Republican Congressmen gathered in San Diego Wednesday to applaud President Bush for signing a $21 billion border security bill into law. Supporters say the bill is a step toward solving illegal immigration. Critics call the legislation shameful. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson has the story.
The bill focuses only on border enforcement. Among other things, it calls 700 miles of fencing along the U.S. Mexico border. That includes sections around Tecate and Calexico. Critics of the fence provision say it won’t stop illegal immigrants. They say it will simply force migrants to cross in more dangerous and remote areas.
Republican Representative James Sensenbrenner says people should not be crossing the border illegally.
Sensenbrenner: They have been because it is too easy to do so. The border security bill the President signed is to make it harder to do so.
Sensenbrenner says immigration reform is only effective if you secure the border first. He says the next step is to go after employers who hire illegal immigrants. Amy Isackson, KPBS News
