Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) recently declared the debate over
securing America's borders extends beyond the issue of illegal
immigrants and jobs. "Securing our borders will also stop illegal
commercial activities, such as human trafficking and drug and weapons
smuggling - the three most lucrative illegal commercial activities in
the world. Therefore, it is an important national security matter for us
to take the appropriate steps to gain operational control of our
borders."
Congress finally started to address this pressing matter of national
security shortly before adjourning. The Secure Fence Act of 2006, which
calls for the construction of a 700-mile fence along the Mexican Border,
represents an important step in that effort. Earlier this month,
President George W. Bush signed the Homeland Security Appropriations
Act, which includes funding for more Border Patrol agents, the fence and
more equipment and buildings. Representative J. D. Hayworth (R-AZ)
expressed satisfaction with the decision of President Bush to sign the
Act because "...it puts in place funding for the first steps, really, of
enforcement first."
A recent report by the Majority Staff of the House Committee on Homeland
Security, Subcommittee on Investigations, reinforces the contentions of
concerned legislators, such as Senator Chambliss and Representative
Hayworth, that securing the Mexican Border is a pressing issue of
national security. Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX), Chairman of
the Subcommittee on Investigations, expressed concern to HOUSTON
CHRONICLE reporter Michelle Mittelstadt that Islamic groups have a
presence in Latin America and may seek an alliance with drug cartels and
gangs. "The thing that keeps me up at night when I think, what can we do
to prevent another 9/11?, is that [the trafficking networks] own these
delivery routes," McCaul was quoted in Mittelstadt's October 17, 2006
story, "Border Patrol, Lawmen Outgunned by Cartels."
The Mexican Border is vast, extending nearly 2,000 miles. "A Line in the
Sand: Confronting the Threat at the Southwest Border" (ALITS) notes that
the size of the border is not the only challenge confronting the United
States Border Patrol. The terrain is varied, much of it mountainous or
desert, enabling savvy smugglers of drugs and humans to take advantage
of the vast, sparsely populated territory. The report's findings will
come as a shocking read to many Americans who have lapsed into
complacency as 9/11 recedes in time. The report was produced after the
Subcommittee on Investigations held hearings in Washington and in the
Southwest.