A man organizes his belongings just south of the U.S.-Mexican border fence south of San Diego. The House approved a measure calling for a fence along most of the border in Arizona, and in parts of California, New Mexico and Texas.

Reuters

Related articles:

House moves to tighten immigration law at border, workplace Border security measure advances Text of President Bush's speech on Border Security and Immigration ReformErnesto Portillo Jr.: Immigration answers are all in the eyes of the beholders Immigration law needs overhaulOpinion by Ernesto Portillo Jr.: 3 illegal workers would go for a U.S.-run guest-worker programImmigration to occupy part of Arizona's political debate in future Illegal immigration affects everyone'Minutemen' to patrol Arizona border to curb illegal immigrationArizona bishops urge more compassion for illegal immigrants

Other articles by Lourdes Medrano:

Sabino senior is in bowl band Job keeps him in the hot seat Confederacy is their specialty Community notes New fire board will remain as is, for now School boasts 14 Merit semifinalists Community notes Oro Valley council to consider hiring freeze this weekOro Valley to consider hiring freeze Park plans now uncertain

General
CORT
Warehouse Supervisor Health Care
Rio Salado College
PA's/Online Instructors General
CORT
WAREHOUSE/DRIVER Education
Assessment Technology, Inc
Social Studies Content Writer Construction
Komatsu Equipment Co
Mechanic

Arizona would get nearly 300 miles of new border fencing along key stretches as part of a new congressional effort to crack down on illegal immigration.

The House of Representatives on Thursday approved a measure to build a fence along 700 miles of the U.S.-Mexican border as an amendment to a controversial GOP bill that also would make living in the country illegally a felony and increase penalties for employers who hire illegal workers. In addition, it would require all employers to verify the legal status of all workers.

The overall bill was passed 239-182 by the full House late Friday, but it did not include provisions dealing with a guest-worker program. Another provision that was not voted on was one that would have denied citizenship to babies born in this country to illegal entrants.

The measure that calls for construction of a fence along most of the border in Arizona, and parts of the California, New Mexico and Texas borders with Mexico was introduced by Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter of California.

That amendment to Wisconsin Republican James Sensenbrenner's Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 passed on a 260-159 vote Thursday.

It calls for security fencing to go up in five regions — including 361 miles from Calexico, Calif., to Douglas — where traffic of illegal border-crossers and drug activity are particularly heavy.

Plans call for at least two layers of reinforced fencing, plus the installation of additional barriers, roads, lighting, cameras and sensors.

"The fence is one element of a multifaceted strategy," said Joe Kasper, Hunter's press secretary. "Nobody is saying that the fence is the only solution to our immigration problem."

In San Diego County, Kasper said, construction of a fence significantly has decreased drug smuggling in the past few years."We're hopeful that this bill is going to pass the Senate as well," he said, adding that the cost of building the fence is estimated at $2.2 billion.

In a statement released Thursday, as the Hunter amendment was being considered, Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., said the proposed bill "does nothing to solve the real problems of immigration. In fact, it's worse than nothing.

"It's worse than nothing because it tries to fool the public. It pulls the wool over their eyes. It pretends we are doing something to secure our border when in fact we are doing nothing except throw words and money at the problem."

Kolbe, who announced last month that he will not seek re-election next year, said a solution to the nation's immigration problems must include border enforcement, employer sanctions, and some means of allowing those who want to work to enter the U.S. legally.

"And thirdly, you have to deal with the 10, 11, 12 million people who are already in this country illegally. Now that's the reality," he said in his statement. Kolbe did not cast a vote for the overall bill Friday night.

The legislation has stirred widespread opposition from civic, religious and business groups across the country that have spoken out against it.

Earlier Friday, Arizona human-rights advocates were quick to assail the bill's provision that would have denied U.S. citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants.

"There is nothing that is solution-oriented in this piece of legislation," said Jennifer Allen, executive director of Tucson's Border Action Network.

A key component that is missing from the House debate is how to deal with the estimated 11 million undocumented people who already are in the country illegally, she said, adding that new fences won't keep people out.

"Walls do not work," Allen said. "They've already built walls, and people continue to come for reasons that are more profound than 15-foot-high slabs."

The secondary fencing is among improvements that the U.S. Border Patrol proposed last year in the urban areas of Naco and Douglas. Exactly where the second 12-foot fence would be located and what materials would be used are unclear.

"We know double-fencing works," said Jim Hawkins, a Border Patrol spokesman. Should Congress mandate the fence, "it will probably affect our plan in some way, we just don't know how," he said.

Dick White, president of the Arizona Interfaith Network, said he is hopeful that a more comprehensive immigration bill will come out of the Senate early next year. If the House bill's provisions become a reality, he said, they could have "disastrous economic consequences for our country" given the high demand for foreign workers.

On Friday, Republican leaders wouldn't allow a vote on the volatile citizenship proposal.

The legislation next moves to the Senate, where Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., says he will bring up immigration legislation in February that will provide a framework for guest-worker ideas.

There are wide differences on the details of a guest-worker program. Some lawmakers would require those in the country illegally to leave before applying for such a program, arguing that counterproposals allowing those already here to seek legal status are equivalent to amnesty.

Bush has proposed that undocumented immigrants be allowed to get three-year work visas. They could extend those for an additional three years, but would then have to return to their home countries for a year to apply for a new work permit.

Other aspects of the bill require the Homeland Security Department to employ the personnel and technology needed to secure the border; end the "catch and release" policy for non-Mexican immigrants, and require the Defense and Homeland Security departments to design a plan to use military technology to stop illegal crossings.