[JURIST] Mexico [JURIST news archive] may ask the UN to intervene in a brewing border fence dispute with the United States, Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez [Mexican Foreign Ministry website] said Monday. Legal experts are investigating the legality of the US Secure Fence Act of 2006 [text, PDF] before asking the UN to intervene. Dobez said it was a "shame" the US government was using the creation of a border fence for short term political gain, rather than addressing the real concerns between the neighboring countries.

The Mexican government sent President Bush a diplomatic note last week requesting that he veto the bill [JURIST report] which would construct a 700 mile fence [JURIST news archive] between the countries. Bush has since signed Homeland Security funding legislation [AP report] which covers the cost of building the fence. AP has more.