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Jamie Dupree's Washington Insider

Posted: 9:03 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Mexican Border Rumblings 

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By Jamie Dupree

So far, the calls from Congress to stop air travel between the United States and Mexico are limited, as are the demands the close the border because of the swine flu outbreak.  But that could still change.

At the first Congressional hearing on the swine flu outbreak, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas raised the issue of closing the border, but was assured by Centers for Disease Control officials that it isn't needed right now.

Something tells me if the number of flu cases jumps dramatically - especially along the Southwest border - those calls for action might multiply.

We'll see if that comes up today when Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano testifies before a Senate committee.

Napolitano made clear again at a briefing on Tuesday that she's not ready to shut down the border.

"And with respect to closing the border, again, you would close the border if you thought you could contain disease, the spread of disease," Napolitano said.

"But the disease already is in a number of states within the United States, so the containment issue doesn't really play out," the Secretary added.

It will be an interesting test for Napolitano, who arrives with a somewhat damaged brand after her dustup in recent weeks over a Homeland Security intelligence review of "right wing extremist" groups.

I would bet someone will broach that subject today - I mean - why not? You don't get that many bites at the apple, and you may as well give it a shot.

 
 
 

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