US-Mexico Border Fence / Great Wall of Mexico
Secure Fence

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1384)

On 9 May 2007, My Reid (for himself, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Menendez, and Mr. Salazar) introduced the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, Bill S. 1384. This Bill outlined several stipulations regarding the secure fence on the border of the United States and Mexico.

On 28 June 2007, when the Senate vote fell short of the numbers needed to push through the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 to a final vote, the Bill was pulled from the senate floor. Pre-existing stipulations from 2006, some of which were repeated in the 2007 Bill, would still be enforced. This included the construction of fence/wall along certain parts of the U.S./Mexico border. After the Senate blocked the bill, though the issue of immigration remained a hot topic, it seemed unlikely for it to resurface prior to 2008 elections. Had the bill been voted through, the stipulations it outlined regarding the secure fence on the U.S/Mexico border were:

SEC. 106. CONSTRUCTION OF STRATEGIC BORDER FENCING AND VEHICLE BARRIERS.

(a) Tucson Sector- The Secretary shall--

(1) replace all aged, deteriorating, or damaged primary fencing in the Tucson Sector located proximate to population centers in Douglas, Nogales, Naco, and Lukeville, Arizona with double- or triple-layered fencing running parallel to the international border between the United States and Mexico;

(2) extend the double- or triple-layered fencing for a distance of not less than 2 miles beyond urban areas, except that the double- or triple-layered fence shall extend west of Naco, Arizona, for a distance of 10 miles; and

(3) construct not less than 150 miles of vehicle barriers and all-weather roads in the Tucson Sector running parallel to the international border between the United States and Mexico in areas that are known transit points for illegal cross-border traffic.

(b) Yuma Sector- The Secretary shall--

(1) replace all aged, deteriorating, or damaged primary fencing in the Yuma Sector located proximate to population centers in Yuma, Somerton, and San Luis, Arizona with double- or triple-layered fencing running parallel to the international border between the United States and Mexico;

(2) extend the double- or triple-layered fencing for a distance of not less than 2 miles beyond urban areas in the Yuma Sector; and

(3) construct not less than 50 miles of vehicle barriers and all-weather roads in the Yuma Sector running parallel to the international border between the United States and Mexico in areas that are known transit points for illegal cross-border traffic.

(c) Other High Trafficked Areas- The Secretary shall construct not less than 370 miles of triple-layered fencing which may include portions already constructed in San Diego Tucson and Yuma Sectors, and 500 miles of vehicle barriers in other areas along the southwest border that the Secretary determines are areas that are most often used by smugglers and illegal aliens attempting to gain illegal entry into the United States.

(d) Construction Deadline- The Secretary shall immediately commence construction of the fencing, barriers, and roads described in subsections (a), (b), and (c) and shall complete such construction not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(e) Report- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives that describes the progress that has been made in constructing the fencing, barriers, and roads described in subsections (a), (b), and (c).

(f) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.