Morning Security Brief: Border Security

October 25, 2011

A bill designed to increase border security would exempt Border Patrol from 36 environmental laws along the Canadian and Mexican borders.

The National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act would allow border officials “to build roads and offices, erect fences, set up sensors and surveillance gear and operate aircraft and vehicles to patrol in national parks, forests and protected federal land along a 100-mile border zone,” the Orange Country Register reports.

If the legislation is approved, Border Patrol would be allowed to ignore the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and many others. GOP supporters of the bill say environmental laws make it too difficult for border agents to deal with drug smugglers. Read more