Illegal Immigrants Face Border Fence at Smuggler's Gulch

Video at the source link.

05-17-08 at 1:48PM

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is making plans to build a fence in the area known as Smuggler's Gulch, a canyon west of the San Ysidro border crossing well known as a route for illegal immigrants.

However, environmental rights activists still voice concerns over the project, which was finally given the green light after being in development for years.

Environmentalists say the wetlands near the Tijuana River estuary have worldwide importance and that the ecosystem is threatened by the construction of the new border fence.

The canyon is currently protected by a single fence. Homeland Security wants to build a second fence because they believe it will be more effective in catching illegal immigrants and allows officers to patrol in between.

Environmental groups want to put the project on hold, but border patrol agents said years of legal challenges have already allowed immigration smugglers to exploit areas like this and that the increased border security is needed now.

http://www.cbs8.com/stories/story.128425.html#