US Republicans Back Fence to Keep Out Drugs and Immigrants

Republicans in the United States Congress have approved the construction of a 700-mile fence along the border with Mexico to block the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs into the country.

The controversial plan, described by some Democrats as a 21st century Berlin Wall, will involve building two layers of reinforced fencing, cameras, lighting and sensors along border stretches in California, New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. Current limited stretches of fencing will be greatly increased.

The fence is part of the border security bill, designed to illustrate Republican resolve to crack down on illegal immigration, although a fractious session of the House of Representatives on Thursday night highlighted the sharp divisions within the party on how best to address the contentious issue.

The bill is expected to be passed in the House today, but its fate in the Senate is uncertain because it does not include a guest-worker programme, favoured by the White House and business community. This would allow the estimated 6 million illegal workers already in the US to apply for temporary visas.

House Republicans opposed to the measure claim it will amount to an amnesty.

The fence amendment requires the Department of Homeland Security to build five fences along the porous southern border. "Border fences are a security tool with proven results," said Republican Congressman David Dreier. "This amendment allows us to target our federal resources where they are needed most: five specific border crossings with the highest number of immigrant deaths, instances of drug smuggling and illegal crossings."

But the American Civil Liberties Union said the proposed fence was another example of the extremist wing of the Republican party pushing failed policies.

A spokesman said: "We've already tried what they're advocating by tripling the number of border patrol agents. It just pushes people away from the relatively easy transit points and out into the desert."

The ACLU says up to 2,000 people have died trying to get into the US over the past 10 years.

The White House said it strongly supported the House bill, adding that it "remains committed to comprehensive immigration reform, including a temporary worker programme that avoids amnesty, and believes this bill is a positive step towards that goal".

One amendment that did not make it through the House was a proposal to deny citizenship to babies born in the US of illegal migrants. The historical right of all children born in America to claim citizenship was ratified just after the civil war.