U.S. Asked to Overrule State on Border Fence

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon) on Monday asked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Department of Commerce to overrule the California Coastal Commission’s rejection of a 3 1/2-mile fencing project along the U.S.-Mexico border over concerns that it would damage the environment.

Calling the commission’s decision bizarre, reckless and dangerous, he asked Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and Commerce Secretary Donald Evans to move ahead with plans to build two additional fences to thwart illegal immigrants and drug smugglers. Hunter asked them to invoke a clause in coastal law allowing environmental protections to be waived to protect national security.