Thread: U.S. Buys Predator To Search Border For Illegal Immigrants

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U.S. Buys Predator To Search Border For Illegal Immigrants
Aircraft Costs More Than $14 Million

POSTED: 10:48 am PDT August 31, 2005
UPDATED: 12:24 pm PDT September 1, 2005

SAN DIEGO -- Unmanned aircraft will soon be patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border.
Border Patrol officials said that the agency is buying a Predator B drone from San Diego-based General Atomics. The Predator B is the same aircraft that has been used by the military in Iraq.


The aircraft will be looking for human and drug smugglers along the border, said officials. The Border Patrol will spend more than $14 million on the Predator B and said that the drone will begin patrols in the next few weeks. That amount includes one year of service and maintenance. At first, the aircraft will only be used along the border in Arizona. More illegal immigrants cross the border in Arizona than in any other state.

The Border Patrol is Predator B's second customer. General Atomics says it has delivered seven to the U.S. Air Force. The plane, which has a 66-foot wingspan and can fly more than 30 hours, was introduced in 2001. Its infrared sensors allow it to see in the dark.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/4920403/detail.html

It's a good ideal. Except what good is it, if you don't have boots on the ground to round the people up. Will this a Picture and Release program. Just like the catch and release program.

Lets hope it is being used to assist the troops on the ground and not to replace them.

Originally Posted by Scubayons

It's a good ideal. Except what good is it, if you don't have boots on the ground to round the people up. Will this a Picture and Release program. Just like the catch and release program.

It is a good idea. But it givea another deterrence. The more levels the better. Think about it.

Things to avoid when crossing the border a few years ago:

1. Border Patrol

Things to avoid when crossing the border now:

1. Border Patrol
2. Minutemen
3. U.S. Military (if they are still there)
4. Local Law Enforcement now in some areas
5. Predator (they should change the name to Chupacabra )

And then there is the possibility of a wall soon!

It's the same concept that banks have vaults and motion detectors and locked door and bright lights outside. If all a person had to worry about was the lights, banks would get robbed every night.