Bush to Sign Border Fence Bill...Finally

There has been no small amount of drama concerning the bill to build 700 miles of security fence along the southern U.S. border. The bill was passed quite a while ago and there was some concern that Bush might refuse to sign it (otherwise known as a "pocket veto") because it didn't contain the guest worker program he wanted.

Fortunately, the president's team realized that failing to sign this bill would be the kiss of death among conservatives and would pretty much guarantee that many would stay home on Nov. 7th. The president will sign the bill today, and will do it in a public ceremony:

WASHINGTON (AP) - When President Bush signs a bill authorizing 700 miles of new fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border Thursday, he'll give GOP candidates a pre-election platform for asserting they're tough on illegal immigration. Yet the centerpiece of his immigration policy, a guest worker program, remains stalled in Congress.

And a handful of House Republican are at the brakes, blocking negotiations with the Senate for a bill that includes the president's proposal.

Still, Bush argues that it would be easier to get his guest worker program passed if Republicans keep their majorities in the House and Senate after the Nov. 7 elections. His proposal would allow legal employment for foreigners and give some of the estimated 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States a shot at becoming American citizens.

The measure Bush is putting into law Thursday before heading for campaign stops in Iowa and Michigan offers no money for the fence project covering one-third of the 2,100-mile border.

Its cost is not known, although a homeland security spending measure the president signed earlier this month makes a $1.2 billion down payment on the project. The money also can be used for access roads, vehicle barriers, lighting, high-tech equipment and other tools to secure the border.

Bush is being dragged into this somewhat unwillingly (I don't know why he seems much more intent on open borders than most members of his party), but at least it will finally get done. Anything that makes it more difficult for those who would circumvent our laws is a step in the right direction.