A California Congressman says the Bush administration is taking unconstitutional steps to build the border fence. Congressman Bob Filner says the administration has no right to waive laws along the border to speed construction. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson has the story.
Congressman Filner plans to file a friend of the court brief with the Supreme Court in support of the environmental group's petition.
The groups allege Congress gave the Homeland Security Secretary too much power when they said he could waive any laws he saw fit in order to build 670 more miles of border fencing.
They say it violates the constitutionally guaranteed separation of powers.
Filner says it is ironic and hypocritical that the Bush Administration is breaking laws in attempt to enforce them.
Filner: To go ahead and do something that waives all the laws that protect our water, our air, our natural resources is really a crime to me and it sets a terrible precedent. And to waive environmental laws to do something that is not effective is not only criminal, its stupid.
The Bush administration is under pressure to build 390 more miles of border fence by the end of the year.
Amy Isackson, KPBS News.
