Feinstein unveils plan to deal with border tunnels...

Djaughe · February 21st, 2006, 10:40 PM

Nice to see something being done about the illegals tunneling across the border...but what about the one's crossing the surface??

Quote:

Feinstein unveils plan to make cross-border tunnels a crime

ELLIOT SPAGAT
Associated Press

SAN DIEGO - U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Tuesday that she will introduce legislation to make the financing and construction of cross-border tunnels a federal crime, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Feinstein spoke inside a warehouse where authorities last month found the longest cross-border tunnel ever discovered along the U.S.-Mexico border.

"Oh, for heaven's sake!" she said as she peered inside the 2,400-foot passageway that leads to a warehouse in Tijuana, Mexico. "Unbelievable, unbelievable."

Feinstein released a map of 39 secret tunnels discovered on the U.S.-Mexico border since Sept. 11, 2001, the vast majority in and around San Diego and Nogales, Ariz. Authorities found 21 along California's border with Mexico, including eight in San Diego in the past two months.

None were discovered in Texas or New Mexico. One was found along the U.S.-Canadian border last year - a passage that linked a hut in Langley, British Columbia, to a living room in Lynden, Wash.

None of the tunnels have been linked to terrorists and many were never completed, but Feinstein said they represent a threat to national security.
"Think of everything that can be smuggled underground that can do this nation and our people great harm," the California Democrat told reporters.

Feinstein's bill, to be co-sponsored by Arizona Republican Sen. Jon Kyl, would impose jail terms of up to 20 years for building or financing a cross-border tunnel and up to 10 years for landlords who negligently allow them to be built on their property.

"It was amazing to all of us that it was legal to build tunnels like this," said San Diego County Sheriff Bill Kolender.

The massive tunnel discovered last month in San Diego was lit, ventilated and went as deep as 90 feet. Carlos Cardenas Calvillo, a Mexican citizen, who worked at the San Diego warehouse where the tunnel surfaced, was charged with conspiracy to import marijuana.

Feinstein's office estimated that 12 tunnels were discovered along the U.S.-Mexico border between 1990 and September 2001. None were found along the Canadian border during that time.