U.S. Scraps "Virtual Fence" On Border

Officials Say $20M System Failed To Adequately Alert Patrol Agents To Illegal Crossings

(AP)  The government is scrapping a $20 million prototype of its highly touted "virtual fence" on the Arizona-Mexico border because the system is failing to adequately alert border patrol agents to illegal crossings, officials said.

The move comes just two months after Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced his approval of the fence built by The Boeing Co. The fence consists of nine electronic surveillance towers along a 28-mile section of border southwest of Tucson.

Boeing is to replace the so-called Project 28 prototype with a series of towers equipped with communications systems, new cameras and new radar capability, officials said.

Less than a week after Chertoff accepted Project 28 on Feb. 22, the Government Accountability Office told Congress it "did not fully meet user needs and the project's design will not be used as the basis for future" developments.

A glaring shortcoming of the project was the time lag between the electronic detection of movement along the border and the transmission of a camera image to agents patrolling the area, the GAO reported.

Although the fence continues to operate, it hasn't come close to meeting the Border Patrol's goals, said Kelly Good, deputy director of the Secure Border Initiative program office in Washington.

"Probably not to the level that Border Patrol agents on the ground thought that they were going to get. So it didn't meet their expectations."

The Border Patrol had little input in designing the prototype but will have more say in the final version, officials said.

Agents began using the virtual fence last December, and the towers have resulted in more than 3,000 apprehensions since, said Greg Giddens, executive director of the SBI program office in Washington.

But that's just a fraction of the several hundred illegal immigrants believed to cross the border daily near southwest of Tucson.

The virtual fence is part of a national plan to use physical barriers and high-tech detection capabilities to secure the Mexican border - and eventually the Canadian boundary.

Boeing was awarded an $860 million contract to provide the technology, physical fences and vehicle barriers.

"Boeing has delivered a system that the Border Patrol currently is operating 24 hours a day," Boeing spokeswoman Deborah Bosick said. She declined further comment.

Project 28 was not intended to be the final, state-of-the-art system for catching illegal immigrants, Giddens said. "I think some people understood that and some didn't. We didn't communicate that well."

[prinzowhales]

Who would have guessed?

[cpaide]

outsource to the chinese and have them build a "real" wall instead of this "virtual" fence.

[michellem99-2009]

Ye know I figgared this would happen when I first read about some time back. They will come with we can''t afford it. Yep.

[penskeone]

The only thing that will work is to pass A Comprehensive Reform Bill! Let''s Seal the Borders and Legalize non-criminal aliens. Problem Solved!

[ksjeff-2009]

Another Bush administration boondoggle that the taxpayers will be left paying for. Our federal government is, at best, a bunch of over-educated idiots.

[inventagod]

Yet another in the long series of failures from the Bu$h administration...
Shameful.

Watch - there will be promotions all around... and Chertoff will be coronated.

[tvgenius]

Sounds like the moat might not be such a bad idea after all...

[brittanicus-2009]

"The government will replace its highly touted "virtual fence" on the Arizona-Mexico border with new towers, radars, cameras and computer software, scrapping the brand-new $20 million system because it doesn''t work sufficiently." officials said.

However, the controversial anti-illegal immigration group, run by American patriot Glenn Spencer has installed thermal specialized cameras himself. That can detect the images of thousands of illegal immigrants crossing our non-existent border. All for a price tag of $100.000 dollars contributed by people like you and me. With the assistance of volunteers he has set-up his own virtual fence of specialized equipment. That avid citizens on the internet can do their own scrutiny of illegal movement throughout many locations. They in turn can report the drug smugglers, coyotes ushering slave immigrants and even the likelihood of terrorist incursions. Using state of the art equipment regular citizens can observe and report from the comfort of their own fireside chair.
Those interested in volunteering should study his website at www.americanpatrol.com

Rep. Walter Jones
(R-NC), who is behind a critical piece of legislation (H.R. 4987)
that would restore the original double-layered fence mandate
that was gutted by the Democratic hierarchy in the Senate months ago, bowing to special interest groups. Demand from your Democratic representative they co-auther Rep.Jones (H.R. 4987)

[mexinvasion]

Who was the moron who came up with that stupid idea in the first place ???

[stn_sage]

I don''t know why this border fence mess up story should surprise anyone!

This Republican administration has got to be the most inept, incompetent, corrupt bunglers in American political history!

I''d say, just cease operations and let the next administration proceed from wherever it is now!
Don''t take any more action and make matters worse!
Just stop wherever it''s at!

[payasyougo]

Does the cancellation due to unmet user expectations in performance mean Boeing will be refunding the 20M?

Did Boeing demonstrate a much faster response time yet was unable to deliver the peformance level they demonstrated? This sounds like bait and s switch at the performance level. If Boeing knew the performance of the demonstration was not the performance level they could deliver on the border does that reflect a deceptive trade practice subject to treble damages (or is this just a normal trade practice of government contractors)?

While the government justifies letting Boeing keep the 20M I need to figure out how to pay my income tax bill...

Jest require workers to have a birth certificate which can be verified, or a passport with a visa that can be checked against a Department of State database which is continually updated.

[element51]

There are only two things that will solve the problem of illegals. One is for economic conditions in Mexico to level out so the Mexicans can make a decent living in Mexico. Mexico is a rich country. Lots of natural resourses. However, in Mexico 95% of the wealth is controlled by 5% of the population. That means that 95% of the population has 5% to live on. That''s why they come here. They can''t make a living at home. The other way is for the USA to copy Mexico. If you look at what has been happening to the growth of the elite it seems apparent that the goal is to make the US a 95-5 country. Once that happens there will be no incentive for the Mexicans to come here since it will be no different than their own country. The idea of building a fence to keep them out is almost comical. It''s like the old saying about burglers. If someone wants into your home or business bad enough they will get in no matter how many locks you have on the doors. And one other thing...if the Mexicans can get in so easily what makes anyone think that terrorists can''t do it too. Some defence is better than none but this really misses the mark. So what to do next.

[bobbyduck1]

Actually this boondoggle has already served its true purpose - to funnel almost a billion dollars to a highly favored government contractor!

What if we spent the same money to iron out the immigration mess so that the migrant workers that our economy depends on - especially agricultural workers - could flow freely between borders and work at the jobs that they have held seasonally for decades? I know, too simple, doesn''t cost enough, and most importantly, doesn''t support big corporations nearly enough! Sheesh!

[lochlan-2009]

Par for the coarse with Bush.

[b-easy63]

sort of like the silent alarm system that finally transmits to the police a crime only to realize that it takes the fastest police force about 30 minutes to respond. by then, the thieves have robbed the place, left and have moved on to another home.

[b-easy63]

Another Bush administration boondoggle that the taxpayers will be left paying for. Our federal government is, at best, a bunch of over-educated idiots.

Posted by Ksjeff at 01:47 PM : Apr 23, 2008


Well...at least we know that if HRC had ordered this done, that she just would not have paid the bill by now and would stiff Boeing for their faulty design. LOL

[b-easy63]

Bush cant be bothered with this he is too busy selling out the rest of America (and Americans) in secret with Canada and Mexico as part of the North American Union.

Bush has no interest in sealing the border. Where are all the big corporations going to get their cheap labor?

Posted by fedupwithit1 at 02:58 PM : Apr 23, 2008


yeah...who does Bush think he is kidding? He should have had Laura go to the meetings and get the checks then come back and tell us that he was against it while depositing the cash in their joint bank account. That''s more on the up and up and so crass and obvious that most Americans would not be able to believe their lyin'' eyes. It''s working for HRC....

According to Clinton "insourcing " is just what we need. Guess no one told her that insourcing is the term used to describe stealing American jobs by importing illegal labor or visa''d immigrant labor. LOL

[mjvw2]

at least he tried. for 8 years the clintons had the welcome mat out.

At least try to be honest and blame them all for failing.

[godseyesore-2009]

Another racist comment...

[mcvet]

at least he tried. for 8 years the clintons had the welcome mat out.

At least try to be honest and blame them all for failing.


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Posted by mjvw2 at 04:29 PM : Apr 23, 2008
+ report abuse

You know you have GOT to take off a few of those swastika''s. YOU fascist have total control of the entire government for 6 years. YOU freaks could have passed any law you wishes... YOU could have made it a REAL crime for Companies to employ illegals. What did you do? NOTHING! Yep the Republican Fascist did NOTHING in 6 years and you want to blame the Clintons? That''s absolutely rediculous!! Now let''s let the fuhrer know you pathetic bootlickers are still out here spreading the hate and propaganda for the Reich. SIEG HEIL BUSH!! Good little nazi!!

[walt1944-2009]

The Great Emperor Bush II is dismayed that his much beloved "cyber fence" is being scrapped because it simply doesn''t work.

The Great Emperor had pinned all his hopes on developing a border fence that would "ZAP" illegal
immigrants attempting to cross the border, back to wherever they came from, getting the idea from watching reruns of "Star Trek" episodes, particularly those dealing with the "transporter".

Unfortunately for the Great Emperor, Boeing has assured the Great Emperor that such technology is hundreds of years away and will probably be developed by the Chinese or Indians first.

So, for now, the Great Emperor has given up the idea of a "cyber fence", tossing it on the junk pile with his other grand ideas such as sending astronauts to Mars, having Corporate America run social security, and capturing or killing Osama Bin Laden (remember him?)!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, (more of the same) John "McBush" McCain!!!

[quetzal0666]

howzilla..
Great Idea, volunteer for the testing phase of it will ya!!!

[dog7771]

If you legalize them, they will be eligible for normal US wages and benefits, and might join Unions. The GOP will never stand for that.

[namesnames]

MCVet: You seem to have all the answers.

[cyberus-2009]

And sadly ... like most of these projects ... rather than companies being required to put forth a bid to install a working product they get to collect millions to install garbage.

[randynason]

More money down the toilet. Thanks, George Bush, aka, anal retentive, rabid pink monkey.

[jnr1005]

mcvet you''re disgusting. seriously, enough with the nazi comments. my great grandmother was killed in germany. so even is bush is a horrible president he hasn''t killed hundreds in gas chambers and concentration camps. stop being ignorant.

[jackie0428]

Saying McVet is "disgusting" is just an insult to the disgusting people. There are no words in English to describe a person as repulsive and as offensive and as sickening as McVet. He is, without question, the worst person on all the CBS forums. Total scum.

[rudy654-2009]

mcvet you''''re disgusting. seriously, enough with the nazi comments. my great grandmother was killed in germany. so even is bush is a horrible president he hasn''''t killed hundreds in gas chambers and concentration camps. stop being ignorant.
Posted by jnr1005 at 07:03 PM

I don''t know about Bush, but you people seem to forget that Hitler didn''t kill all those people for the several years he ruled Germany, but only during his final four or five years in power. He had been in power from 1933 - 1945 for a total of 12 years. But when he started, it started with little things like destroying the constitution and then abolishing it altogether. No, you can''t compare Bush to all those years, yet.

[jnr1005]

Saying McVet is "disgusting" is just an insult to the disgusting people. There are no words in English to describe a person as repulsive and as offensive and as sickening as McVet. He is, without question, the worst person on all the CBS forums. Total scum.


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Posted by jackie0428 at 07:10 PM : Apr 23, 2008


couldn''t agree more

[brittanicus-2009]

Immigration has direct massive negative consequences on today''s and yesterdays economy.
Are you now living from paycheck to paycheck, wondering how your going to feed your family, making your mortgage payment.
You need to be aware of how much Uncle Sam is secretly skimming off your taxes and diverting into government freebies
for immigrants and illegal foreign nationals.

This is a document that should disturb you, because the globalist open border, free traders do not want you to see it. This is an thoroughly researched analysis of immigration costs, that the hierarchy of the U.S. government and special interests groups do not want you to read.

Now you can read the disturbing details in the new 70-page document called %u201CThe Economic and Fiscal Impact of Immigration%u201D by Edwin S. Rubenstein (www.eagleforum.org/sources). A Manhattan Institute adjunct academic with a mile-long scholarly resume, he has been doing financial analysis ever since he directed the studies of government waste for the Grace Commission of 1984.

[keithle1]

Private contractors/companies continue to milk Uncle Sam dry. Like this is going to work. Please. Dream on. Why don''t you just shoot everyone as they come over the border? That will be a lot cheaper.

[cbsblogger]

As long as illegal immigration helps the Bush "have mores" and the likes of Michael Chertoff, who supports the USA second or third, we will have open borders.

[rudy654-2009]

16. Last year illegals flushed their toilets, like a lot of times. Oh my god.

[rudy654-2009]

17. There were like these illegals and they were like actually working and like um, Wal Mart doesn''t have anybody working because many can''t like, pass a drug test.

[thcarson-2009]

18. Rudy is a obvious sympathizer who probably supports illegal invaders

[watcher269-2009]

Posted by thcarson

---------------

If it wasn''t for the Illegals in America - You WOULDN''T EAT!

98% of all hand picked produce is harvested by Illegals!

I bet your parents or grandparents were illegals - and you are probably the product of that illegal act.

You should be Kissing their Assess - I also bet that you act 1/2 a million tacos yourself last year!

[thcarson-2009]

If it wasn''''t for the Illegals in America - You WOULDN''''T EAT!

98% of all hand picked produce is harvested by Illegals!

I bet your parents or grandparents were illegals - and you are probably the product of that illegal act.

You should be Kissing their Assess - I also bet that you act 1/2 a million tacos yourself last year!




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by watcher269


Somebody would still pick the crops just at a legitimate wage so don''t give me that *** about I wouldn''t eat, that''s pretty weak. My ancestors legally immigrated to this country by the way. Illegals are draining and bankrupting this country.

[corey2444]

You know you have GOT to take off a few of those swastika''''s. YOU fascist have total control of the entire government for 6 years. YOU freaks could have passed any law you wishes... YOU could have made it a REAL crime for Companies to employ illegals. What did you do? NOTHING! Yep the Republican Fascist did NOTHING in 6 years and you want to blame the Clintons? That''''s absolutely rediculous!! Now let''''s let the fuhrer know you pathetic bootlickers are still out here spreading the hate and propaganda for the Reich. SIEG HEIL BUSH!! Good little nazi!!

Posted by MCVet at 04:44 PM : Apr 23, 2008

The democrats are some of the major players against securing the border. Help clean up your house.. and dont be so nasty to your neighbor (the republican). They will clean up their house too. Be a good boy now! Go on!

[corey2444]

12. The National Policy Institute, "estimated that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period." http://www.nationalpolicyinstitute.org/p
df/deportation.pdf


13. In 2006 illegal aliens sent home $45 BILLION in remittances back to their countries of origin. http://www.rense.com/general75/niht.htm
n

14. "The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration: Nearly One Million *** Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants In The United States". http://www.drdsk.com/articleshtml



nTotal cost is a whooping... $338.3 BILLION A YEAR!!!

Posted by thcarson at 10:41 PM : Apr 23, 2008

Would it be cheaper to send one back or to give food stamps, house and give them medical care for a year?

[corey2444]

If it wasn''''''''t for the Illegals in America - You WOULDN''''''''T EAT!

98% of all hand picked produce is harvested by Illegals!

I bet your parents or grandparents were illegals - and you are probably the product of that illegal act.

You should be Kissing their Assess - I also bet that you act 1/2 a million tacos yourself last year!




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Posted by watcher269

I find it hard to beleive if we cut the stay at home welfare class, these jobs wouldn''t be filled. This nation was built by our ancestors you say wont do these so-called jobs.

[frankinaz]

All the virtual fence was going to do was to stop the virtual illegal immigrants, virtual drug dealers, and other virtual criminals from entering this country
virtually illegally. What a waste of taxapyer money, which is not virtual.