Thread: San Diego officials mark completion of border berm

San Diego officials mark completion of border berm

The Associated Press
1:17 p.m. July 6, 2009

SAN DIEGO — A historic canyon near San Diego may no longer be a popular spot for illegal border crossers.

Immigration officials on Monday announced the completion of the so-called Smuggler's Gulch project, which involved moving 1.3 million cubic yards of dirt to form a berm across a scrub-covered canyon just inland from the Pacific Ocean.

The canyon and its surrounding area were staging areas for immigrants to gather by the hundreds then rush across the border en masse. The U.S. Border Patrol says the berm makes it faster and safer for agents to patrol the area.

It is part of a larger project dating back to 1996 that has seen 14 miles of fencing installed.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... dex=127617

Authorities Complete 'Smuggler's Gulch' Border Project

POSTED: 1:39 pm PDT July 6, 2009
UPDATED: 3:42 pm PDT July 6, 2009

SAN DIEGO -- One of the busiest and most dangerous stretches of border fence is being beefed up, 10News reported.

The area, known as Smuggler's Gulch, is located just south of the Tijuana River Valley Park and is a geographically desirable spot for smugglers, according to authorities.

U.S. Rep. Duncan L. Hunter said, "This canyon, Smuggler's Gulch, was a place that echoed with cries of people who were being robbed, raped and murdered by the border gangs. Some of the gangs carried automatic weapons."

It's a large area of land that sits along the border between San Ysidro and Imperial Beach -- 14 miles that have been problematic for U.S. authorities.

Brig. Gen. Kevin Ellsworth of the National Guard said, "The National Guard has been involved in border infrastructure for 15 years. To see this project come to fruition is pretty amazing."

The once open, hilly and dirt terrain has been replaced with paved roads, stadium lighting and a 20-foot metal fence.

10News learned that about 500 feet of the 14-mile stretch is being met with some challenges.

"This area had a historic set of bunkers called Bunker Hill. They were cement bunkers that were put in during World War II to protect against what we thought might be an attack after Pearl Harbor. Because they have historic significance, we haven't sewn up that last small piece of border," said Hunter.

The project entailed moving 1.3 million cubic yards of dirt, all while protecting the environment and San Diego County.

U.S. Rep. Duncan D. Hunter said, "San Diego families will sleep safer and better because of this border fence. It's pretty simple: fences make a safe San Diego."

http://www.10news.com/news/19969940/detail.html