U.S. Border Fence Protrudes Into Mexico (oops!)

AP via Drudge ^ | 7/29/07 | ALICIA A. CALDWELL

[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."

[Duchess47]

Thanks for the link to the pictures. Whoever had the contract for that sure made some money on the deal. I think 6’ chain link fencing is about $10-$12 per linear foot. I have no idea what that metal stuff is.

[Anita1]

They probably used illegals to build it! They’re smarter than people give them credit for!

To correct the mistake - it will be our cost!

[GreenLanternCorps]

They probably used illegals to build it!

Considering they were on Mexican soil without going through customs, yes they were illegal aliens, in Mexico!

[GreenLanternCorps]

This stuff happens. We have had to adjust the Rio Grande border with Mexico a few times to account for changes in the flow of the river due to damming and flood control, both official and unofficial.

Read up on the saga of Rio Rico, Texas, the town NOBODY knew was in Texas, not Mexico for over 50 years...

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA062004.1A.RioRico.1aa310cb.html

[Ditter]

Big deal! Come and take it.

[Go Gordon]

3 million dollars to build a mile of fence? Are they crazy? Give the money to me and I’ll put up a fence and keep the change.

Maybe they aren't allowed to use illegals to build the fence

[EQAndyBuzz]

“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.”

Built in 2000? Who was El Presidente then?

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

They sent a note politely insisting that Mexico get its land back

At least wait until they send the "angry" note.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“LOL....if all goes as per Sec. Chertoff’s plan, the “standardized protocols” will be completed by 2050.”

Just in time for the Dem plan to reduce carbon emissions kicks in.

[huldah1776]

What a wonderful apology. I am originally from eastern PA near Washington’s Crossing, and had the pleasure of living in VT for 3 years around 25 yrs ago. I lovermont. The land is good ground. When things started going downhill, as they are all over this great land, I ripped my heart out and handed it to God. Now I kinda know how He feels when He looks at Jerusalem, and His people all over the world, seeing how they are hurting themselves in their disobedience of His loving law. Being the perfect parent He is, our discipline is on the way unless we repent beforehand. He will accept our apology, too.

[DugwayDuke]

Happens all the time in remote areas. It’s like the case they mentioned here, many years ago some one put up a fence and claimed that was the boundary. A lot of deeds now refernce that fence or describe property that streches from ‘Farmer Jone’s old oak tree’. That tree hasn’t been there for a hundred years.

Surveyers rely on old fences since that is where people have believed the boundaries to be for years. No surveyer is going to risk a law suit by ‘moving’ the boundary where it should be.

And, yes, I know this isn’t right. I ran surveys for the state on highway projects when I was in college. We measured to the nearest 100th of a foot. We could run across 10 miles of mountains and hit a point within a foot. Up here, I wouldn’t trust a survey being closer than 100 feet.

[RightWhale]

Move the boundary enough to accomodate the shift of people. 10% of the way to Mexico City.

[Mygirlsmom]

A government fence that the government actually doesn't want to build costs $100,000 per foot.

It also "accidentally" gets put in the wrong place. Oopsies! Guess we don't have as much money for building that fence as we first thought!

[JoanneSD]

Gosh this happened in the impeached ex president cliton administration.... should be some hearings held in the senate on this...

[rfp1234]

Just annex the extra strip of land, settle it with Minutemen, & make it the 51st state.

[deport]

A border patrol car looks over the town of Las Chepas, Mexico along a vehicle barrier near the border with New Mexico in this file photo from Monday, March, 13 2006. Part of this same vehicle barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border was erected in the wrong country, and Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., is calling for it to be rebuilt on American soil. Bingaman was recently alerted to the partially misplaced barrier, built two years ago by the National Guard just west of Columbus, N.M. In a letter sent to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Ralph Basham on Friday, June 22, 2007, Bingaman demanded that the barrier be replaced before the existing barrier is torn down. (AP Photo/Guillermo Arias)

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[MARTIAL MONK]

Mexican cattle have TB so it’s necessary that we have at the very least a cattle fence to keep them out.

Back in my wayward youth I worked for a family that had ranchs on both sides of the border. Both ranchs were top grade operations and we would often haul cattle from one to the other. To dodge the quarantine we would haul at night and on back roads.

One day I had a load of cattle and I was a bit early so I pulled down into a ravine to let the sun go down. There was another truckload of cattle already there waiting for the same thing so I pulled up behind him.

The door opened on the other truck and the driver started back to talk to me. I about crapped my britches; it was the livestock inspector. I was sure I was headed for the hoosegow but he walked up and just started chatting. I went along with the small talk until curiousity and suspense got the best of me and I blurted out "Aren't you a livestock inspector?

"Yep. Ahh 'spose ahh am. Least until fhave oh'clock. Ahfter that ahh ain't."

[wastedyears]

I want a headline to read “American military mistakenly crossed into Mexico, shot and killed drug smugglers.”

[NRA2BFree]

Back in my wayward youth I worked for a family that had ranchs on both sides of the border. Both ranchs were top grade operations and we would often haul cattle from one to the other. To dodge the quarantine we would haul at night and on back roads.

One day I had a load of cattle and I was a bit early so I pulled down into a ravine to let the sun go down. There was another truckload of cattle already there waiting for the same thing so I pulled up behind him.

The door opened on the other truck and the driver started back to talk to me. I about crapped my britches; it was the livestock inspector. I was sure I was headed for the hoosegow but he walked up and just started chatting. I went along with the small talk until curiousity and suspense got the best of me and I blurted out "Aren't you a livestock inspector?

"Yep. Ahh 'spose ahh am. Least until fhave oh'clock. Ahfter that ahh ain't."

That's funny! I bet he really shook you up. lol

I'm guessing that TB wasn't a problem back in that time? Cattle can pass TB on to humans.