Thread: Border fence buildup seems to be working

Published: 12.31.2007
Border fence buildup seems to be working
ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN
The Associated Press
Call it cause and effect.
With attention riveted in Arizona during 2007 on border security over illegal immigration, drug smuggling and potential terrorist infiltration, federal authorities responded with a spree of fence-building and high-tech surveillance.
The construction included both old-fashioned fences and the new, high-tech virtual variety, plus vehicle barriers and remote-controlled aircraft equipped with eyes in the sky.
And there are signs that the buildup is having an impact, particularly in far southwestern Arizona.
In the Border Patrol's Yuma sector, which covers roughly Arizona's westernmost 110 miles of border, apprehensions of illegal immigrants plunged dramatically. They were down 68 percent during fiscal 2007 over the previous year - from more than 118,000 to only about 38,000.
By comparison, totals in the Tucson sector for the fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, dipped by 4 percent to 378,000 from 392,000.
In the Tucson sector, covering the rest of the state's southern border, Border Patrol spokesman Jose Gonzalez said marijuana seizures soared by 46 percent. He said the dipping numbers of arrests show that fewer migrants are crossing and agents are able to spend more time on smuggling operations.
The year began and ended with decisions by the nation's Homeland Security chief to waive environmental laws, enabling prompt construction of steel barricades along parts of the Arizona border.
In January, Secretary Michael Chertoff's waiver of a series of laws, from the Endangered Species Act to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, allowed for quick construction of so-called bollard-style vehicle barriers along the Barry M. Goldwater Range in far southwestern Arizona.
In late October, Chertoff issued a similar waiver, using the authority that Congress granted in 2005, to ensure construction of a stretch of primary fencing and bollards across most of a revered riparian area in the state's southeastern reaches.
As of the end of September, approximately 85 miles of pedestrian fencing and 72 miles of vehicle barriers were standing in Arizona, Customs and Border Protection figures show. At least seven more miles were completed by the end of the calendar year.
Next year will see an even bigger building boom on the border.
Homeland Security expects to build an additional 225 miles of pedestrian fence and 200 miles of vehicle barriers across the border with Mexico by the end of 2008. That will bring the total along the nearly 2,000-mile border to 670 miles.
The new fencing is part of a three-pronged investment in border security, Gonzalez said.
The other two parts are increased use of new technology and greater manpower, with the fencing a critical part.
"If we have ... miles of fences erected, there's not going to be as much traffic there, so we can concentrate on areas where there still is traffic," Gonzalez said.
For nearly a decade, Arizona's 377-mile border has been the most active corridor along the U.S. boundary with Mexico for illicit entry by smugglers, illegal immigrants and drug traffickers. In turn, federal authorities have made boosted efforts to ramp up resources - both infrastructure and manpower.
A Border road has been created or improved, allowing for easier fence and barrier maintenance and better response times from Border Patrol agents.
In urban areas, stadium-style lights and cameras have been installed atop tall towers to provide greater surveillance. And notably, near the San Luis port of entry close to the Colorado River, the so-called primary fencing along the border has been supplemented by a second layer of tall mesh fencing north of the roadway. And east of the port of entry, it's even backed up by a chain-link fence with barbed wire on top.
Other beefed-up security measures include new fences and vehicle barriers near border crossings.
And an experimental "virtual fence" made up of nine 98-foot towers was built a few miles north of the border at Sasabe.
The towers are topped with an array of sophisticated cameras, radars, sensors and communications gear designed to detect and help border agents detect and track crossers.
In addition to the ground-based cameras and sensors, Customs and Border Protection's air and marine division has had two unmanned and unarmed aircraft flying along the Arizona-Mexico border to watch for border intruders.
"By having more technology and agents free we can better secure our nation's border," Gonzalez said.
Subscribe to the Tucson Citizen

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/72800.php

Heightened border security expected to slow surge of aliens
Comments 0| Recommend 0
BY KRISTI BASILE, SPECIAL TO THE SUN
December 30, 2007 - 9:07PM

In the past, the number of illegal aliens passing through Yuma County's stretch of the border always surged during the winter season.

From New Year's on, the reason for this traffic has usually been related to two events happening at this time of year.

First, many families have taken the risk to reunite for the holidays, no matter what the cost, and secondly, many migrants are making their way to find work during the Southern California harvest season, the Border Patrol. said

"Historically, it picks up around wintertime and there is a small spike in apprehensions," said Michael Bernacke, a spokesman for the patrol's Yuma Sector.

But this year, funds invested in beefing up border security are expected to reverse the holiday trend.

Yuma Sector Border Patrol officials expect fewer illegal aliens to attempt crossovers into the Yuma Sector after New Year's, in keeping with a trend of overall fewer apprehensions in the Yuma area.

Bernacke said, "During the fiscal year 2007, apprehensions have gone down 68 percent, making the trend this year lower than last year at this time."

In the Yuma Sector, illegal immigrant arrests are down from 119,000 in 2006 to 38,000 at the end of the fiscal year, and the numbers continue to decline.

The recent decrease in apprehensions and arrests is an indication that fewer illegals are trying to cross the border now.

According to Bernacke, three major factors have contributed to a decrease in the amount of illegal entry attempts: improvements and additions in technology; manpower; and infrastructure supported by the Homeland Security Department funding bill signed by President Bush in October 2006.

Improved technology has played an important role in stepping up Homeland Security in the Yuma Sector. Communications equipment and surveillance devices, such as high-tech cameras, sensors and radar, are being used to monitor remote areas. There are also plans to build a "virtual fence" along the eastern border of the Yuma Sector using cameras and sensors.

Also, manpower has increased significantly. Bernacke said, "There are a lot more agents. This is the largest the sector has ever been."

In addition to more agents, the number of individuals working the border sites has been boosted by Army and National Guard members participating in Operation Jumpstart.

The program, which has been in place for a year and a half and will continue through the summer of 2008, has the military filling in the gaps at high-traffic areas until the hiring of more Border Patrol agents is completed.

Eric Anderson, a Border Patrol agent, attributes the "huge decrease" in apprehensions to this mission. "The presence of the military alone is a deterrent - they reference their own military."

Infrastructure developments are a third factor in the recent success of the Border Patrol to deter illegal entry into the United States.

Fences have been cited as the main reason for the successful crackdown on illegal entry. The new fencing in the Yuma Sector, which brought the total in Arizona to 157 miles, extends "from the west side of San Luis past the Gila Mountains of the Wellton area," said Bernacke.

In some areas, a secondary 16-foot chain-link fence has been added. Anderson said, "If they're followed by an agent and have two fences to scale, they'll have a hard time getting over them if they run back."

Projections are good for a continued downward trend of illegal crossovers. Anderson has stated, "Even after the National Guard leaves, we will still have the fence."

www.yumasun.com

Why aren't we building fences like the Israelis? Their fences work!

The construction included both old-fashioned fences and the new, high-tech virtual variety, plus vehicle barriers and remote-controlled aircraft equipped with eyes in the sky.

Yep, and the minute we turn our backs the remote-controlled plans will stop flying, the high-tech sensors will be turned off, maintenance on the SINGLE-LAYER fence will cease, and the stadium lights switches will be flipped to the off position!

In conjuction with the other so-called goodies, build Duncan Hunters DOUBLE-LAYERED fence now! The high-tech virtual junk can be turned off with the flip of a switch, but Hunter's fence can't be ignored.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Democrat Spending Bill Harmful to Border Security-Duncan Hunter
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 18, 2007


CONTACT: Gary Becks (619) 334-1655, dlhunter08@yahoo.com


Washington, D.C.–Presidential candidate Congressman Duncan Hunter returned to Washington this morning to immediately begin his efforts to overturn provisions contained in a Democratic spending bill that eliminates current legal requirements for double-layered border fencing. Congress last year passed legislation authored by Hunter, the Secure Fence Act, mandating double-layered fencing and related infrastructure at strategic entry points along the Southwest border.

"Now is the time when those who take the threat to our nation's borders seriously stand up and be counted," said Hunter. "Last year, Congress successfully passed legislation that mandated a double fence requirement based on the success of the border fence we've built in San Diego. The Democrat majority in this Congress has taken it upon themselves to overturn federal law to pursue a policy that does nothing but harm our border enforcement capabilities. This is not leadership, it is irresponsibility.

"Border enforcement is too serious of an issue to pursue only when politically convenient at election time. If Congress is to reverse its border stance after just one year, what message does that send to illegal immigrants and drug smugglers who are watching to see how serious we are about protecting America's borders? I believe we must uphold our nation's immigration laws, support our agents serving on the border and protect our border communities and I am going to make every effort to overturn the damage this Democrat leadership has caused."

H.R. 2764, a bill that provides funding for several federal departments and agencies, was brought to the House floor and passed late last evening by the Democratic leadership. Not only does the bill contain provisions removing all specific locations as outlined by the Secure Fence Act, it also removes all requirements to construct any fencing or physical barriers along the border. This action basically repeals the Secure Fence Act and undermines past efforts to secure our nation's border.

H.R. 2764 has been referred to the Senate for consideration and then will be returning to the House with any changes in the form of a conference report. Congressman Hunter is working with his colleagues in both the House and Senate to ensure that these dangerous provisions do not remain in the final version of the funding bill.

http://kilosparksitup.blogspot.com/2007 ... ul-to.html

[quote]Press Release/Statement
For Immediate Release
December 17, 2007 CONTACT: Joe Kasper
(202) 225-5672

HUNTER CRITICIZES DEMOCRATIC OMNIBUS SPENDING BILL

Legislation eliminates double-layered border fencing requirement enacted
under the Secure Fence Act


Washington, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA), ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, criticized the Democratic sponsored Omnibus spending bill today for a provision included in the legislation that eliminates the requirement for double-layered border fencing. The proposed language significantly alters the Secure Fence Act by removing its mandate for double-layered fencing and related infrastructure.

“By eliminating the double fence requirement, the Democratic Congress is going to make it easier for drug and human smugglers to cross our Southern land border,â€