Border-city mayors say fence now is in doubt

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — Mayors of Texas border towns who met with Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff on Wednesday said they are confident a 850-mile fence will not be built on the U.S.-Mexican border.

Laredo Mayor Raul Salinas said it is "highly unlikely" that the fence, as authorized in a law signed by President Bush, would be funded.

"It's a turnaround here. It's the beginning of a new day to say no wall," Salinas said.

Seven mayors and three Texas businessmen met with Chertoff at the office of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas. She voted for the fence but wants it adjusted to address local concerns.

Chertoff said after the meeting that there are parts of the border where a fence will work and his agency wants to be "expeditious" in building it. But he said that on some parts of the border a mix of technology will be needed.

"In all cases, we need more boots on the ground," Chertoff said.