Senator Jim DeMint, R-S.C., announced Thursday that he plans to introduce an amendment to the financial regulatory reform bill to require the completion of 700 miles of double-layer physical fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border within one year.
"We've now had two administrations fail to keep their promise to the American people to secure our border and Americans are tired of excuses," DeMint said.
He added, "Americans have demanded a real fence to combat the very real problems of illegal immigration that have led to human trafficking, drug trafficking, kidnapping and violence on our border. Congress will never be able to achieve long-term reform to create a legal immigration system that works until we secure our borders."
DeMint said his legislation follows through on the promise made by Congress in the Secure Fence Act of 2006 to build such a fence. To date, only 34.3 miles of the fence have been completed.
"We've had rhetoric and promises for four years without results," DeMint said. "It's time we completed the fence and secured our borders to protect American citizens."
If Senator DeMint's amendment is signed into law, Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano would be required to submit a report to Congress within six months after enactment of the law on the progress made and her plans for completing the fence within twelve months.
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May 22, 2026 14:46 ET Minutes of the latest Fed policy session was the highlight of the week along with survey data on the U.S. housing market. In Europe, survey data signaled the trends in the euro area private sector. Further, consumer price inflation data from the U.K. was in focus. In Asia, various economic indicators from China drew attention to the health of the economy.