The Fence Mess

You may remember the fence the Bush Administration vowed to build along the Mexican border.It was all about keeping illegal immigrants from crossing into the US. The Department of Homeland Security pledged to build 670 miles worth by the end of this year. As of last month, 309 miles had been built, but that's only half the story. 

An organization called the Texas Border Coalition filed a federal lawsuit last week, seeking to halt construction of the fence in the Lone Star State. The coalition says the homeland security boss Michael Chertoff didn't conduct required negotiations with affected property owners.

To make matters worse, Chertoff himself now acknowledges physical barriers aren't even the key to stopping illegal border crossings. Electronic surveillance seems to work better, but the plan to expand it is mired in technical and bureaucratic glitches. So why construct a fence that's going to cost $2.1 billion dollars when all is said and done?

That's what mayors, county commissioners, and economists along the border are asking. It's starting to sound a lot like the airport security passengers think is about keeping them safe. Experts say it's more for show than anything else. Could it be the border fence is more of the same?

People who track illegal immigration say it's only a matter of time before smugglers adjust their efforts away from areas the Border Patrol is scrutinizing most closely. The mayor of Brownsville Texas calls it Homeland Security's effort to give middle America a false sense of security.

How about just a waste of money?