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."
I get a little tired of those comments myself.
What else should you expect from the federal government...It’s only taxpayers money!
Just what we need: sixty-four more Democrat Senators.
Not even Mexico wants Massachussetts.
Upon further review:
Points taken, and I hereby publicly retract my earlier stupid comment.
Actually, my hope for California, and the rest of the USA, is that enough conservatives could be enticed to wrest control of the states from the liberals.
I wish you and fellow conservatives on the East Coast nothing but the best. Sorry again.
Apology accepted FRiend.
Demand a border fence (built right—LOL)! Build it NOW!! Beef up the border patrol and close our borders!
U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121
U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121
White House comments: (202) 456-1111
Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep
Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Toll free to the US Senate:
1-800-882-2005. (Spanish number)
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Courtesy of a pro-amnesty group, no less!!
PABLO,
KISS MY BOOTY
I was thinking the same thing for that kind of money you could buy a tractor with the post hole digger and still make a huge profit at the rates they are paying.
Anyone have a picture of this fence because I would like to see where our tax dollars are going to build a fence.
You’d be surprised how many times i’ve heard that California should fall in the sea during the next earthquake.
So who has faith in the quality control of our government? Excuse me, time for coffee break.
Mexico is an enemy state.
Some pictures here.
Don’t forget it’s the government we’re talking about here, it’s only the taxpayers money.
Wonder how many times they said “close enough for government work” while building that project?
Venezuela does. The Universities there are the worlds finest communist think tanks.
Draw a straight line between San Diego and Matamoros and build the damn fence!
“Give the money to me and I’ll put up a fence and keep the change.”
Too late, somebody already has.
That’s what I thought. It is the same type fence that surrounds military bases and they certainly don’t pay even close to that for fencing. Tinker AFB had a lot of its fence taken out by a tornado several years ago and I can guarantee you that amount of money was not in the budget for a new fence.
Our Senators should be demanding a total audit of this fencing contract. You could build the Great Wall of China for the amount they are talking about.
Let’s just round up about 20,000,000 illegals and make them pick up the fence and move it 6 feet north. Then deport them to the southern end of Mexico (so it takes them longer to get back into the US).
YEAH, LIKE THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR TERRITORY.
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