Supporters of the immigration-reform legislation now in the Senate tout the bill's call for construction of 700 more miles of fence along the Mexican border.
But a provision in the bill actually allows Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano or her successors to not to build it at any location if she "determines" not to do so.
A paragraph in the bill states: "Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a strategy, to be known as the 'Southern Border Fencing Strategy,' to identify where 700 miles of fencing (including double-layer fencing), infrastructure, and technology, including at ports of entry, should be deployed along the Southern border."
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However, the bill also states in regard to that paragraph: "Notwithstanding paragraph (1), nothing in this subsection shall require the Secretary to install fencing, or infrastructure that directly results from the installation of such fencing, in a particular location along the Southern border, if the Secretary determines that the use or placement of such resources is not the most appropriate means to achieve and maintain effective control over the Southern border at such location."
Illegal aliens would be granted legalized Registered Provisional Immigration status once Napolitano submits a fencing plan to Congress, even though she subsequently could choose not to put the fencing plan into full effect.
In an email to Newsmax, Rep. Ted Cruz declared: "This legislation makes the same mistake of the 1986 amnesty — legalization today for the false promise of border security tomorrow."
The Texas Republican also states: "It will encourage more illegal immigration and must be stopped."
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