President George W. Bush signed a bill authorizing construction of a 700-mile fence along the border between Mexico and southwestern United States. The new law, signed last Thursday, aims to stop people in Mexico from illegally entering the U.S. "The United States has not been in complete control of its borders for decades, and therefore, illegal immigration has been or the rise," Bush said. "We have a responsibility to secure our borders."
Mexico's president, Vicente Fox, called the fence "shameful." Critics argue that fence will not be effective way to stop illegal immigration. They also worry about paying for the fence.
Bush praised the new fence as "an important step in our nation's efforts to secure our borders."