June 15, 2007 — Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) offered an amendment today to H.R. 2638, the Homeland Security Appropriations Act for FY2008, which would require the necessary funds be used to build the 854 mile, double-layer fence on the southern border of the United States that was authorized in the 109th Congress but was never funded.

Franks stated, “Border security is inextricably tied to national security.  With over 4,000 people crossing our southern border illegally every day, our border remains one of our country’s must critical national security vulnerabilities.  In order to carry out an act of terrorism, a militant Islamist simply needs a porous border and a dangerous weapon.  To underestimate this danger would be a cataclysmic failure on the part of the U.S. Government. 

He continued, “Despite passing the Secure Fence Act, we continue to talk about the problem but refuse to act.  My amendment would have required that Congress keep its promise to our constituents and the American people, and designate the funds necessary for building the 800 mile border fence.  I am incredibly disappointed that once again, this Congress failed to take meaningful action to gain control of our porous border.”

The Secure Fence Act of 2006 amended the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to direct the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to provide at least two layers of reinforced fencing, installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors.  To date, only 13 miles of the border fence have actually been constructed.  The amendment dedicated $1 billion to provide the resources and manpower for the construction of 854 miles of border fencing and roads, as prescribed by the Secure Fence Act.  In addition, it struck provisions in the Act intended to delay, and in some cases halt, construction of tactical fencing along the border.