Posted on 07/27/2005 12:51:58 PM PDT by SC33
Officials say OK to border fence BY JONATHAN ATHENS, STAFF WRITER Published on: July 20, 2005
Federal authorities on Tuesday said the largest vehicle barrier project in the nation, concrete-reinforced steel beams stretching 123 miles along the Arizona-Mexico border, will move forward.
The purpose, they say, is to stop commercial alien smugglers, drug traffickers and illegal immigrants from driving vehicles across the Mexico border into the U.S. east of San Luis, Ariz. to the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument south of Ajo.
Yuma sector U.S. Border Patrol spokesman Joe Brigman said: "Not only will it enhance our ability to gain greater control of the border, but it is a proactive effort to protect the environment, habitat and (protect) against the ravages of narcotics and alien smuggling vehicles."
Three years ago, U.S. park ranger Kris Eggle was killed in a shootout with Mexican drug smugglers who crossed the border in a vehicle into Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Eggle’s killing "vividly demonstrated" the need for such a barrier there, according to a 2003 news release from the National Park Service.
This August, construction crews are tentatively slated to begin building a 37-mile portion of the vehicle barriers from just east of San Luis, Ariz. at Avenue C to the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, said Yuma Sector Facilities Manager Frank Geary.
Starting in November, crews are to begin building a 56-mile stretch of vehicle barriers to run from the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range, Geary said.
When these two portions are completed and linked to barriers along a 30-mile stretch in the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, they will form "the largest continuous physical barrier along the border in the nation," Geary said.
The barriers consists of steel beams planted five feet deep into a concrete base underground, Geary said. The beams, filled with concrete and steel bars, alternate in height — 5 feet and 7 feet tall — so as to prevent someone from placing a makeshift ramp on top of them and driving over the barriers, Geary said.
The vehicle barriers in the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument are slated for completion in March 2006, however, a completion date for the other two portions has yet to be determined, Geary said.
Engineering crews from the U.S. military will construct the barriers, Geary went on to say, adding they may be called to other missions and so it is not possible to set a firm completion date.
Federal authorities are holding an informal open house to provide information to the public about the planned vehicle barriers along the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. The open house will be held between 4 p.m. -8 p.m. on Thursday at the Ramada Inn Chilton Conference Center, 300 E. 32nd Street.
© Copyright 2005 YumaSun.com
I bet the beams are plenty far apart for many humans to come through. Just not cars.
This should be a 20' concrete wall similar to what Israel is building, and with pill boxes every 1/2 mile or so.
Salute to Pat Buchanan! You were ahead of your time when you advocated a border fence in '96.
It's a start.
Nice idea...instead of sending scrap steel to Asia, they could melt it down and reform it as pilings, then drive the pilings into the earth along the border...good for the US steel industry too...see I'm making jobs here and I'm not even a politician..LOL
That's good news! It's a start anyway.
It's a good idea because it will allow the border patrol more of an opportunity to catch people trying to cross on foot. It should also decrease the people and drug smuggling ring.
Can anybody who knows about this area tell me if this is a high-traffic area for illegals and smuggling operations?
Ping. We're making headway - inch by inch.
This will take some work, but I guess I need to find some pictures...the Ft. Huachuca newspaper headlined the efforts of a NG Aviation (Chinook) unit to emplace Normandy Barricades as part of this project.
Contrary to popular belief, the Government is moving forward with efforts to slow down the invasion.
At least some of the impetus behind this project came from Park Service personnel and enviros...so the barricades are designed to stop vehicles while allowing wildlife free passage.
I'm thinking sensors for human traffic would be appropriate and humane. Part of this stretch of desert is affectionately known as The Devil's Highway. Stopping illegals before they get too far into the desert may save a few lives.
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Federal authorities on Tuesday said the largest vehicle barrier project in the nation, concrete-reinforced steel beams stretching 123 miles along the Arizona-Mexico border, will move forward.
They're using 4-6 inch steel pipes filled with concrete and railroad rails...
Oh yeah. Nearly 100% of the 175 dead illegals found so far in the Tucson sector have crossed through this area. Remember the story about the 'huge wave' of illegals overwhelming the Indians on their reservation? This area.
We posted a companion piece to this late last week. I linked readers to the Environmental Impact Statement from the National Park Service that described the barriers.
I have yet to find pictures online that aren't in a .PDF file...but our local newspaper (issue not online yet) has pictures of the barricades being emplaced.
Please keep us posted.
123 miles is a start. Now, when will they get to the remaining 32,000+ km?
The government is making token efforts to slow down the invasion which they can point to and claim they are doing something.
But they studiously avoid doing the ONE THING that everybody knows would actually work. They refuse to enforce the laws against employing illegals.
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