Schumer Defends Opposing Border Wall After Voting for Secure Fence Act of 2006 By Nicholas Ballasy
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/schumer-defends-opposing-border-wall-after-voting-for-secure-fence-act-of-2006/
“The lack of faithfulness in saying the border ought to be secured is appalling to me,” says Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.).
WASHINGTON – Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) defended his vote in favor of the Secure Fence Act of 2006 and his opposition to President Trump’s proposed wall for open areas along the border.
In addition to Schumer, Democrats including former Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Joe Biden (D-Del.) voted for the Secure Fence Act but the fencing that the bill called for was not fully completed. Trump, who originally called for a concrete wall that was blocked by Congress, says his current border security plan would install “see through” steel barriers at open portions of the border that currently lack fencing. According to the Border Patrol, drug smugglers and human traffickers have cut more than 1,700 holes in the fencing along the border in San Diego since 2015.
PJM asked Schumer, “You voted for the Secure Fence Act in 2006. Will you support additional barriers on the border?” The Democratic leader replied, “No wall – didn’t have it then and doesn’t have it now.”
Congressional leaders unveiled a plan to avoid another government shutdown that allocates $1.375 billion for 55 miles of fencing in the Rio Grande Valley instead of the $5.7 billion sought by the president. Federal funding runs out at the end of the day Friday. Last week, Schumer told PJM that Congress and the White House were “making progress” toward a deal. CONTINUE AT SITE
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