After supporting construction of a fence on the 1,947-mile border with Mexico as the junior senator from Illinios, President Barack Obama has cut funding for the construction of pedestrian fencing and vehicle barriers.

Obama’s budget does however include money for construction of a virtual fence along the border. The first towers holding sensors, cameras and communications equipment will go up along Arizona’s border with our southern neighbor.

Officials estimate that the program should have all of the border covered, with the exception of an area in Big Bend National Park in Texas, by 2014.

A group of Republican lawmakers that includes Representative Duncan Hunter of El Cajon and Representative Brian Bilbray of Solana Beach introduced a bill that would require the completion of the 700 mile border fence begun under the George W. Bush administration.

Democratic leaders, including President Barack Obama, have said that they favor a more comprehensive approach to immigration reform, which includes legalization for some of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants currently in the country.

Before he took office, the President said that he would only support completion of the fence if it was essential for border security operations.

The bill will likely languish in the House Homeland Security and Judicairy committees.

With George W. Bush out of the White House, many hope that his successor can achieve one of his greatest shortcomings – comprehensive immigration reform.

As President Barack Obama took the oath of office and the White House Web site changed, many immigration reform activists were pleased that the new site countinued to tout the President’s campaign promises of immigration reform as part of his agenda.

The White House site says that President Obama will create secure borders, improve our immigration system, remove incentives to enter illegally, bring people out of the shadows by providing a path to citizenship and work with Mexico to promote economic development.

While some statistics show that immigration is slowing with the downturn in the economy, the issue is no less important the United States’ economic future.

Having a rational, sustainable way for businesses to obtain the labor they need now and in the future is a vital part of insuring that the United States will recover from the current economic downturn.

No matter what your opinion about immigration, it is clear that the current system is broken and needs to be fixed. Getting comprehensive reform that helps immigrants and businesses should be considered a vital piece of the Obama Administration’s agenda.