Annotations for People: Boxer-barbara

US Senator Barbara Boxer of California is defending her controversial proposal to have the National Guard patrol the US-Mexico border. Boxer says her suggestion is meant to limit the backlash against legal immigration by using the troops to deter undocumented immigrants. Boxer's suggestion is being heavily criticized by many Hispanic officials in California, and another immigration-related proposal came under fire in Washington.

It's not going to accomplish anything in keeping people from crossing the border. It'll simply prevent them from wanting to come over to buy American goods.

That's California Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard reacting to Senator Diane Feinstein's proposal to charge a fee for crossing the border as a way to pay for more border patrol agents. At a hearing in Congress, some experts warn such a fee might cause even longer delays at the border and perhaps difficulties with the governments of Mexico and Canada. Larry Francis is the mayor of El Paso, Texas.

Any kind of fee will cause Mexican nationals to cross the Rio Grande illegally, worsening our problem. Over a broader view, any attempt to reduce the flow of people will have an economic impact on both countries.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service also expressed concerns about the border-crossing fee.

The US Senate meanwhile has begun debate on a proposal by California Senator Barbara Boxer to allow the National Guard to patrol the border with Mexico. Isabel Alegria has more.

Senator Boxer's legislation would provide for at least $2 million to train members of the National Guard to assist the border patrol along the Border. Guard members would be asked to serve all or part of their obligatory 15 days per year at border stations. The plan has come under attack from Hispanic civil rights groups who say it would further militarize the border. Boxer's legislation is part of a larger defense spending bill that must still be approved by the full Senate and a joint committee of both the House and Senate. For Latino USA, Isabel Alegria in San Francisco.