Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

San Diego Fence Provides Lessons in Border Control
NPR ^ | 4/6/2006 | Ted Robbins

Posted on 04/07/2006 9:27:26 AM PDT by bordergal

Morning Edition, April 6, 2006 · As Congress looks to revamp immigration policy, some lawmakers are pushing to extend fencing along the U.S. border with Mexico. Proposals range from beefing up existing fences in Arizona to constructing new fences that would span 700 miles. Those advocating expanded fencing already have a model they can look to: a fence the federal government built more than a decade ago along a 14-mile-stretch in San Diego, Calif., that borders Tijuana, Mexico.

Before the fence was built, all that separated that stretch of Mexico from California was a single strand of cable that demarcated the international border.

Back then, Border Patrol agent Jim Henry says he was overwhelmed by the stream of immigrants who crossed into the United States illegally just in that sector.

"It was an area that was out of control," Henry says. "There were over 100,000 aliens crossing through this area a year."

Today, Henry is assistant chief of the Border Patrol's San Diego sector. He says apprehensions here are down 95 percent, from 100,000 a year to 5,000 a year, largely because the single strand of cable marking the border was replaced by double -- and in some places, triple -- fencing.

The first fence, 10 feet high, is made of welded metal panels. The second fence, 15 feet high, consists of steel mesh, and the top is angled inward to make it harder to climb over. Finally, in high-traffic areas, there's also a smaller chain-link fence. In between the two main fences is 150 feet of "no man's land," an area that the Border Patrol sweeps with flood lights and trucks, and soon, surveillance cameras.

"Here in San Diego, we have proven that the border infrastructure system does indeed work," Henry says. "It is highly effective."

Rancher Carol Kimsey, who lives in a valley near the Pacific Ocean on the U.S.-side of the fence, says the border barrier has improved the quality of life in the area.

"It was pretty seriously bad," she recalls of the prefence days. "They were tearing up everything. They'd just go through fences. They didn't care."

Kimsey says life is more peaceful now, despite the Border Patrol helicopters circling nearby. This is still an active smuggling route, especially for drugs. A stretch of border where there's only one fence is referred to as Smugglers' Gulch. The Border Patrol is moving forward with plans to add a second fence there as well as along the last 3.5 miles to the ocean, which had been held up by years of litigation over environmental concerns.

The extra fencing will cost at least $35 million. But Claudio Smith, an attorney and border activist, says the toll has been much higher in human lives. She says the fencing has simply forced immigrants to take more dangerous routes through the mountains and scorching-hot deserts.

"It didn't stop people from crossing," she says. "It just forced them to cross in the deadliest stretches of the border."

An estimated 3,600 people have died crossing the U.S. border since the fences went up.

It is now harder to cross the border into the United States, and also more expensive. Border crossers say they pay human smugglers, or coyotes, much more than they did a decade ago.

Smith says the fence has actually created a sort of perverse and unintended consequence: It is keeping people in the United States who used to go back to Mexico.

"The men would come for a number of months out of every year and return (to Mexico)," Smith says. "Now, not only are the men staying, but they're bringing their families."

During the last decade, millions of people have continued to cross the border illegally -- mostly in Arizona. That's the next target for those who want to build double- and triple-fencing.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: illegalimmigration; sandiego
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-32 last
To: Pa' fuera

OK, but you're also going to have to truthfully state that the economic benefits of having a large pool of low-cost labor available will end.

The question is what kind of costs are being imposed. If the costs you cited are avoided, but only at the cost of (1) a border security program of nearly equal expense and (2) forgoing the benefits of low-cost labor, then you're going to have one hell of a fight to justify it.


21 posted on 04/07/2006 1:24:37 PM PDT by BeHoldAPaleHorse ( ~()):~)>)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: capecodconservative
I hereby notify the IRS, the Congress and our Eunuch-in-Chief that I am willing to pay an extra 1% in taxes for one year to build a 20 foot high and low [to cut off tunnels] all along the border.

OK, so you're willing to pay 1% more in taxes.

How about 10%?

20%?

30%?

22 posted on 04/07/2006 1:25:39 PM PDT by BeHoldAPaleHorse ( ~()):~)>)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: glowworm
If the borders of Iraq can be made secure, so can ours.

And, in case you haven't noticed, Iraq's much shorter and more densely patrolled borders are not secure.

23 posted on 04/07/2006 1:26:36 PM PDT by BeHoldAPaleHorse ( ~()):~)>)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Tammy8

I disagree another Berlin Wall in the best interests of ANY country, let alone the UNITED STATES. How soon we forget the Gipper.


24 posted on 04/07/2006 3:07:48 PM PDT by clawrence3
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: clawrence3

You and I already had this discussion- did you forget? A fence to keep people out when they have no business coming in has nothing to do with the Berlin wall and you know it. The truth is the neighbors are taking advantage and good fences make good neighbors.


25 posted on 04/07/2006 5:58:36 PM PDT by Tammy8 (Build a Real Border Fence, and enforce Immigration Laws!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Tammy8

Just reminding you that "Another Berlin Wall is not in the best interests of ANY country, let alone the UNITED STATES."


26 posted on 04/07/2006 6:23:09 PM PDT by clawrence3
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: bordergal
An estimated 3,600 people have died crossing the U.S. border since the fences went up.

Boo hoo. Don't break the law, live to see another day. How aboout some tears for the American citizens who have died at the hands of illegal aliens? You know...the drunk driving, the murders, etc.

27 posted on 04/07/2006 6:27:53 PM PDT by who knows what evil? (New England...the Sodom and Gomorrah of the 21st Century, and they're proud of it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: clawrence3

Lousy, worthless , without validity comparison / comment......Americans can leave anytime they wish. Ain't no Berlin Wall BS........ Mexicans can leave anytime they want through approved egress points.

Why do you make such a comment when you know better ?


28 posted on 04/07/2006 6:30:19 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet. ©)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: clawrence3
The Berlin Wall was built to keep East Germany's own citizens as prisoners.

The US Southern Wall will be built to protect US citizens from criminal invaders.

It's a subtle yet important difference.

L

29 posted on 04/07/2006 6:30:20 PM PDT by Lurker (In God I trust. Everyone else shows me their hands.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Lurker

Ya got to be one second faster next time Marine !.....:o)


30 posted on 04/07/2006 6:31:06 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet. ©)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Squantos

Did you see that "Day After Tommorrow" movie where the entire U.S. population had to evacuate south - can we at least build this wall with a one-way escape hatch?


31 posted on 04/07/2006 6:36:30 PM PDT by clawrence3
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Squantos
OK, you were quicker on the draw.

But you assumed a fact not yet in evidence. To whit that he (or she) knows better!

L

32 posted on 04/07/2006 6:59:30 PM PDT by Lurker (In God I trust. Everyone else shows me their hands.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-32 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson