San Diego Border Fence

Bustamante asserts that the fence being repaired along the border between Tijuana and San Diego will not reduce drug smuggling or deter illegal immigrants from entering the United States. On the first count he is mistaken and on the second he misunderstands.

His misunderstanding arises out of the fact that the fence was never intended to stop illegal immigration. The entire California-Mexico border lies within my congressional district and, for the past two years, repair of the border fence has been one of my top priorities. During that time, my motive for repairing the fence has remained the interdiction of drugs.

Although it is true the fence has had a funneling effect which forces would-be immigrants to circle around it, moving them away from business and residential areas into rougher country where they are more easily apprehended, this has been a secondary effect. The principal effect of the fence can be seen in the higher drug interdiction rate and the lower rate of violence along the border. The latter has saved Mexican lives.

According to the U.S. Border Patrol, the border fence has contributed to the following successes in the San Diego sector:

* A new 200% increase in the amount of marijuana seized during the first four months of fiscal 1992 than in all of fiscal 1991; from 8,425 pounds to 13,990 pounds.

* A 700% increase in the amount of cocaine seized during the same period from 682 pounds in all of fiscal 1991.

* A 42% increase in the amount of other drugs seized.

* A 23% increase in Border Patrol apprehensions from 473,323 in fiscal 1990 to 540,300 in fiscal 1991.

It should also be kept in mind that the fence was and is not intended to be the sole response to the problems that plague the border region. Nevertheless, as the effort to seal the 14-mile Tijuana-San Diego drug smuggler’s corridor nears completion, the fence’s increasing effectiveness will further vindicate the decision to repair it.

REP. DUNCAN HUNTER

R-Coronado