunset—dragging the fence behind him. As mentioned in yesterday’s immigration blog by Steve Elliott the Sun Sets on the Border Fence On 12/31/08. This sunset provision of the Omnibus bill H.R. 2764 declares that the Secretary of Homeland Security loses all authority to build the fence—even if he wants to.

However, even with the authority to build the fence, the Secretary has been lazy in using it. In a February 22, press release he claims that the Department of Homeland Security has built 302.4 miles of combination pedestrian and vehicle fencing and well on the way of completing its goal of 670 miles of combined fencing by the end of 2008.

Just as Grassfire discovered the Border Fence Hoax, Grassfire reveals that the 302.4 miles are also a hoax. According to our sources in Duncan Hunter’s office, the actual miles of fence built since the Secure Fence Act are 79 miles of pedestrian fence and 88 miles of vehicle barriers. Less than ten miles of the fence are double layered.

DHS falsely claimed that their SBI Net project has built the entire 302 miles of fence. However, based upon the mileage found on the SBINET Report from 10.24.07 , the DHS has been including previously built fence in their total numbers. One-hundred and thirty-five miles of the combined pedestrian and vehicle barrier fencing out of a total 302 miles was already existing fence. Since October 24, 2007, the DHS managed to build only 41 miles of combination fencing (6 miles pedestrian & 35 vehicle barrier).

Not only has the fence not been built, but the existing fence is built to fail. The pedestrian fencing and vehicle barriers are shabby and poorly built. According to Glenn Spencer of Americanpatrol.com the fences are easily defeated. Glenn, flies his plane from Texas to San Diego once a month to survey the progress of the border fence. His report shows that the pedestrian fences are only 13 feet high mesh barriers that illegal aliens easily overcome with trucks and ladders. The border fences are easily crossed and are “designed to fail.” The actions taken by the DHS “are complete nonsense.” Mr. Spencer also noted that the DHS is including old broken down fences and deteriorated barriers in their overall total.

The bottom line in this situation is that the DHS has the authority to build the fence, yet they are doing their best to not secure our borders. The American people want the fence built and it is up to grassroot patriots to pick up the slack. Steve and Ron will be marching up to Capital Hill and delivering petitions that will tell our Congressman to build the fence. Please sign the petition here and tell Washington to build the fence!