Border fence being built

Construction started last week on vehicle barriers on the international border in western Arizona, part of President Bush’s Secure Border Initiative.

The fence has prompted Mexican President Felipe Calder—n to again condemn it, this time while talking to internationally known business leaders at a meeting in Switzerland.

The newest fence is in addition to other places along the border where vehicle barriers are being erected, including the southern boundary of the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge.

National Guard troopers are installing X-shaped barriers made of railroad track.

They resemble the barriers German troops installed along the Normandy beach in World War II to thwart allied invasion boats.

The Associated Press said the new vehicle barriers are going up along a 37-mile stretch at the Barry M. Goldwater Bombing Range east of Yuma.

However, the barriers won’t be used at the nearby Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge.

The new fence will consist of bollards, reinforced concrete posts buried vertically along the border. Bollards are used to guide route traffic and keep cars out of some areas.

President Calder—n spoke before some of the world’s wealthiest CEOs, including Microdsoft’s Bill Gates.

He said the fence is an “offense” and said as long as there’s economic disparity between the two countries, people seeking jobs will go north.

“The American economy is rich in capital, the Mexican economy is rich in labor,” he said.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749