Secure Fence Act

Secure Fence Act. The Secure Fence Act was a federal law passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by George W. Bush on October 26, 2006, with the aim of reducing illegal immigration and smuggling along the United States–Mexico border. The law was supported by Republican lawmakers, including Lamar Smith, Peter King, and Duncan Hunter, as well as Democratic lawmakers such as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. The law was also influenced by the Minuteman Project, a border control advocacy group founded by Jim Gilchrist and Chris Simcox.

Introduction

The Secure Fence Act was introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Peter King on December 15, 2005, and was referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security, which was chaired by Peter King at the time. The law was designed to address concerns about national security and public safety along the United States–Mexico border, which had been raised by lawmakers such as John McCain, Ted Kennedy, and John Cornyn. The law was also influenced by the September 11 attacks and the subsequent passage of the USA PATRIOT Act, which was signed into law by George W. Bush on October 26, 2001. Additionally, the law was supported by organizations such as the Federation for American Immigration Reform and the Center for Immigration Studies, which were founded by John Tanton and Roy Beck.

Legislative History

The Secure Fence Act was passed by the United States House of Representatives on September 14, 2006, with a vote of 283-138, with support from lawmakers such as Dennis Hastert, Roy Blunt, and Eric Cantor. The law was then passed by the United States Senate on September 29, 2006, with a vote of 80-19, with support from lawmakers such as Bill Frist, Mitch McConnell, and Trent Lott. The law was signed into law by George W. Bush on October 26, 2006, at a ceremony attended by lawmakers such as Lamar Smith, Peter King, and Duncan Hunter. The law was also influenced by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which was signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson on October 3, 1965, and the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, which was signed into law by Ronald Reagan on November 6, 1986.

Provisions

The Secure Fence Act authorized the construction of a border barrier along the United States–Mexico border, which was to be built by contractors such as Halliburton and Bechtel Group. The law also authorized the use of surveillance technology, such as drones and motion sensors, to monitor the border and detect illegal immigration and smuggling. The law was supported by organizations such as the National Border Patrol Council, which was founded by T.J. Bonner, and the United States Border Patrol, which was established in 1924. Additionally, the law was influenced by the North American Free Trade Agreement, which was signed into law by Bill Clinton on December 17, 1993, and the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement, which was signed into law by Donald Trump on January 29, 2020.

Impact and Controversy

The Secure Fence Act has been the subject of controversy and debate, with critics such as Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Barack Obama arguing that the law is ineffective and xenophobic. The law has also been criticized by organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union, which was founded by Crystal Eastman and Norman Thomas, and the Southern Poverty Law Center, which was founded by Morris Dees and Joe Levin. Additionally, the law has been influenced by the Mexican Drug War, which began in 2006, and the Central American migrant caravans, which began in 2018. The law has also been supported by lawmakers such as Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio, who have argued that the law is necessary to address concerns about national security and public safety.

Construction and Funding

The construction of the border barrier authorized by the Secure Fence Act was funded by the United States Department of Homeland Security, which was established in 2003. The law authorized the appropriation of $1.2 billion for the construction of the barrier, which was to be built by contractors such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The law also authorized the use of federal land for the construction of the barrier, which was managed by the United States Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service. Additionally, the law was influenced by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, which was signed into law by Gerald Ford on October 21, 1976, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, which was signed into law by Richard Nixon on January 1, 1970. Category:United States federal immigration and nationality legislation