Now is time to express views on national security bill

I was privileged in late February to serve as one Southwest Texas Conference representative to the Texas Conference of Churches meeting in Austin.
State Rep. Richard Raymond, D-Laredo, delivered one of the most interesting and challenging presentations at the conference. His topic was House Bill 418, now awaiting U.S. Senate consideration, and aspects of the legislation that he found troubling.
HB 418 is to address national security, an area of intense sensitivity since the events of Sept. 11, 2001. After hearing Mr. Raymond, however, I have become concerned that our zeal for national security may lead us as a nation to overcompensate, at the risk of sacrificing our own liberty and way of life.
One very troubling aspect of HB 418 is that it calls for building fences and walls along the border between the United States and Mexico, the placement of which is at the sole discretion of the director of national sesurity. According to Mr. Raymond, private property owners have no say over whether their land can be used, nor do they have the right to appeal the decision to any court. The decision of the director of national security is final and irreversible.
That facet of HB 418 alone should be troubling to those who hold dear the right to ownership and control of private property as well as to those who believe in a system of checks and balances to prevent any one arm of government from becoming too powerful.
A second facet of the bill smacks very clearly of ethnic bias. The proposed system of fences and walls will be built along the border with Mexico, but not the border with Canada. That’s despite the knowledge that most of the 9/11 hijackers were in the United States legally and that those who were here illegally entered through Canada, not Mexico.
To me, one of the most alarming and potentially dangerous features of the bill is that it authorizes “bounty hunters” to track down illegal aliens and turn them in to authorities. The danger of that is these vigilantes will not be under the supervision of any law enforcement agencies, an invitation to abuse and violence.
Apparently nothing in HB 418 would prohibit these people from entering schools and sweeping up children.
Finally, the U.S. Catholic Council of Bishops has stated that the building of a wall along the Mexican border will merely force those trying to enter the United States to find work to enter through the more dangerous areas, such as the Arizona desert. That will inevitably result in more death.
Clearly everyone wants our nation to be secure. No one wants to see a repeat of the Sept. 11 tragedy. Many readers of this article may feel that all of the measures of HB 418 are necessary and proper for the defense of our borders. Many others may be troubled by one or more of the features described by Mr. Raymond.
Whatever the case, now is the time for people who have concern to express them to our senators. HB 418 has passed the U.S. House of Representatives with little debate. It is difficult to be seen as opposing elements of a program that its sponsors describe as being for national security.
The bill has now been sent to Senate for consideration. Whether you are in favor of or opposed to the various elements of this bill, now is the time to make your feelings known to our senators.
Bill Johnson chairs the Board of Church and Society.