Border Revealed (new detailed map, pictures of border fence)

America Patrol Report ^ | July 21, 2009 | Glenn Spencer

[La Lydia]

American Border Patrol has released a new online map of the Southwest border that shows the where and what type of fencing is installed between San Diego, California and Brownsville, Texas. Viewers can open a map of Border Patrol sectors and then click on a given sector to see where fencing and vehicle barriers have been installed. Numbers along the border represent individual photographs of the border taken from ABP's airplane. A click on a number reveals details of the type of fencing or vehicle barriers that have been installed.

http://americanpatrol.com/ABP/SURVEYS/BORDER-2009/Border-Main-20009.html

The ABP data represents the current status of the border as most construction, with the exception of eastern Texas, was halted in early 2009. ABP surveyed the border from Douglas, Arizona to San Diego on June 3, 2009. The survey from Douglas to Brownsville Texas was performed on April 13 and 14 of 2009. ABP plans to update the Texas survey in August.

"As funding allows, we will continue to refine these maps by adding even more detailed photographs and high definition video," said Glenn Spencer of ABP. Spencer said it was important for members of Congress to be aware of what has been done on the border before they make decisions regarding future needs. The new map was produced as part of Operation B.E.E.F., a project first launched by ABP in November of 2006.

[La Lydia]

This is an amazing accomplishment, better than anything Homeland Security has. The pictures are stunning. I am emailing this to my members of Congress and demanding more.

[Albion Wilde]

Stunning visuals! Ping...

[thefactor]

am i wrong in thinking that a small child could get through most of the fences i looked at? (i looked at the fence in the Yuma sector.

[La Lydia]

Which part (number) of the Yuma sector? There are remote areas of fence that are vehicle fence, where it is unlikely there would be foot traffic. In the populated areas, there is no way a child could get through. Where did you look?

[thefactor]

i looked at most of them. the problem is, they only show you a small part of the landscape. so even though the fence might be non-existent, people on foot might not be able to get there.

i also checked out the West Tucson area. the fences are worse there.

[DogBarkTree]

"Border Wall To Keep Out US Assholes"

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/mexico_builds_border_wall_to_keep?utm_source=videoembed

[Sparko]

Thank you for the post.

My initial reactions:

• The American Border Patrol did a huge amount of work in gathering the photographs and constructing this view of the border. Kudos to them.
• There is more constructed than I had expected; but much remains to be secured.
• Homeland Security should have provided this type of detail to the public but that would that might be optimism on my part as to their capability or even a desire to do so.

[FlashBack]

Thanks for the link!

[La Lydia]

Compare and contrast with the CBP website map, and you won't believe it:

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/newsroom/highlights/fence_map.ctt/fence_map.pdf

Yes, more needs to be built. And Spencer's latest doesn't include the California sectors, which are spectacular as well. I think they should start building outward from the Ports of Entry by converting some of the vehicle fence to pedestrian fence. They have more than 600 miles of fence now. I urge you to email Glenn Spencer and tell him thanks for this amazing accomplishment. He is a true patriot.

[La Lydia]

That is truly, truly funny.

[kabar]

Where is the double fencing similar to that below San Diego? The appears to be a lot of eyewash.

[La Lydia]

But which number did you think a child could get through?

[La Lydia]

The double fencing, which I think should be everywhere there is pedestrian fence, is only visible in El Paso and around the Ports of Entry. Here is a nice picture of the fence at Smuggler's Gulch east of San Diego:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37degrees/3481746319/

[kabar]

The double fencing should cover most of the construction. The area south and east of San Diego was constructed at the behest of Duncan Hunter before the Secure Fence Act of 1996 was passed.

Here is the Secure Fence Act language. I am concerned that the fencing does not meet the requirements of the Act.

‘‘(A) REINFORCED FENCING.—In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide for least 2 layers of reinforced fencing, the installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors—

‘‘(i) extending from 10 miles west of the Tecate, California, port of entry to 10 miles east of the Tecate, California, port of entry;

‘‘(ii) extending from 10 miles west of the Calexico, California, port of entry to 5 miles east of the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry;

‘‘(iii) extending from 5 miles west of the Columbus, New Mexico, port of entry to 10 miles east of El Paso, Texas;

‘‘(iv) extending from 5 miles northwest of the Del Rio, Texas, port of entry to 5 miles southeast of the Eagle Pass, Texas, port of entry; and

‘‘(v) extending 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry to the Brownsville, Texas, port of entry.

[La Lydia]

Yes, that is what the authorizing legislation said. However, in the appropriations bill that provided funding for the fence project, Senator Hutchison successfully gutted the Hunter requirement by inserting language that LEFT THE KIND OF FENCE TO BE BUILT UP TO THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY. Here is the Hutchison language:

"Nothing in this paragraph shall require the Secretary of Homeland Security to install fencing, physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors in a particular location along an international border of the United States, if the Secretary determines that the use or placement of such resources is not the most appropriate means to achieve and maintain operational control over the international border at such location." (FY 2008 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act – July 26, 2007)

Nice, huh? The fence we have now is the result. It is better than nothing, but not as much as it could be.

[bgill]

am i wrong in thinking that a small child could get through most of the fences i looked at?

A small child or a 185 lb. terrorist.

[bgill]

KBH opened it up to all sorts of law suits that will keep any fence from being built in our life times.

[La Lydia]

As far as I know, the opponents have lost all the lawsuits except for one, I believe, in far south Texas, which has not been resolved. KBH added that amendment at the behest of the same people who sued and lost. Shameful.

[Deb]

Didn’t the Democrats manage to defund the rest of the construction a couple of weeks ago? Napolitano was requesting a work stoppage and the fence budget be used to stop guns and drugs from “entering Mexico from the US side”!!!!

[gubamyster]

ping