READ THE FINE PRINT: NO BORDER FENCE!!!!!

“No sooner did Congress authorize construction of a 700-mile fence on the U.S.-Mexico border last week than lawmakers rushed to approve separate legislation that ensures it will never be built, at least not as advertised, according to Republican lawmakers and immigration experts.”

— Washington Post, October 6, 2006

Surprise, surprise. What Congress gives, Congress takes away. In the last days of the Congress, both the House and Senate passed bills that would allow the construction of a 700 mile fence–or so we thought. As Perot said, “the devil is in the details”. Looks like everyone in Congress winked and had their fingers crossed behind their backs when they passed the “Border Fence” bill.

It is nothing of the sort. In fact, it is the type of legislation that makes people feel sick about government and politics. They tell us one thing, send out press release busting their buttons. But the truth is just the opposite of what they are crowing about. This measure along with the Presidents call today for a “path to citizenship” for those that have violated our immigration laws, will cause some GOP’ers to lose — when their base realizes they had been had by the DC crowd.

“You can’t kick 12 million people out of your country,” President Bush said at the White House celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. “We must figure out a way to say to those that if you’re lawful and if you’ve contributed to the United States of America, there is a way for you to eventually earn citizenship.”

Does anybody buy this? He says, “if you’re lawful”. Well, they are illegal aliens, they broke the law — they are not lawful. They use phony ID’s, they are not lawful. They use phony Social Security numbers, they are not lawful. By definition, the 12 million are not, and can never be “lawful”.

Now, the Washington Post has exposed this canard on the honest citizens of the United States. With all the exceptions, permissions, regulations, individuals and agencies that must approve “every inch” of the fence–it will never be built. I wonder when they were going to tell us? This was to be a 700 mile fence, yet even Senator Gregg says we will only get 300-400 miles–he was being kind–if we get 100 miles we should be happy.

What do you think, is this the right way to treat the honest people in the U.S.? Should the President, Hasert or Frist mentioned that it will be impossible, with the bill they passed, to build a fence?

UPDATE:
Michelle Malkin isn’t surprised.

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Steve Frank is the publisher of California Political News and Views and a Senior Contributor to CaliforniaConservative.org. He is also a consultant currently working on gambling issues and advising other consultants on policy and coalition building.

Read more of his work here or at his blog.