Thread: Razor-sharp concertina wire installed at U.S.-Mexico border

Razor-sharp concertina wire installed at U.S.-Mexico border

Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times

U.S. Border Patrol agent Richard Smith drives Wednesday along a section of the border fence in San Ysidro that was recently topped with razor wire. The wire is expected to deter tenacious immigrant smugglers who in the past have gone over the 15-foot-high fence with makeshift ladders.

The U.S. says its use on an eventual 5-mile stretch of existing fence is to protect agents. But critics say it disregards immigrants' safety.

By Richard Marosi, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
10:03 PM PDT, May 16, 2008
SAN DIEGO -- -- The U.S. Border Patrol is installing razor-sharp concertina wire atop border fencing between San Diego and Tijuana, marking a major shift in approach along a frequently violent stretch of the frontier.

The triple-strand wire, meant to keep smugglers from attacking agents, will stretch five miles when completed this summer -- the longest expanse of this type of wire ever used on the Southwest border.
Photos: Razor wire along Mexican border Map of wired fenceFederal



Federal authorities in the past have avoided using fortifications with such negative symbolism. Hundreds of miles of barriers going up in other areas have had to meet "aesthetically pleasing" federal design standards.


Critics say the new approach is inhumane and could leave immigrants bloodied.

Border officials in San Diego say it was necessary and already is proving effective.

They say they opted to augment the existing fencing with razor wire amid escalating violence across from Colonia Libertad, one of Tijuana's most notorious smuggling enclaves.

The hilly area, roughly between the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry, is already one of the most heavily fortified along the Southwest border, with primary and secondary fences, stadium lighting and camera towers.

The area has been the scene of frequent clashes between rock-throwing youths and agents firing pepper spray and tear gas. Despite using tear gas to disperse attackers and improving cooperation with Mexican authorities, U.S. authorities are still being attacked, said San Diego's Chief Patrol Agent Michael J. Fisher.

Fisher drew criticism late last year after his agents began tear-gassing densely populated areas, sending some residents to the hospital. He said the safety of his agents is his top priority.

"We didn't just decide to put up concertina wire," Fisher said. "This is a 1.5-year process on . . . how to make the border safe and secure, and to keep our agents safe from assaults."

So far, about a mile of the concertina wire is up. The installation started in December for a 60-day test period and was expanded in February. The wire runs atop the secondary fence, which sits roughly 50 yards inside the primary fence.

According to the Border Patrol, there were half as many assaults in the five months since the wire went up -- 58, compared with 122 in the five months before the installation.

Illegal entries were also down more than 50 percent over the same period, from 16,322 to 6,319, according to Border Patrol statistics.

Immigrants rights groups call the new fencing a major move toward border militarization. They say it's not the right solution.

"This is a primitive way of trying to conduct border enforcement," said Pedro Rios, San Diego area program director for the American Friends Service Committee. "Razor-sharp wire isn't going to stop people from coming across, and I doubt it will stop people from throwing rocks."

Enrique Morones, president of the Border Angels, a San Diego-based immigrant rights group, said he thought it would push more immigrants into dangerously remote desert and mountain areas.

"This fence shows a total disregard for human life," said Morones. "What's next? Gun racks with machine guns and bazookas?"

The new tactics are hailed by foes of illegal immigration, who frequently call for stricter enforcement. "This is a fence that is in plain view," said Steven Camarota, director of research for the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors curbs on immigration. "One has to keep in mind that the illegal alien trying to enter the U.S. is responsible for his own actions."

Border Patrol officials said they have tried to minimize the dangers of the new wire by lighting the area at night and erecting warning signs in Spanish. They predict that the wire will reduce injuries by serving as a deterrent. In the past, many immigrants have injured legs and ankles jumping from the 17-foot-high barriers.

Since the first concertina wire went up, only one immigrant has been injured by it, officials said. He got tangled up in the wire and was treated for minor injuries and returned to Mexico, officials said.

Concertina wire and regular barbed wire have been used on a limited basis in the past, mostly to fortify ports of entry and other federal facilities along the border. Most of the border fencing going up this year is made of welded wire or steel tubes without any sharp edges.

Fences topped with concertina wire have proved tough to breach, authorities say. Smugglers have tried without success to rip down the new wire by chaining it to a moving car.

Fisher, the Border Patrol chief, said he won't give an inch.

The fence, he said, sends a strong message to smuggling groups that threaten his agents:

"It will be a long battle unless we can show the smugglers that we won't cede the area. Nor will we retreat our position further to the north, and allow them to operate with impunity."
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... 5630.story

This is largely because of the violence in Tijuana and rocks, which can be lethal, being thrown at our BP agents. Do the open border advocates, like Morones, want our agents hurt and the violence spilling over into our border?

The moron said

"This fence shows a total disregard for human life," said Morones. "What's next? Gun racks with machine guns and bazookas?"


(Mod edit)

This is great. I love the pictures. It is good to know that we have a little of the fence built. Now we need the rest and just like that. We need protection from these people who come here to kill and distory.
And these men who are protecting the border, thank you for doing your job..
I am proud of everyone of you, you put your lives on the line everyday, to protect the USA. I thank you all from my heart, your all wonderful.

:P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P

The U.S. Border Patrol is installing razor-sharp concertina wire atop border fencing between San Diego and Tijuana, marking a major shift in approach along a frequently violent stretch of the frontier.

The triple-strand wire, meant to keep smugglers from attacking agents, will stretch five miles when completed this summer -- the longest expanse of this type of wire ever used on the Southwest border.

Critics say the new approach is inhumane and could leave immigrants bloodied.

The concertina wire is in RESPONCE to actions of smugglers and illegal aliens--so their violent actions made it necessary.

Our first duty is to protect our border agents, citizens and our nation and take action to accomplish that goal.

The concertina wire itself is not inhumane--illegal aliens and smugglers will only be injured by it if they attempt to illegally enter our country by crawling over it.

Much more should be done to enforce the fence.

Originally Posted by FedUpinFarmersBranch

The moron said

"This fence shows a total disregard for human life," said Morones. "What's next? Gun racks with machine guns and bazookas?"

think of the source of the quote...

Whoa , my last tour in Nam we had that style wire . Called it German Consitine wire . Razor freaken sharp . look at the way the barbs are cut . Cut to hold anything that contacts it and then rip . That stuff is bad bad

BTW: I support the wire 1000% . All the locals on our side that have been illegally doing business on the mexican side best sit down with the IRS and make peace and change their ways of business

Critics say the new approach is inhumane and could leave immigrants bloodied.

Uhh, then don't climb the fence...DUH!

"One has to keep in mind that the illegal alien trying to enter the U.S. is responsible for his own actions."

This is a good start ! We need military on the border !

As usual, their mouths are moving and nothing worthwhile or intelligent is coming out




Immigrants rights groups call the new fencing a major move toward border militarization. They say it's not the right solution.

"This is a primitive way of trying to conduct border enforcement," said Pedro Rios, San Diego area program director for the American Friends Service Committee. "Razor-sharp wire isn't going to stop people from coming across, and I doubt it will stop people from throwing rocks."

Enrique Morones, president of the Border Angels, a San Diego-based immigrant rights group, said he thought it would push more immigrants into dangerously remote desert and mountain areas.

"This fence shows a total disregard for human life," said Morones. "What's next? Gun racks with machine guns and bazookas?"



Well, one thing is for sure.....if the IA advocates hate the idea, it's a good one so we definitely need more wire going up! What I would also like to see them do is begin utilizing a variety of other non lethal technology that's available, like the sonic accoustical devices. Hey, if we had billions to spend on a virtual fence that didn't work and Boeing didn't get paid, then re direct that money to technology which we know does work.

I'd also like to see all of these so called "civil rights" groups and individuals, as well as the Mexican government, begin taking the responsbility for the fact that it is they who show total disregard for human life. If they were as concerned for IAs as they claim to be, they would be doing everything possible to discourage illegal immigration. Instead, they agressively encourage and facilitate it because of their goal in turning the US into a Mexican territory.

With the open threat posed to this country by a foreign government which has openly declared an all out assault on our sovereignty, the violence spilling across our borders, being directed at our LE and citizens, they should be surprised if it seems that we're moving in the direction of militarizing our border? I happen to agree with that assessment but it's been a long time in coming and, at this point, has become absolutely necessary. They don't have to like it.........