Surprise, surprise: Fence In Name Only won’t be done by deadline

By Michelle Malkin  •  October 24, 2008 05:15 AM

See, I told you so…

September 14, 2006:

There’s no funding for the fence, which will take years to build if it ever does get funded. There are so many other immediate reforms that could have been adopted this year that would have strengthened immigration enforcement, closed deportation loopholes immediately, and provided true relief at the border. (And don’t even get me started on this administration’s renewed laxity at the front door, which has been thrown open to tens of thousands of new Saudi student visa holders while enforcement against millions of current visa overstayers remain virtually non-existent.)

April 4, 2007: FINO: Fence In Name Only

July 14, 2007: Border fence? What border fence?

December 18, 2007: House guts border fence

Feb. 28, 2008: The Fence to Nowhere

March 5, 2008: The Finish The Freaking Fence Act

March 26, 2008: The border fence sunset

April 23, 2008: Virtual fence scrapped; $20 million down the drain

Aug. 20, 2008: FINO alert: Virtual border fence blocked

Sept. 9, 2008: FINO: Fence funding falls short (again)

And now…drumroll please…

October 23, 2008:

The United States will miss its deadline to complete a security fence along the Mexican border this year, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said on Thursday.

“I don’t think we’re going to hit the nail on the head and be done by the end of the year,” Chertoff told Reuters, adding that about 370 miles of the planned 670-mile (1,070-km) fence had been completed.

Chertoff said he hoped when the Bush administration leaves office in January about 90 to 95 percent of the fence — a controversial measure that has raised hackles both with Mexico and with U.S. landowners along the proposed route — would be completed or under construction.

“We’ve gotten most of the way there. We will be very substantially close,” he told Reuters in an interview.

Secure Fence Act = “Substantially Close,” Virtually Virtual, “Most of The Way There” Fence Act.

~ For the latest breaking news, be sure to join Michelle's e-mail list ~
Posted in: Southern Border

See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Comments


  1. #1
    On October 24th, 2008 at 5:22 am, AlohaDaze said:

    Don’t worry. I’m sure that this entire fence business will be dealt with in short order if the Democrats come to power.

    It makes sense: they’ll have to cut spending everywhere they can! (so they can “spread the wealth around.”)

    RLR

  2. #2
    On October 24th, 2008 at 5:38 am, Papa Louie said:

    But how is the Merida Initiative coming? Remember the fence we are paying for on Mexico’s southern border? I wouldn’t be surprised if that project is fully funded and on schedule.

  3. #3
    On October 24th, 2008 at 5:51 am, jamesgreenidge said:

    On October 24th, 2008 at 5:22 am, AlohaDaze said:

    Don’t worry. I’m sure that this entire fence business will be dealt with in short order if the Democrats come to power.

    True enough, that’s why no matter what shade of conservatism you are you really must vote to keep a soul-socialist out of power who’d pale anything McCain could do because he’d believe he’d overwhelming public consent to install mega-entitlement programs NO following administration will ever be able to kill. That’s the truly scary thing here: when you say Obama’s a socialist, too damn many people on both sides yell back “So what??” Do they really hate Bush that much??

    A last ditch campaign message: “Do you want Uncle Sam to spend 60% plus of your paycheck before you do??” (groan) Anything that works! Here’s hoping Michelle opens a forum on how to isolate yourself from a Socialist moralless wallet-munching America.

    James Greenidge
    Queens NY
    A Thompson man forced to vote McCain to keep a socialist monster in his cage.

    Reasons to vote Obama:

    I want to be part of history!

    I don’t want to feel like a bigot.

    President McCain wrecked the economy!

  4. #4
    On October 24th, 2008 at 6:59 am, zorro said:

    Secure Fence Act = “Substantially Close,” Virtually Virtual, “Most of The Way There” Fence Act.

    Calling all Mavericks, calling all Mavericks… you support is needed in isle M(exico)…

  5. #5
    On October 24th, 2008 at 7:10 am, ajmontana said:

    Zorro, too bad it isn’t an “isle” it would be easy. lol, but your right, major cleanup on aisle M(exico)

  6. #6
    On October 24th, 2008 at 7:32 am, 30 pcs of silver said:

    I can’t believe this!! This is outrageous…

    /sarc

    Crapweasels

  7. #7
    On October 24th, 2008 at 7:33 am, rambler said:

    Paychecks to congress amount to welfare since none of them seem to do anything for their pay except complain about the other party. Time to clean house and put new people in.

  8. #8
    On October 24th, 2008 at 7:46 am, TMoney said:

    Say it ain’t so, Michelle! Lettucehead would never drop the ball.

    Heck of a job, Lettucehead.

  9. #9
    On October 24th, 2008 at 7:46 am, FamilyMan said:

    adding that about 370 miles of the planned 670-mile (1,070-km) fence had been completed.

    Is it to early or am I not understandings this statement? I thought only 17 miles of fence is built..

  10. #10
    On October 24th, 2008 at 7:47 am, Mostly Annoyed said:

    Don’t worry, the democrats will be more than happy to spend the money to complete tear down the border fence if Obama gets elected(God help us all!).

  11. #11
    On October 24th, 2008 at 8:31 am, Send_Me said:

    Get ready for it: no matter if McCain or Obama get elected, we’re getting amnesty. And those of you who think we will somehow have the ability to “control” McCain or stop his policy ideas, really need to think again. (A) With an overwhelming majority of Democrats in the Congress, amnesty will pass quite easily, no matter how much you bark at them. (So, how’s that bailout working for everyone?) (B) Why should McCain listen to the “base” anyway? He already has the “conservative” vote, which, frankly, didn’t take too much to get. He has the attitude, “don’t worry, I’m not Obama, vote for me”, so most “conservatives” do. Wow, now there’s a way to inspire people. Then “conservatives” respond by saying, “Just promise not to be as bad as the other guy, ok?” Pitiful. Voting for the “lesser of two evils” hasn’t work out so well the last five times for “conservatives”, which may call for a different course of action. How about this? At least consider voting for someone who believes as you do, which will wake up Congressional Republicans who have also considered the “conservative” vote a given for them though they act as they wish. I wish “conservatives” would shed their short-sightedness, naivety, and fear, fear of losing what little they have left rather than fighting to win.

  12. #12
    On October 24th, 2008 at 8:52 am, md1964 said:

    I believed that the Govt was truly serious about border security, in about the same amount of belief I have in Obama NOT raising my taxes.

    And belive me.. Obama’s Mandatory Healthcare or fine, on top of increased taxes on businesses will mean one thing… Businesses will more than ever seek workers who are NOT DOCUMENTED, thus exempt from having to pay for the goodies forced by the Obama Kremlin.

  13. #13
    On October 24th, 2008 at 8:58 am, tarpon said:

    Don’t worry, the illegals can always get a welfare check.

  14. #14
    On October 24th, 2008 at 9:25 am, Weary Citizen said:

    On October 24th, 2008 at 7:46 am, FamilyMan said:

    Good point. What’s up with that? Last I heard it was only few miles of fencing completed. Now its 370 miles completed. Wonder if they are counting the “virtual fence” areas which was discovered to be flawed and inoperable. Maybe I misundertood something. Would not be the first time.

  15. #15
    On October 24th, 2008 at 9:52 am, pueblo1032 said:

    I am surprised the FENCE was even mentioned before ELECTION DAY… I bet CHERTOFF is in deep DOO DOO… He must not have gotten the MEMO… No mention of ILLEGAL YOU KNOW WHAT during the campaign time… That would include THE F***E… Fences, we don’t need no stinkin’ fences…

  16. #16
    On October 24th, 2008 at 10:02 am, FamilyMan said:

    http://www.dhs.gov/xprevprot/programs/border-fence-southwest.shtm

    As part of our southwest border security strategy, the Department is committed to completing a total of 670 miles of pedestrian and vehicle fence along the Southwest border by the end of 2008.
    Miles of Fencing

    Fence completed as reported on October 23, 2008:

    * 216.0 miles of pedestrian fence
    * 154.2 miles of vehicle fence
    This is not the double walled fence we were told would be built.

  17. #17
    On October 24th, 2008 at 10:07 am, Weary Citizen said:

    Thanks FamilyMan. Frankly I am surprised they even completed that much. But, I too thought we were getting a double walled fence with distance between the fences sufficient for BP vehicles to travel. At this point, will take anything we can get from the 3 card monty pols.

  18. #18
    On October 24th, 2008 at 10:15 am, Freddy said:

    Well, since we are going to direct a part of that 700 billion into buying houses, and reselling em at a lower price to the illegal aliens that are already living in them, it is only fair to at least legalize them.

  19. #19
    On October 24th, 2008 at 10:16 am, McCloud9 said:

    OK… This is how this ties in with the 700+ Billion Bailout.
    HUD disclosed that UP TO 5 MILLION ILLEGALS (them people sneaking across the border)were given HOME MORTGAGES.
    I do not know who else I can write,who else I can call. If THIS criminal act does NOT PISS AMERICANS OFF… Then I give up, I will buy my kids the Idiots Guide to Spanish and tell them I am sorry, I tried.

  20. #20
    On October 24th, 2008 at 10:28 am, Kevin K. said:

    Thanks from me also, FamilyMan, for the link.

    While we all expected less than enthusiasm for the fence project from the federal government, I am shocked at how poor a substitute we ended up with. Alas, either likely next administration is only going to be less likely to secure our border.

  21. #21
    On October 24th, 2008 at 10:32 am, rightisright said:

    this country is messed up thanks to the liberal indoctrination taken place over the last 40 plus years. 700 billion $ with how many hundreds of millions going to “bonuses” for wall st. fat cat’s, but no money for a wall to protect sovereignty?
    Get ready folks, there’s real trouble on the horizon.

    I will not submit, now or never!

  22. #22
    On October 24th, 2008 at 10:45 am, happyscrapper said:

    Well, it looks like we have a choice here. Which war should we fight first? The American-illegal alien war, or the civil war between left-wing socialist/marxist brain-dead lemmings and conservatives. I put McCain in the center of those two categories…so not sure what side he would actually fight on. Maybe both.

  23. #23
    On October 24th, 2008 at 10:46 am, happyscrapper said:

    Having “dissed” McCain, let me add, that I DID vote for him a couple days ago. He is really the only choice we have right now.

  24. #24
    On October 24th, 2008 at 10:56 am, PhredE said:

    Send_Me (#11) –

    Respectfully,

    To date, the immigration issue (illegal immigration in particular) is the only one to have forced a shutdown in the Congressional communications system due to sheer volume alone – see vid below at 1:50 mark:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_Bmr2mPXkw

    We did it before, and we can do it again… with or without the help of the detractors in the White House or Congress.

    PS. Thank you Senator Sessions. :D

  25. #25
    On October 24th, 2008 at 10:57 am, RabbidSquirrel said:

    This is not the fence I used to knowds

  26. #26
    On October 24th, 2008 at 10:57 am, gandolphxx said:

    Keep in mind that the ‘fence’ would just be a waste and encumberance in the United Socialist States of Amerika.

    Get over it, there won’t be a fence, the invasion will speed up and you will share your wealth with these invaders and the lard butts that would rather loot than produce.

    There is only one solution to invasion and/or marxism and the sheep will not do it.

  27. #27
    On October 24th, 2008 at 10:58 am, RabbidSquirrel said:

    ughhhhhhhhhhhh,, no coffee yet…..

    This is not the fence I used to know

  28. #28
    On October 24th, 2008 at 10:58 am, MBuck said:

    Chertoff said he hoped when the Bush administration leaves office in January about 90 to 95 percent of the fence — a controversial measure that has raised hackles both with Mexico and with U.S. landowners along the proposed route — would be completed or under construction.

    Note those KEY words. Chertoff said he HOPED. And OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

    Pfft. These pieces of garbage can do a semantic tap dance better than Sammy Davis and Greg Hines both together.

  29. #29
    On October 24th, 2008 at 11:02 am, PhredE said:

    As a bit of a side, NumbersUSA today released listing of the best Congresspeople (House and Senate) with respect to protecting American jobs -

    See: “SEE WHO TOPS THE LISTS: Recognizing immigration voters in Congress who really protect J-O-B-S” (link here)

    Great organization – please consider checking them out if you haven’t done so already.

  30. #30
    On October 24th, 2008 at 11:08 am, McCloud9 said:

    A point that HAS TO be addressed… Immigration (Legal & Illegal).
    Simple math will tell you that an AMNESTY (or Pardon), to the 20+ MILLION ILLEGAL Immigrants in the United States would shift the Demographics of this Country into a third world status.
    The McCain/Kennedy plan would have allowed the families of those already here to join them.Just a number from me, IF they have 4 family members… THAT IS 100 MILLION!
    Those numbers put a strain on EVERY PART OF LIFE AS AN AMERICAN!
    It does not matter Obama or McCain both want Amnesty,so Congress WILL go along with either of them.

  31. #31
    On October 24th, 2008 at 11:09 am, FamilyMan said:

    Tell the morons in Washington a vehicle fence needs one truck to drive up to the fence and one truck to drive away on the other side.
    DUMMIES

  32. #32
    On October 24th, 2008 at 11:11 am, maisy said:

    Looks like a pending civil war in the offing………

  33. #33
    On October 24th, 2008 at 11:20 am, McCloud9 said:

    If it becomes a Civil war… I’m voting for McCain.
    At least he believes in the Second Ammendment. Obama wants to TAKE everyones guns, leave us Defensless.

  34. #34
    On October 24th, 2008 at 11:26 am, FamilyMan said:

    The “COYOTES” charge $2000 to smuggle a person to a safe house. Assuming two $40000 four wheel trucks driving at twenty miles per hour across one hundred miles of desert would take about ten hours round trip. With gas and wear and tear on their investment and ten aliens in each truck two people could easily net $16,000 per day.
    WAKE UP WASHINGTON
    $2000 would also by a desert motor cycle.

  35. #35
    On October 24th, 2008 at 11:28 am, happyscrapper said:

    On October 24th, 2008 at 11:20 am, McCloud9 said:
    If it becomes a Civil war… I’m voting for McCain.
    At least he believes in the Second Ammendment. Obama wants to TAKE everyones guns, leave us Defensless.

    Guns…buy early, buy often. And don’t forget plenty of ammo.

  36. #36
    On October 24th, 2008 at 11:41 am, rocketman said:

    Hi Michelle–REPORT FROM EL PASO, TEXAS. I attended a technical school graduation party for one of my formerly Mexican (now U.S. Citizen) wife’s family members last night. One of her nephews is a legal immigrant here–a Diesel equipment mechanic. He is starting a job on the border fence construction / improvement in the El Paso area today. Work on the fence is continuing in this area.

    John Bibb

  37. #37
    On October 24th, 2008 at 1:17 pm, Weary Citizen said:

    On October 24th, 2008 at 11:09 am, FamilyMan said:

    ROFLMAO. That was great.

  38. #38
    On October 24th, 2008 at 1:18 pm, b-cat said:

    On October 24th, 2008 at 11:41 am, rocketman said:

    Shout out to you, I attended Gadsden High across the mountain in NM.

  39. #39
    On October 24th, 2008 at 2:08 pm, Send_Me said:

    On October 24th, 2008 at 10:56 am, PhredE said:

    Not to split hairs, but, if I recall, the House shut down its email server due to the vast amount of emails it received concerning the bailout. Yet, it still passed.

  40. #40
    On October 24th, 2008 at 2:37 pm, CO2 Producer said:

    The next administration was going to tear the walls down, anyway.

  41. #41
    On October 24th, 2008 at 10:29 pm, juliesa said:

    The 670 miles authorized will not even cover half the length of the border, but most of it will be built by February.

    One of the things slowing it down is the negotiations for damages paid to private landowners, and the condemnation proceedings. The government barely respects property rights anyway. They should pay full damages for the loss of value, but they probably won’t, going on past experience.

  42. #42
    On October 25th, 2008 at 9:42 am, Irish Rose said:

    On October 24th, 2008 at 10:46 am, happyscrapper said:

    Having “dissed” McCain, let me add, that I DID vote for him a couple days ago. He is really the only choice we have right now.

    God bless you. I know you didn’t want to do it, but you did the right thing.

    I suspect that in the end, all but the most self-absorbed and out of touch conservative voters in this country will do the same, when they actually come face to face with the choice. We know far too much now about what kind of man Barack Obama is, and the agenda that he has for America.

    All of the whining, ranting and posturing about RINOs’, shamnesty, etc. is going to come to a screeching halt when people are actually holding the ballot in their hands. A liberal Marxist POTUS/CIC is absolutely unthinkable to any conservative who has even a modicum of common sense.

You must be logged in to post a comment.


US State Department Expands Travel Warning for Mexico

February 11, 2012 03:29 PM by Doug Powers

33 Comments

War zones

Mexico Tourism Promoter Running Threatening Ads in Arizona Newspaper? Updated

May 22, 2010 01:05 PM by Doug Powers

68 Comments

We’re waiting for you

Obama: Make Illegals Register and Learn English

April 28, 2010 08:38 AM by Doug Powers

109 Comments

Wink, nudge

Update on Arizona rancher Robert Krentz murder case

April 6, 2010 10:58 PM by Michelle Malkin

45 Comments

From the front lines: Ranchers speak out on border chaos

March 30, 2010 11:09 PM by Michelle Malkin

49 Comments

“Families who live along both sides of the border have been threatened and attacked for some time now by cartels.”


Categories: Southern Border

Follow me on Twitter Follow me on Facebook