Judge throws out border fence case

[May 18, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit to stop construction of the U.S.-Mexico border fence ordered by the Bush administration.

The Texas Border Coalition, a coalition of mayors and business and community leaders, sued the Homeland Security Department last year. The group said the department did not fairly negotiate compensation with landowners for access to their land for six-month surveys to choose fence sites.

The Bush administration pledged to build 667 miles of fencing and other barriers along the border to help keep out illegal immigrants. The job is nearly complete.

But U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton ruled Friday that the coalition did not have standing to sue since its members were not the affected property owners.

[Associated Press; By NEDRA PICKLER]

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