The federal government has completed just a half-mile section of the 110 miles of pedestrian border fence promised along the Texas-Mexico border.

Texas' incomplete portion, about 109.5 miles, accounts for about a third of the 316 miles of pedestrian and vehicle barriers that remains to be built along the border that officials had hoped to complete by the end of President Bush's term in January.

The delays in completing the politically charged project, designed to stem illegal immigration, have been blamed on politicians' resistance, landowners' unwillingness to sell, shortages of materials, soaring costs and unforeseen construction problems.

Judicial Watch has been tracking this situation closely.  In fact, in July, we filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to obtain documents so we could get to the truth about the delays.  You can probably guess what happened next.  DHS stonewalled, forcing Judicial Watch to file a lawsuit last week.

Our questions are rather basic.  Here are a couple of them.  First, what properties will be used for the fence and how are they selected?  And, second, do the politicians who are leading the charge against the border fence own land that has been selected for use?  Obviously, if this is the case, their opposition to the border fence might be based on their personal interest, and not the interests of the public.

So far answers are in short supply.  That is why we file these open records requests, to provide the American people with as much information as possible so they can make their own informed opinions.  You can be sure I’ll have much more on this issue in future installments of the update.