April 8, 2008
Is The Costly Border Fence Worth It?
U.S.-Mexico Fence Is Catching Fewer Illegal Immigrants, But Costing More
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Play CBS Video Video Rising Cost Of Border Security An estimated $1.2 billion is being spent on a border fence between the U.S. and Mexico. Lifetime maintenance could raise the price tag to $50 billion. Bill Whitaker reports on whether it's worth it.
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A glove abandoned by its owner hangs caught on a barbed wire fence along the US-Mexico border. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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Building the U.S-Mexico border fence is costing the U.S. government at least $3 million per mile. But is it really doing any good? (CBS)
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Today, on that border is double fencing, stadium lighting, surveillance cameras and motion detectors. It's the most heavily fortified five miles of the border - all monitored from a command center near San Diego, CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker reports.
"Over the years the San Diego sector has been able to incrementally gain operational control of this area," said Michael Fisher, the San Diego sector's chief patrol agent.
Proof? The number of people caught crossing illegally has dropped dramatically from 600,000 a year in the early '90s to just 153,000 last year.
Fewer apprehensions means fewer people sneaking across, says the Border Patrol.
But not even all of the fencing can fully shut down the illegal flow.
There are two fences, lights, cameras ... and a lot of action.
"A lot of action, absolutely," Fisher said.
For every action there's an opposite reaction. Put up a fence and "they can be up and over, in some cases in less than a minute," Fisher said.
It's frustrating and expensive. Only 670 miles of the 2,000-mile border are to get fencing and that's behind schedule. The price tag: $1.2 billion, says the Border Patrol. That's up to $3 million per mile.
But factor in life-time maintenance and congressional researchers say the price could top $50 billion.
Today, almost every mile a different fence - short, tall, mesh, bars - intruders defeat every one. They even use car carriers to drive over.
If not over, under: 21 tunnels have been discovered under the border since 2000. There are brazen ways to drive through. One man came sewn into a van's seat.
So, it sounds like no matter what you do, you're finding a way around it.
"Yes, they are - or they're trying to," Fisher said.
And that's where there is a fence. A state away, near third-generation cattleman Richard Hodges's ranch south of Tucson, Ariz., there are miles and miles of open spaces along the U.S.-Mexico border. Only rusty barbed-wire divides the two countries.
"But that is no deterrent for anybody to come across," Hodges said.
The government promises a virtual fence of sensors and cameras for areas like this, but with that still on the horizon, those controversial border-watchers, the Minutemen, are building a $650,000 real fence along Hodges' mile of border to keep illegal crossers out.
"But won't they just move on down the road to the next property?" Whitaker asked.
"They will, they will," Hodges said. "It's just not going to stop as long as there's a market for illegals."
Whitaker met a coyote, a small-time people smuggler, across the border in Tijuana. He asked CBS News to conceal his identity. He boasts that he gets 40 people a week into the U.S. - most through the fortified zone near San Diego - at up to $3,500 a person.
He said, through a translation, "You can build three or four fences along the border, but people will continue to cross because of the magnet of work."
Most Americans think putting up a fence is going to stop the illegal flow. But is it?
"No, not in and of itself," Fisher said.
But Fisher says a smart mix of fencing, technology and manpower can do for the entire border what it's done in San Diego.
"What we've done is we've increased the probability of apprehension," he said.
The question is, will a nation demanding total control of its borders be satisfied with less.
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See all 438 CommentsWhat word would that be? Stupid, ignorant or ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADER? If it hurts to be any of those things it is easily remedied; Learn, learn more, come into our country LEGALLY.
I might look it up if I cared what you type in mexican. Since I do not care I just skip those parts.
LET ME SAVE YOU TIME IT SAYS THE AMERICANS THAT ARE RACIST ARE DUMB
Posted by CHICABLANCA
I guess that makes the racist mexicans IGNORANT and the people who support these ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS STUPID. I believe YOU qualify for both.
Why is your favorite word, ***?
I hear this word constantly out of the mouths of the young Mexicans who happen to be born on this side of the border.
Is it OK for Mexicans to say the word, ***?
Please enlighten me!
It would be cheap at twice the price. Whatever it takes to get these ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS out of our country. Issue our border patrol officers SHOOT-TO-KILL orders and let them do their job for a change.
A law similar should be written for present day and days to come.
"But factor in life-time maintenance and congressional researchers say the price could top $50 billion."
$50 BILLION WITH A "B"!* Ay carumba!
*How many weeks in Iraq does that translate to?
Look what happened after Katrina? They had to bring in Latino workers coz most of the so-called poor locals didn''t want any part of the clean up. Guess they weren''t that poor.
well where i live its common,
even for County and City services,
things are changing indeed,
the power of the $$$$$ dictates,
not you, sorry to bust your bubble.
press 2 for Spanish..
LOL................
the power of the buck dictates what languages are used
in todays real world...
Posted by Quetzal0666 at 03:51 PM : Apr 10, 2008
Times are a changin pal--I only deal with one company that has "press one for english" and I let them know every time I call, that that is offensive.
Most other companies now, will have you press another button for non-english speaking people and it didn''t take long to get that changed either.
More changes coming---tune in!
Press 1 for english,
press 2 for Spanish..
LOL................
the power of the buck dictates what languages are used
in todays real world....
Posted by CHICABLANCA at 02:32
Sorry chici baby--my grandparents came here from Europe early 1900''s--they PROUDLY LEARNED ENGLISH--worked hard (there were no free social programs then--and they wouldn''t have used them if there were) and became citizens.
You can no more come here and demand everyone learn spanish, than an American going to any other country and demanding they learn english---get used to it--learn english--show that you can be "self-supportive" it isn''t going to get any better. And in case you didn''t know--companies hire immigrants because they work for less money, not because they''re better workers.
Get over yourself--we aren''t catering to you.
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See all 438 Comments