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Fence Outreach Overview Talking Points:

Texas Border Fencing

May 17, 2007

 DHS is making significant investments to strengthen border security through the

Secure Border Initiative.

 Following start of the Secure Border Initiative, last Fall the Secure Fence Act was
also passed by Congress. This legislation requires DHS to construct 700 miles of
border fence and deploy other technology and tactical infrastructure at the southern
border.

 Fencing is but one element of the DHS’s layered defense plan to gain control of the
border. Our comprehensive plan includes additional, substantial investments in
technology, infrastructure and enforcement personnel.

 Initial assessments by the local Border Patrol Agents and Chiefs – based on current
illegal migration patterns and the Border Patrol’s extensive field experience – have
identified those places at the southern border where new fencing would most
effectively reduce illegal immigration.

 These assessments recommend a total of roughly 370 miles of fencing along the
southern border’s 2,000 miles.

 These multiple initial recommendations from Border Patrol field officers provide the
starting point for decisions on where border fence will be built.

 In addition to the initial operational assessments by Border Patrol, other variables

are being evaluated. These include environmental impacts, cost to construct, design
features and community acceptance.

 CBP and DHS leadership are committed to having an extensive and candid dialogue
about fencing with state and local stakeholders, including landowners. Wee intend
to make investments that effectively balance border security with the diverse needs
of those that live in border communities.

 We recognize the impacts that illegal border activity have on our border communities
and on landowners at the border.

 While fencing is an important component of our effort to gain control of our borders,
we also recognize the potential impact that fencing could have on your communities.
We are therefore eager to discuss these potential impacts and other community
views regarding fencing.
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 In Texas, these consultations will take place extensively in May and June of this
year. If some sites elicit strong community or landowner support, and if these sites
meet our other criteria for cost-effective investment, we will provide appropriate local
notification and proceed to construct.

 In other cases, we expect that iterative discussions will be needed to evaluate

options and establish priorities before final decisions about fencing solutions can be
made by CBP and DHS senior leadership.

 In all cases, we are committed to a transparent and consultative decision making

process with our state and local partners. And we are all committed to safe and
secure borders.

 DHS looks forward to working with leaders in the border communities in which we
too live as we work to deploy effective, appropriate security measures at the border.