Posted on 06/29/2007 8:55:07 PM PDT by Straight Vermonter
The 1.5-mile barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border was designed to keep cars from illegally crossing into the United States. There's just one problem: It was accidentally built on Mexican soil. Now embarrassed border officials say the mistake could cost the federal government more than $3 million to fix.
The barrier was part of more than 15 miles of border fence built in 2000, stretching from the town of Columbus to an onion farm and cattle ranch.
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman said the vertical metal tubes were sunk into the ground and filled with cement along what officials firmly believed was the border. But a routine aerial survey in March revealed that the barrier protrudes into Mexico by 1 to 6 feet.
James Johnson, whose onion farm is in the disputed area, said he thinks his forefathers may have started the confusion in the 19th century by placing a barbed-wire fence south of the border. No one discovered their error, and crews erecting the barrier may have used that fence as a guideline.
"It was a mistake made in the 1800s," Johnson said. "It is very difficult to make a straight line between two points in rugged and mountainous areas that are about two miles apart."
The Mexican government was notified and did what any landowner would do: They sent a note politely insisting that Mexico get its land back.
"Our country will continue insisting for the removal (of the fence) to be done as quickly as possible," the Foreign Relations Department said in a diplomatic missive to Washington.
When the barrier was built in 2000, the project was believed to cost about $500,000 a mile. Estimates to uproot and replace it range from $2.5 million to $3.5 million.
Michael Friel, the spokesman for Customs and Border Protection, said the barrier was "built on what was known to be the international boundary at the time." He acknowledged the method used was "less precise than it is today."
The International Boundary and Water Commission, a joint Mexican-American group that administers the 2,000-mile border, said the border has never changed and is marked every few miles by tall concrete or metal markers.
Sally Spener, a commission spokeswoman in El Paso, said the agency is generally consulted for construction projects to ensure that treaties are followed. The commission is working with the Department of Homeland Security "to develop a standardized protocol" for building fences and barriers.
"We just want to make sure those things are clear now," Spener said.
New Mexico Sen. Jeff Bingaman asked Customs and Border Protection officials to build a new fence on U.S. soil before the old one is torn down.
Bingaman said he was concerned about security issues in Las Chepas, the small Mexican village where most area residents live. New Mexico once sought permission to raze the community because it was known as a popular staging area for illegal immigrants and drug smugglers.
Back at his farm, Johnson said he doesn't understand why the placement of the barriers has become an issue now since his family's fence went unquestioned for more than a century.
"The markers are in the right place, and the fence is crooked," Johnson said. "But for 120-plus years it was agreed upon that that fence was the border."
Pay them $0.01 for the land and then bill them $500,000,000 for taking care of their escapees.
LOL - and when I think about all the fencing we put up here, must be a mile’s worth. Lots of sweat but not that bad on the bank account.
It's a government fence.
A government fence that the government actually doesn't want to build costs $100,000 per foot.
Yall want to be partners? I guess I could make do on 1 million.
Maybe trying to get the American public to yell uncle? What a waste.
IMO, we should trade the west coast of Mexico for the US North east. That would be a deal.
You get the bid and count me in :)
Kinda takes away your will to live........this transgression.........
ROTFLMAO
A post hole digger, concrete, some string , a level, and a bunch of “elbow grease”:’)
“Our country will continue insisting for the removal (of the fence) to be done as quickly as possible,” the Foreign Relations Department said in a diplomatic missive to Washington.
OUR country should continue to insist for the removal of 20 million uninvited “visitors”.
For that kind of money, we could even use a tractor with a post hole digger. Diesel isn’t that expensive yet.
However, with the Feds in charge, I'm frankly amazed it didn't cost more.
LOL - you’re right about that. Maybe a group of FReepers or Minutemen should bid on the contract.
idiot
Enough with the “annex Mexico” slogans. They’ve become old hat.
Care to elaborate upon your brain fart?
How dare we encroach on a soveriegn country like that. My sincerest and most heartfelt apologies to great and noble nation of Mexico for the imposition.
And some electric fencing and a few land mines ought to keep them on their side of the border.
The upside is that we can argue we have no right to remove the fence as it is not in the USA.
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