Unmanned Planes May Patrol Border

NBC - San Diego ^ | 6/13/03

[Tancredo Fan]

Unmanned Planes May Patrol Border

Government Officials Consider Drones For Remote Surveillance

POSTED: 10:57 a.m. PDT June 13, 2003

SAN DIEGO -- The effort to stop illegal immigration between the United States and Mexico may soon include small, unmanned planes called drones.

Officials at the Department of Homeland Security are considering whether to use drones to patrol portions of the California-Mexico border. But some immigrant advocates say the drones will only endanger more lives by driving people into even more remote parts of the desert.

From NBC San Diego

The drones look like model planes and operate on two AA batteries. Each is equipped with a high resolution camera. A private group called American Border Patrol out of Sierra Vista, Ariz., already operates several of the remote-controlled planes along the Arizona-Mexico border. Former San Diegan Glenn Spencer said the group hopes the federal government will use the drones in their effort to curb illegal immigration.

"We hope that by doing this in a cost effective way there will be pressure on Washington to do a job that needs to be done," Spencer told MSNBC.

But Homeland Security Department officials said Spencer's crusade is not playing a role in their decision whether to use the drones to patrol the border.

"It's a technology that we would want to look at to see if it has any application in our border enforcement environment," said Dennis Murphy of Border & Transportation Security.

Unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAV's have been used effectively for spying and in warfare. But immigrant advocates are concerned that deploying them along the border will put immigrants' lives in danger.

"It's going to drive people into even more remote parts of the desert, where possibility of being rescued is minimal," according to Claudia Smith, an immigrant advocate with California Rural Legal Assistance.

But Homeland Security officials say their goal is to prevent crime along the border. They say the drones will actually make it easier to identify immigrants who are traveling in dangerous terrain.

"If we can have another surveillance capability to see this, we can perhaps save lives with this."

Government officials say they haven't taken any steps to purchase drones yet. If funds are approved, the drones could be patrolling the California border by the end of the year.

[Tancredo Fan]

A Homeland Security PING!

[noh8rs]

My favorite line there was the whole part about the drones making it even more dangerous for people to cross [i]illegally[/i]. No, Mexico makes it dangerous for people to cross. Mexicans are Mexico's responsibility, not the United States'.

[darkwing104]

"It's going to drive people into even more remote parts of the desert, where possibility of being rescued is minimal," according to Claudia Smith, an immigrant advocate with California Rural Legal Assistance.

Note to Illegal immigrant advocate: It's not like they are arming them. It's call detection and it may save more illegals lives by making them stay home.

[One_American]

Unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAV's have been used effectively for spying and in warfare. But immigrant advocates are concerned that deploying them along the border will put immigrants' lives in danger.

"It's going to drive people into even more remote parts of the desert, where possibility of being rescued is minimal," according to Claudia Smith, an immigrant advocate with California Rural Legal Assistance.

Oh my gosh, this is horrible. How could we even consider making it easier to apprehend illegal intruders or harder for them to break the law. (sarcasm off)

[KellyAdmirer]

I advocate solar-powered drones that only have to come down at night and in bad weather, myself. Can't have enough of them. A fleet of about, oh, 5000 should do the trick.

[Roughneck]

"It's going to drive people into even more remote parts of the desert, where possibility of being rescued is minimal,"

Perhaps the ILLEGALS should think of this before they leave Mexico. Vicente Fox may have to increase the supplies HIS regime provides illegals to travel here with.

I have no bleeding heart for law-breakers.

[Dr Warmoose]

Hmmm, the drone doesn't look large enough to support armaments so again how is this supposed to drive the invaders into more difficult terrain?

[Dr Warmoose]

The effort to stop illegal immigration between the United States and Mexico may soon include small, unmanned planes called drones

If we were really serious about illegal immigration, we can declare the illegal alien to have the same legal rights and status as an American unborn child. Spread word of this around the US and Mexico, saying that this will take effect on, say, July 4th. We can call the program "Planned Immigration" and demand federal funding.

I estimate the total body-count of such a program to be initially high as people test out the validity, but after a dozen or so bodies (far less than those found in the trailer of the typical coyote's truck) this immigration problem will wither on the vine.

[Dr Warmoose]

These drones are way too small. We need to get Predators down to the border, armed with Hellfire missiles. They will definitely take out any cayote vehicles.

How true! The only thing the drivers of those trucks has to fear is our legal system (which isn't saying much).

[John Jorsett]

Idiot writers. Maybe the radio is powered by two AA batteries, but the drone itself must use a petroleum-based engine, assuming they want any sort of decent time aloft.

[Oztrich Boy]

Develop the Watchbird now!