The Daily Transcript
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff announced Wednesday he used his authority to waive certain legal requirements necessary to complete a 3-mile gap in the 14-mile long fence along the San Diego-Mexico border.
The fence is known as the Border Infrastructure System. Chertoff derives such authority from the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and REAL ID Act of 2005.
“Completing the Border Infrastructure System will strengthen our efforts to reduce illegal entry to the United States,” said Chertoff. “Congress provided us the authority to ensure this project is completed and I intend to use it. Through this system with advanced technology and additional personnel we can make substantial progress in this section of our border.”
Once constructed, the 14-mile border barrier, designed to reduce illegal entry to the United States and improve border security, will include multiple physical layers of security, access roads to enable Border Patrol to speed response efforts, stadium style lighting to deter border crossers and surveillance cameras to monitor incursion.
Posted by Suzanne at September 15, 2005