Bush approves 1000km of fence on Mexico border

WASHINGTON - President Bush has signed election-year legislation to build 1126km of fencing along the US-Mexican border to combat illegal immigration, prompting a strong protest from Mexico.

Republicans hoped the legislation would give them a boost as they try to head off a strong Democratic attempt to take control of the US Congress in November 7 elections.

"We have a responsibility to secure our borders. We take this responsibility seriously," Bush said in a signing ceremony at the White House.

But Mexican President-elect Felipe Calderon said in Ottawa after meeting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper that he deplored the move because "the fence doesn't resolve anything" and will cause more Mexican deaths on the border.

"Humanity committed a grave mistake in building the Berlin Wall. I'm sure that the United States is committing a grave mistake in building this fence," Calderon said.

Bush had long opposed supporting a bill that was limited to border enforcement, spending months in a failed attempt to persuade Congress to back a comprehensive measure that would include a guest-worker programme for illegal immigrants.

The Senate had approved a measure he preferred, but Republicans in charge of the US House of Representatives insisted on border enforcement only, feeling election-year heat from Americans upset about the impact of illegal immigration in their states.

Democrats called the legislation a political stunt, said it risked straining relations with Mexico and accused Republicans of lax border enforcement.

"This bill to build a fence is a bumper-sticker solution that Republicans hope will provide cover for their stunning failure to produce comprehensive immigration reform," said Massachusetts Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy.

In his remarks, Bush insisted a guest-worker programme would ease pressure along the border, and said Americans must face the reality that millions of illegal immigrants already live in the United States.

He renewed his appeal for a guest-worker programme.

"We must reduce pressure on our border by creating a temporary worker plan," Bush said.

The 1126km of fencing would run along parts of four southwestern states, California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The US-Mexican border runs about 3200km.

The legislation did not provide funding for the fencing, but simply authorized its construction. Part of the funding for the fence, US$1.2 billion, was included in a homeland security bill he signed earlier this month.

"This fence that will not actually be built is a perfect symbol of the Republicans' unwillingness to make controlling our borders a priority," said the top Democrat in the House, California Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

Congressional Republicans passed the legislation weeks ago but held off sending it to Bush until the election was closer.

- REUTERS