Border Fence Built In Mexico By Mistake

Fixing 1- To 6-Foot Error May Cost $3 Million

(AP)  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.”

[cpaide]

The Illegal Immigration Invasion

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/january2007/300107Immigration.htm

A truthful documentary showing the people that deal with the Illegal Immigration Invasion upfront and on a daily basis. Watch what the mainstream media WILL NOT show you!!! Like hundreds of illegals streaming across the border into the back yards of U.S. Citizens while the government hinders citizens from protecting their own property.

Note: If FACTS are a problem for you, don't watch this!

[janeyre-2009]

Yawn...

[grammawhamma]

In a May 16th article Mexican officials said the USA must do something to stop the illicit flow of arms into Mexico. I say sell them the fence "we built for them" for $2.5 million and tell them what a good deal they got.

[nskduke]

Now just place some land mines in front of the fence and everything will be okay.

[klingon69]

At least mexican officials confirm that there IS a border, which is more than 20 million of their own citizens seem to know.

Let's use one problem to solve another. Just arrest illegal mexicans and have them build a border fence and/or wall as members of a chain gang.

After a year of working on the wall, the illegals can be released and deported back to mexico, where they can advise other would-be illegals to stay where they are.
Posted by cpaide at 01:28 AM : Jun 30, 2007

I offered the same idea/solution, and was greatly b!tched at about it. Put them in forced labor camps, and when finished, we will take into consideration their labor toward legality.

[cbslibs]

From the article: "When the barrier was built in 2000, the project was believed..."

From a rfield9: "Proving that Bush invaded Mexico before Iraq..."


Bush wasn't in office until January 2001. You may want to check facts before posting next time.

[mikealford3]

I wonder how they found the error? Perhaps a surveyer? Maybe the firm that installed the barrier should have to pay for the replacement. Oh no we can't do that, that would be the right thing and we all know our government is no longer in the business of doing what's right.

[shanev137]

Might as well throw the $3.5 million cash into a bonfire and burn it. US taxpayers get fleeced again for nothing. No big deal. We're use to throwing billions in cash into the bonfire anyway.

[randalds]

Proving that Bush invaded Mexico before
Iraq...

; )


Posted by rfield9 at 01:28 AM : Jun 30, 2007

Hell I'm surprised he doesn't send troops down there to try to keep the 6 feet! Then again they'd be a whole hell of a lot better there then in Iraq!

[randalds]

Posted by fixitdamnit at 01:25 AM : Jun 30, 2007

Man that video is an hour long! I'll stash it and watch it later......

I mean I don't even watch a porn video for an hour! LOL!

[rfield9]

Proving that Bush invaded Mexico before
Iraq...

; )

[cpaide]

At least mexican officials confirm that there IS a border, which is more than 20 million of their own citizens seem to know.

Let's use one problem to solve another. Just arrest illegal mexicans and have them build a border fence and/or wall as members of a chain gang.

After a year of working on the wall, the illegals can be released and deported back to mexico, where they can advise other would-be illegals to stay where they are.

[randalds]

Then I could retire in Mexico, without having to move!



RandalDS, you are being sarcastic %u2026 right?

Posted by fixitdamnit at 01:25 AM : Jun 30, 2007

Well, maybe...a little....but not much.....

I know it can't happen, but in a more perfect world where right was right and wrong was wrong it would.

[fixitdamnit]

RandalDS, you are being sarcastic %u2026 right?

Nevertheless, you might enjoy this little film clip...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5239860208427368019


Tiltle: %u201CTed Poe Immigration%u201D video.google.com

[randalds]

Here's a good one, how about we simply redraw the border to the pre-Polk ares, then declare Paris Hilton, David Duke, Fox News, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and most of Texas to be officially illegal aliens
Posted by brianbwb at 01:22 AM : Jun 30, 2007

Works for me. Then us blue staters here in California can form our own nation with Arnie as Prez. he's the only republican I'd ever support. I esp like the idea of Crawford TX being under Mexican rule! LOL

[brianbwb-2009]

to RandalDS,

Here's a good one, how about we simply redraw the border to the pre-Polk ares, then declare Paris Hilton, David Duke, Fox News, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and most of Texas to be officially illegal aliens

[brianbwb-2009]

Something amusing about the photo, notice how the Mexican side is nice and green, but the US side looks rather barren...

[randalds]

If they had had undocumented workers build it (the only way the US will ever be able to afford a border fence) it would have been in the right place because THEY know where the border is! LOL!

Personally I think Mexico should get ALL of it land back. Meaning all of the land they were forced to sell at the point of a gun after Polk declared unprovoked war on them. Polk though God told him to expend west and secure the land for the white man. Unfortunately people were already living there. Still, after slaughtering some Mexicans and a bunch of Natives the west was "won".

[fixitdamnit]

Did that polite note from the Mexican government insist that it get its 12,000,000 missing citizens back as soon as possible too?

[ioweign]

To bad, when illegal aliens are caught, that the Government can't call the illegal aliens country of origin and have them come and pick them up or pay for their transportation back.