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.
MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Add a Comment See all 438 Comments
- Mexico(their government) hardly sees the border situation as a "problem". They most likley see it as it is... simply a migratory invasion similar to that of the Germanic tribes upon the Roman Empire in the 7th century. Protecting our nations borders and enforcing the immigration laws we have legally established is not hate. Secondly, the hypocricy in our agricultural industry''''s labor practices does not void our right to regulate our county''''s immigration. Technology and Legilation should be used to gain control of our porous southern border. If The Mexican governmet,which is the problem by the way, was truly interested in the standard of living of their citizens, they would become acountable to their huge population of disenfranchised migrant workers. They would enact epic social and agricultural programs that would make it attractive for their citizens to remain in Mexico. In the meantime the are comfortable with us footing the bill.
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- ANYWAY THAT WORD IS VERY HURTFUL Posted by CHICABLANCA
What 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. - Reply to this comment
- This fence is another stupid joke,just to provide jobs for the American people to keep the job placement rate up,so President Bush wouldn''t look so bad.Anyone can get by the fence.Climb over,go underground,take the ocean,cut a hole,pay a guard off.fly over.It would be easier to make Mexico a state.If you brought up the question to Mexico''s people,I bet they wuld vote YES make us an American State.Look at the money we would save on Border Control,port of entry inspections,free medical to illegals.It goes on and on.
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- acolton1 OKAY NOT TOBE RUDE BUT THE WHOLE THING ABOUT LEARN THE LANGUAGE OR GO HOME I KNOW SPANISH AND ENGLISH AND I AM VERY PROUD OF MYSELF I HELP THE HISPANICS HERE IN THE DENTIST STORE NE THING YOU NAME IT AND I LOVE IT. DO YOU TALK THIS WAY ABOUT THE MOUNG ALSO? BECUZ I KNOW ALOT OF THEM THAT DONT SPEAK ENGLISH EITHER BUT I DONT SEE THAT POSTED HERE ON THE NEWS GET REALISTIC DONT BE PITIFUL ITS THE TRUTH AMERICA IS CHANGING BUT ONLY FOR THE BETTER ODIOS **** ESO ES UN PALABRA MALO...
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- BHAPPY YOU NEED TO REALIZE THAT YOU PROBABLY DO GO AND LOOK IT UP YO NO SE PORQUE USTEDES HASTAS HABLANDO BUENO BUENO NO EY NADIAN.... ANYWAY THAT WORD IS VERY HURTFUL AND NOONE SHOULD EVERY SAY THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. WHEN PEOPLE CALL THE AMERICANS WORDS THAT ARE HURTFUL TOO THAT IS BAD ALSO, AND YOU SHOULD DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE DONE UNTO YOU... THATS THE RULE. JUST REMEMBER GOD IS WATCHING AND I DONT CARE HOW SILLY IT MAY SOUND TO YOU BUT ITS THE TRUTH... HE IS
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- I WILL POST SPANISH HERE IF I PLZ AND YOU ARE JUST JEALOUS BECUZ YOU PROBABLY HAVE TO LOOK IT UP TO SEE WHAT IT SAYS. Posted by CHICABLANCA
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. - Reply to this comment
- The *** is the word n**ger.
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- For all those non racist mexicans, I have a question.
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! - Reply to this comment
- Is The Costly Border Fence Worth It?
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. - Reply to this comment
- OKAY EIDA SI YO QUIERO HABLAR ESPANOL Y TAMBIEN ESCRIBIR YO SI SE PUEDO. AKI EN AMERICA ITS LAND OF THE FREE ENTONCES YO SE PUEDO HACER QUE YO QUIERO POR DE MEXICANOS QUE ESTAS MIRANDO ESTO YO SI TE QUIERRO NO IMPORTA SI EDES GUERDA FLACA FEO O BONITO YO SOY UN AMERICANA QUE NO SOY RACISTA COMO OTRO AMERICANOS I AM NOT RACIST LIKE OTHER AMERICANS AND I WILL POST SPANISH HERE IF I PLZ AND YOU ARE JUST JEALOUS BECUZ YOU PROBABLY HAVE TO LOOK IT UP TO SEE WHAT IT SAYS. DE AMERICANOS QUE SON RACISTAS SON MENSOS LET ME SAVE YOU TIME IT SAYS THE AMERICANS THAT ARE RACIST ARE DUMB
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- mexicans are pretty much satisfied with thier ''parasite'' status..
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- While researching my family history I ran across The Chinese Exclusion Act, passed May 6, 1882. The article can be found at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It put a freeze on Chinese entering the US.
A law similar should be written for present day and days to come. - Reply to this comment
- Go away mexicans.You have used our social security numbers to get credit illegally.You will go to prison and never return on American soil.You are here illegally short and simple sweet.You are criminals and the American people know this everyday we look at you,you mexicans are not welcomed here.Everyday we see you here on American soil,we wish you were gone back to your country and let your own lazy president take care of you.He does not care if you survive.This is his problem not ours here in America.Go away!
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- Be a lot cheaper just to shoot people as they tried to cross the border illegally.
"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? - Reply to this comment
- Until the economy of Mexico & countries in Central America improve dramatically, it will never stop. Will Mexico be like the USA? No. Are whites & blacks going to pick vegetables/fruit, clean hotels/offices/businesses, do landscaping, etc, if these immigrants don''t?
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. - Reply to this comment
- Posted by liberalme ...
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. - Reply to this comment
- 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 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! - Reply to this comment
- Posted by liberalme...
Press 1 for english,
press 2 for Spanish..
LOL................
the power of the buck dictates what languages are used
in todays real world.... - Reply to this comment
- If ye gonna post on this site english only..It is a sore issue...I can only speak english..sure they are a paid pennies just as I was years ago. I am white American femele and legally blind..I have heard the names given them.I have been called names too.. It is not right..
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- EY EY EY YO NO INTIENDE PORQUE USTEDES ESTAS HABLANDO... I DONT KNOW WHY YOU PEOPLE KEEP ON WRITING ALL OF THESE THINGS ABOUT THE HISPANIC THEY ARE NOT WET BACKS THEY ARE NOT ***. YOU NEED TO OPEN YOUR EYES... THIS IS REDICULAS I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE ARE LIKE THIS DONDE YO VIVE EY ESTA UN CHINGO DE MEXICANOS Y PARA MI ESTA BIEN THEY ARE JUST LIKE US THEY EAT THEY BATHE AND THEY WORK... FOR THE PERSON THAT SYS OH MY SON IS COMPETING WITH AN ILLEGAL TO WORK... WELL HEY STEP-UP AND START TO WORK BETTER DONT BE A LAZY AMERICAN LIKE ALOT OF THEM SORRY BUT ITS TRUE OPEN THE BORDERS ALL.. GRACIAS A DIOS POR TODOS PERO PERDON POR DE RACISTAS....
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. - Reply to this comment
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