Texas Mayors Risk National Security

The mayors of three U.S. cities along the Mexican border are jeopardizing national security by refusing to give the federal government access to their land to build a fence that will protect the nation from terrorists and illegal aliens.

Finally acknowledging the damage caused by illegal immigration, drug smuggling and terrorist threats, Congress approved the much-needed fence last year to protect America. The measure calls for 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexican border and about 300 mils of â??virtual fencing,â? which will feature cameras, sensors and radars.

But the mayors of Brownsville, Del Rio and El Paso Texas have refused to allow federal employees to enter city property and begin surveys as well as other preliminary work on the project. They say a fence will hurt the cross-border economy and send the wrong message to their Mexican neighbors.

The standoff has caused quite a controversy but this week a veteran Congressman who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Immigration Reform Caucus publicly accused the mayors of jeopardizing national security.

Colorado Republican Tom Tancredo also said the â??rogue mayorsâ? have demonstrated that their hearts and loyalties lie with Mexico and sarcastically offered to build the fence north of their communities. He also pointed out that Congress approved the project with the overwhelming support of the American people to protect the nation from terrorists and illegal aliens.