related article Visas, Passports and Immigration

21 May 2006

(Gonzales says fences, temporary workers, National Guard part of strategy)

Washington -- The principles laid out in President Bush's proposal for comprehensive immigration reform are important to the security of the United States and should be included in any legislation under consideration, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said in talk show appearances May 21.

"[T]he president outlined to the American people five broad principles that he wants to see and expects to see in comprehensive immigration reform," Gonzales said in an interview on ABC's This Week.

These principles include securing U.S. borders, creating a temporary worker program, facilitating the ability of employers to verify employment eligibility and holding them accountable for the status of workers they hire, dealing with the illegal immigrants already in the United States, and encouraging the assimilation of new immigrants into U.S. society. (See related article.)

"[W]e believe that all of those components are very, very important to the overall goal that we all share of ensuring that our border is secure," he said.

Speaking on CBS's Face the Nation, Gonzales said having secure borders is essential "in a post-9/11 world" because "[w]e have to know who's coming into our country and why."

Gonzales also said the components of Bush's plan will "relieve pressure along the border" between the United States and Mexico.

FENCES NEEDED TO SECURE PARTS OF U.S.-MEXICO BORDER

The Attorney General said on ABC's This Week that erecting fences along parts of the U.S.-Mexico border is important for securing parts of the United States, but he said such barriers are not needed for all areas.

"I don't think it would be feasible and make much sense to have a wall that stretches 2,000 miles along our southern border.  The objective here is to have a smart border strategy and part of that should include ... a wall along certain portions of the border," Gonzales said.

"[D]epending on the geography, depending on the use of technology, depending on the use of border patrol agents, you don't need a [fence] in my judgment all along our southern border. But in certain places it does make sense," he continued.

The Attorney General said on CBS's Face the Nation that "the objective here is to make sure that we're being smart in securing our border."

"In some places it makes more sense to rely upon new technology, and in some places it makes more sense to rely upon the natural geography, and in some places it makes more sense to simply have a presence -- a show of force of Border Patrol agents," he said. 

NATIONAL GUARD WOULD SUPPORT BORDER-SECURITY ACTIVITIES

Regarding the use of National Guard, Gonzales said on CBS's Face the Nation that such troops would "be there in a support role."  He noted that the Border Patrol currently is training new agents and would use National Guard personnel to supplement the current the current number of Border Patrol agents.

"They will not be involved in direct law enforcement," but for support, Gonzales said.  "For example, if you've got a National Guardsman who's trained in building roads, they'll be sent to the border and they will assist in building roads along the border. If you have a National Guardsman who is trained in analysis or intelligence, they will be sent to the border and they will be involved in analysis and intelligence. So they're there in a support role."

For more information on U.S. policies, see Visas, Passports and Immigration.