Giuliani promotes 'virtual fence' for U.S.-Mexico border

MISSION, Texas - Republican presidential contender Rudy Giuliani pushed the idea of a "virtual" rather than a real fence along much of the U.S.-Mexico border on Monday, an issue that's controversial in the Rio Grande Valley where many people oppose construction of a physical fence to stop illegal immigration.

The former New York mayor said that while a physical fence is needed in some places, most of the border should be policed with high-tech monitoring. He toured the border Monday along the southernmost tip of Texas with state and local officials.

"And frankly, the virtual fence is more valuable because it alerts you to people approaching the border, it alerts you to people coming over the border," Giuliani said, the Rio Grande in the background.

Giuliani said his approach could end illegal immigration within three years.

Giuliani did not specifically address the idea of a fence in the Rio Grande Valley, the most

heavily populated portion of the Texas-Mexico border. Opponents, including most local elected

officials, say a physical fence would restrict access to the river and hurt their livelihoods, in some cases

creating a no man's land between the river and the fence.

Gov. Rick Perry, who has endorsed Giuliani, opposes construction of a 1,200-mile wall along the U.S-Mexico border.

Instead, he supports fencing at strategic points, such as in bigger cities, along with more border

patrol agents and high-tech monitoring of the kind Giuliani seeks, spokesman Robert Black said Monday.

Perry has a plan to broadcast live video footage from mobile cameras along the Texas-Mexico border.

Giuliani also addressed New York's "sanctuary" policy, which barred city workers during his

administration from reporting

suspected illegal immigrants who enrolled their children in school or sought hospital treatment.

Romney campaign spokesman Kevin Madden said: "Mayor

Giuliani created an amnesty

haven in New York City, and as a result he hampered enforcement efforts and hurt our nation's

ability to secure our borders. He has exactly the wrong approach to a very serious problem."

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