Where's the fence? SYLVESTER: In August, the Department of Homeland Security had built only 13 miles of new fencing and was way behind schedule. Now, after building at a rate of two miles of new fence a day for the last month, DHS says it's reached its fiscal year goal, 70 miles of new fencing in parts of New Mexico, California and Arizona, bringing the total fence along the southern border to more than 100 miles. MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: As of the end of this month, September, we will have approximately 145 miles of fencing in place along the southern border.
is exactly what we promised to have at the end of this fiscal year. SYLVESTER: But critics say the administration has been taking shortcuts.
Secure Fences Act signed by President Bush calls for two layers of reinforced fencing, the installation of additional physical barriers and roads.
has constructed only a single layer of fence.
HANNA, WENEEDAFENCE.COM: Frankly, the design that is being implemented, I think, is inferior to what was envisioned in the legislation and inferior to the kind of design we at weneedafence.com have proposed. SYLVESTER: Representative Duncan Hunter accuses DHS of using squirrelly metrics. Of the 70 miles of fencing, less than eight miles are double-fenced. REP.
HUNTER (R-CA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: That's almost nothing. That's pathetic.
61.5 miles in a year of single fence, which is less fencing than some individual ranchers in this country had put in their ranches in the same period of time. SYLVESTER: DHS is facing other criticism and roadblocks to meet future deadlines.
mayor of Brownsville, Texas, is denying DHS access to city lands and is considering filing a lawsuit.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says quote “I have been against the fence. I thought it was a bad idea, even when it was just a matter of discussion.” (END VIDEO CLIP) SYLVESTER: DHS acknowledges that it has built only a primary- layer fence, but says it's 15 feet high, difficult to climb, and strong enough to withstand a vehicle impact. Now, the agency also is not ruling out adding a second layer of fencing in the future.
we will have to see Kitty. PILGRIM: Well, we're waiting for that. Lisa, this is way past the discussion phase. And, yet, they're continuing to discuss, aren't they? SYLVESTER: Well, they are continuing to discuss.
in fact there are a number of environmental studies that they have to go through.
so you could see that this process has really been pushed back. There's another deadline of May 2008.
Representative Duncan Hunter is really skeptical that they will be able to meet that deadline. PILGRIM: Gee, I wonder why.
very much, Lisa Sylvester. Thanks, Lisa. transcripts.cnn.com
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