Thread: Vehicle barrier built on wrong side of border to be removed

Published: 06.26.2007

Vehicle barrier built on wrong side of border to be removed
By FELICIA FONSECA
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Part of a vehicle barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border was erected in the wrong country and soon will be removed and rebuilt on American soil, federal officials say.
"We respect our international boundary, and we want to be good neighbors," U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Michael Friel told The Associated Press on Monday. "... We want to move quickly to ensure that we place the vehicle barrier where it should be, which is north of the border."
The barrier, 17 miles west of Columbus, N.M. was built in 2000 by Joint Task Force North out of Fort Bliss, Texas. It encroaches into Mexico territory between one and six feet south of the border along a 1.5-mile stretch.
The U.S. government did not intentionally erect the 5-foot-tall barrier in Mexico, Friel said. But an aerial survey conducted in March revealed that parts of the structure crossed over the border.
"The construction was based on what was understood to be the international boundary at the time," he said.
The International Boundary and Water Commission, which determines the official boundary between the U.S. and Mexico, said the barrier had raised concern with Mexican officials.
"Mexico had indicated that it is not appropriate for this type of United States structure to be located in Mexican territory, and we agree," said Sally Spener, a spokeswoman for the commission.
On Monday, Mexico's Foreign Relations Department said it has sent a diplomatic note to the United States protesting the barrier.
"Our country will continue insisting for the removal (of the fence) to be done as quickly as possible," the Foreign Relations Department said. The department didn't say when Mexico noticed the fence on its territory or when the diplomatic note was sent.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., questioned how the error occurred and demanded that the U.S. government replace the barrier before the existing one is torn down.
"Having to tear down the newly constructed barrier is not only a waste of taxpayer money but also hampers our ability to adequately secure our borders," he wrote in a letter to Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Ralph Basham on Friday.
Friel said the federal government is working with the International Boundary and Water Commission to remove the barrier, and at the same time, erect a temporary one.
U.S. Border Patrol agents and National Guard troops were in the area of the barrier Monday. A crane-like piece of machinery sat near the border. Close to Columbus - and on the north side of the existing barrier - were criss-cross-looking barriers that almost form an "X." A truck carrying one of the barriers and driving toward the existing barrier later returned carrying nothing.
Friel said the U.S. government "hasn't started to remove the vehicle barrier, but we are putting resources in place to get this done quickly."
The existing barrier has hollow metal tubes filled with cement that are planted a couple of feet apart, with another horizontal metal tube forming a crossbar. The barrier appears to be designed as a continuous rail, although there are gaps in the fence.
In addition to preventing vehicle traffic, the barrier is designed to keep cattle on the proper side of the border.
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/printDS/189164

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