President Bush signed into law Thursday a broad measure that calls for fencing a third of the 2,100-mile border between the United States and Mexico.
"This bill will protect the American people, this will bill make our borders more secure. It is an important step in immigration reform," Bush said from the White House Roosevelt Room before putting pen to paper.
Bush was joined by Vice President Dick Cheney, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, House Majority Leader John Boehner and several other lawmakers and administration officials.Bush said the United States is a nation of immigrants but also a nation of laws.
"Unfortunately, the United States has not been in complete control of its borders for decades, and therefore, illegal immigration has been on the rise. We have a responsibility to address these challenges, we have a responsibility to enforce our laws, we have a responsibility to secure our borders. We take this responsibility seriously," Bush said.
The Secure Fence Act of 2006 gives the secretary of Homeland Security 18 months to get "operational control over U.S. international land and maritime borders" by improving surveillance through personnel and technology as well as "physical infrastructure enhancements to prevent unlawful border entry and facilitate border access by U.S. Customs and Border Protection."
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