Congress approves Mexican border fence

September 14, 2006

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the building of 700 miles of double-layered fence between the U.S. and Mexico this afternoon, it was the second time in a year that the issue was before the congress and the bill passed by a 238–138 vote. The 2000 mile long border currently has 75 miles of fencing.

The bill also orders the U.S. Homeland Security Department to take over control of the border in 18 months and grants border agents new authority to stop fleeing vehicles.

It also ordered the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a study of the necessity and feasibility of the construction of a "state-of-the-art barrier system" along the Canadian border.