Border Fence

In September of 2006 the “Secure Fence Act of 2006” was passed by the house with a vote of 283 to 138 and later that month it passed the senate 80 to 19. In 2006, the Mexican Government vigorously condemned the Secure Fence act of 2006. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported that it had more than 580 miles (930 km) of fence in place by the second week of January, 2009. As of January 2010, the fence project has been completed from San Diego, California to Yuma, Arizona. This had the effect of reducing border crossings at the fence location but pushed the crossers to other locations mostly in Texas where crossing was more dangerous due to the desert. Several Texas border towns objected to the fence as they have many customers who cross over from Mexico to both work and to make purchases. Some Indian Tribes objected saying the fence cut their lands in half. House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) announced in January 2007 that Congress will revisit the fence plan, while committee chairs are holding up funding until a comprehensive border security plan is presented by the United States Department of Homeland Security. And that is where the fence plan stands today, partially complete.