Posted by
Team Turk on Friday, October 27, 2006 2:46:36 PM
From United Press International:
President Bush authorized construction Thursday of nearly 700 miles of fencing on the U.S. border with Mexico.
Bush signed the bill into law 12 days before mid-term elections, but weeks after Congress passed it.
"The bill authorizes the construction of hundreds of miles of additional fencing along our southern border," Bush said at the signing ceremony. "The bill authorizes more vehicle barriers, checkpoints and lighting to help prevent people from entering our country illegally.
"The bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to increase the use of advanced technology, like cameras and satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles to reinforce our infrastructure at the border."
The measure provides no money for the fence though an earlier bill signed by Bush earmarks $1.2 billion for early work on the project, including about 150 miles of fencing.