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1. Feds mull fence strategy
2. Poll: GOP supporters unimpressed
3. Poll: Latino voters prioritize
4. Anti-fence leaders work with feds
5. Record VA school enrollments

1.
Officials: Progress made on virtual fence project
By Jacques Billeaud
The Associated Press, November 30, 2009

Phoenix (AP) -- Government officials overseeing the construction of a "virtual fence" along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border hope to turn over the first segment to the Border Patrol in January, while beginning construction on a second stretch in coming weeks.

Although the government has plans to extend the network of cameras, ground sensors and radars along most of the border, officials said they'll draw on lessons from the first two segments in southern Arizona as they contemplate if and where to build more sections and how fast to complete them.

The government estimated it would cost $6.7 billion to cover most of the Mexican border by 2014.

"We do want some time to look at whether or not that really does make the most sense," said Mark Borkowski, the government's director of the virtual fence project. "Is it really sensible to spend all that money? Or are there other more measured approaches? Maybe there are some places along the border that make sense, but maybe not the entire border."

As it now stands, once both southern Arizona sections are in operation along 53 miles of the border, the next step would be to authorize construction through the majority of the 375-mile border in Arizona, the nation's busiest gateway for immigrant smuggling and a major thoroughfare for marijuana smuggling.

By using cameras, ground sensors and radars mounted on a series of towers, the system allows a small number of dispatchers to track illegal border-crossers on a computer monitor. They'll be able to zoom in with cameras to see whether it's a person or animal moving, and decide whether the movement requires sending Border Patrol agents to the scene.

The virtual fence, developed as part of then-President George W. Bush's border security plan, is designed to add another layer of protection at the border, along with thousands of Border Patrol agents and 650 miles of real fences.

The government and the contractor building the virtual fence said they were making solid progress after a series of setbacks earlier in the project.

While a prototype virtual fence in southern Arizona has been in use for nearly two years, the first permanent 23-mile stretch along the Mexican border near Sasabe, Ariz., would be handed over to the Border Patrol in January for testing, if everything goes as planned. The government hopes to begin construction on a second 30-mile section south of Ajo, Ariz., once environmental clearances are finalized.

The project was criticized because of delays and the government's finding in 2008 that the 28-mile prototype fence didn't work properly. That prompted the government to withhold some payments to its contractor, Boeing Co. The prototype will be replaced by the first permanent segment.

As virtual fence construction continues, the Border Patrol continues to use older technology that has limitations.
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http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iV0Ds1C9_3O5y-FXwG7KMJ...

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2.
61 Percent of Republicans and Republican Leaning Independents Say GOP Puts ‘Too Little’ Emphasis on Illegal Immigration, Says Washington Post Poll
By Pete Winn
The CNS News, November 30, 2009

Sixty-one percent of Republicans and independents who say they lean towards the Republican Party say they think the Republican Party puts “too little” emphasis on the issue of illegal immigration, according to a new Washington Post poll.

The poll asked respondents their opinion about the degree of emphasis the Republican Party puts on eight issues: gun rights, same-sex marriage, abortion, federal spending, taxes, the environment, illegal immigration, and the economy and jobs.

The question was: “Thinking about the Republican Party in general and not just the people in Congress, for each issue area I name, please tell me if you think the party in general puts (too much) emphasis on the issue, (too little) emphasis on the issue, or about the right amount?”

Of the eight issues, illegal immigration was the one to which the most people said the party gave too little emphasis. Sixty-one percent of the Republicans and Republican leaning independents said the GOP gave illegal immigration too little emphasis. Another 29 percent said the GOP gives illegal immigration the right amount of emphasis. Only 9 percent said the GOP gives illegal immigration too much emphasis.
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http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/57785

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Washington Post poll results are available online at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_113009.html

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3.
Latino voters see universal health care as the top priority
By Pilar Marrero
La Opinion, November 30, 2009

Latino voters in the United States see health care reform as the most important priority for the country and a solid majority expresses support for universal health care that includes a public option.

These are among the findings of a poll of 1,000 registered Latino voters, conducted November 1-14 by Impremedia, Latino Decisions and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Center for Health Policy at the University of New Mexico, in the 21 states that have the largest Latino populations.

"Health care reform is now expected by Latinos and [is] very important to them. The issue is on the national agenda and they definitely want to see action on this bill", said associate professor of political science, Matt Barreto of the University of Washington, and a partner in Latino Decisions.

The findings indicate that health care reform is now more important than the economy and immigration for many Latinos: 32% said health care is the most important issue, followed by 27% who said the priority should be the economy. Only 14% mentioned immigration as the top issue and just 8% think the most important issue is the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is the first time since Latino Decisions began conducting this type of polling that health care has risen to the top of the list. This reflects, according to the experts, a sense of urgency in a community that historically has found access to good health care to be difficult. It also reflects a concern for the larger community: 75% of the sample has insurance and still believe reform is urgent.
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http://www.impre.com/laopinion/noticias/2009/11/30/latino-voters-see-uni...

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4.
After fence fight, border leaders get proactive with feds
By Gary Martin
The San Antonio Express News (TX), November 26, 2009

Washington, DC -- After several years of fighting the U.S.-Mexico border fence, a coalition of Texas elected officials is working with the Obama administration on ways to improve border ports and facilitate trade while fighting drug smuggling.

The Texas Border Coalition's involvement with policymaking comes after a bitter tangle with the federal government over construction of the fence that Congress and the White House approved, but border business leaders and human rights groups opposed.

“We've got to work together,” said Chad Foster, Eagle Pass mayor and the coalition's chairman. “But that is where the wheels came off the cart — when there was legislation passed without any consultation.”

Coalition members are working with J.D. Salinas, the regional administrator for the U.S. General Services Administration and former Hidalgo County judge, on improvements to land ports of entry to enhance trade and bolster security.

It's not a new direction for the coalition, whose members first found strength in numbers more than a decade ago when they bonded to beat back legislative mandates from Austin and Washington.

The Texas Border Coalition was formed in 1998, with representatives from 10 border counties and 19 cities along the Rio Grande from Brownsville to El Paso, to lobby the state and federal governments for infrastructure improvements.

But that goal was derailed when the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks prompted Congress and the Bush administration to seek ways to shore up security along the Mexican border.

The coalition fought the resulting fence, but couldn't prevent its construction. Foster called it “false security for mid-America” that hindered legitimate trade and cultural ties between the two countries.

The coalition was also outspoken against a plan by Republican Gov. Rick Perry to put Texas Rangers along the border this year to protect property owners from Mexican smugglers and drug cartel violence.

The “Ranger Recon” plan, as it was dubbed, coincided with the challenge to Perry by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. The coalition dismissed Perry's plan as electioneering, and told him so in a letter.

“While each of our communities has their own unique issues,” Foster wrote, “being overwhelmed by criminal elements from Mexico is not one of them.”
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http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/politics/75454467.html

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5.
Schools feel strain as enrollment soars in Va.
The Associated Press, November 26, 2009

Leesburg, VA (AP) -- Booming school enrollment in northern Virginia over the past decade is only speeding up as the economy sputters.

Loudoun County enrollment has topped 60,000 students. That's double the enrollment in 2000.

This year's enrollment also is up by 3,000 students in Prince William County. And Fairfax County has counted a record 172,000 students this year. In Arlington and Alexandria, school enrollments are again on the upswing after declining for several years.
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http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/ap/schools-feel-strain-as-enroll...