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Experts See Border Fence as Impractical

By Jeralyn, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 10:34:51 AM EST
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700 miles of border fence will not keep out the undocumented, according to experts.

Building a fence to try to secure the U.S. border with Mexico is impractical and would simply lead illegal immigrants to cross elsewhere, according to former Customs and Border Protection agents and other experts.

Former U.S. Customs agents who have hunted drug traffickers in the mountains and deserts of around the Arizona border said the new barrier would be defeated by the rugged terrain. "You can't build a wall across the mountains of southern Arizona, as much of the terrain is inaccessible even on foot," veteran agent Lee Morgan told Reuters as he stood near the proposed route of the fence, east of the town of Douglas.

Then there's this problem:

Another former U.S. Customs special agent, who declined to be named, said the fencing would also struggle to bridge hundreds of creek beds spanning the Arizona-Sonora border, which are prone to flash floods from May through October.

"You are going to have to build hundreds of culverts big enough for debris the size of brush and small trees to float through the length of the border," said the former agent. "If it is wide enough for bushes to get through, then people can get through."

Once again, Congress didn't do its homework.

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    Experts See Border Fence as Impractical | 15 comments (15 topical)
    Re: Experts See Border Fence as Impractical (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 10:57:46 AM EST
    All the border fence will do is make human smuggling more lucrative. Migrants will still head north as there's not much for them back home.

    Re: Experts See Border Fence as Impractical (none / 0) (#6)
    by Sailor on Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 11:23:42 AM EST
    Duh. Not to mention an environmental disaster. Tho I bet halliburton will make a lot of $$ on it.

    Re: Experts See Border Fence as Impractical (none / 0) (#2)
    by cpinva on Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 11:41:17 AM EST
    ....much of the terrain is inaccessible even on foot,"
    that wouldn't seem to be a problem then.
    "You are going to have to build hundreds of culverts big enough for debris the size of brush and small trees to float through the length of the border," said the former agent. "If it is wide enough for bushes to get through, then people can get through."
    hmmmm, i think you'd better come up with better problems than that. if you'll recall, the han did this very thing, a thousand years ago. it was successful, up to a point, that point being gunpowder. now, unless we're talking about an invading army, that shouldn't be as much of an issue. this isn't to suggest that i support this venture, just saying that the perceived engineering issues aren't as vast or complex as these non engineers would have us believe. the real issue is this: at what point does congress and the president tell mexico to get its economic house in order? that the U.S. will no longer act as economic pressure relief valve for an inept mexican gov't?

    Re: Experts See Border Fence as Impractical (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 11:41:17 AM EST
    I seem to recall some foreigners trying the same thing. Fixed fortifications/boundaries went out of vogue with the advent of gunpowder.

    Re: Experts See Border Fence as Impractical (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 11:41:17 AM EST
    I don't think the purpose of the fence is really to keep people out. It's more to keep the U.S. voters happy and content to vote Republican. To that end, it doesn't matter how useful or practical it is or isn't, as long as you keep the people quiet and content. And JimakaPPG, before you go after what I said, please note that I am talking about the intention of the politicians, not the common people. I know you and lots of other people actually do want a fence to keep people out, but I'm not even getting into what an unrealistic fantasy that is.

    Re: Experts See Border Fence as Impractical (none / 0) (#5)
    by Patrick on Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 11:41:17 AM EST
    So do non experts...What do you expect from elected officials with no accountability? Redistricting is the answer....And not designed by the buffoons currently in office. Disclaimer - (The buffoons comments includes both parties)

    Re: Experts See Border Fence as Impractical (none / 0) (#10)
    by Che's Lounge on Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 12:23:44 PM EST
    porkporkporkporkpork. Useless. As in won't change anything uselss. But we hates us dem brown people. They use racism to steal from us again.

    Re: Experts See Border Fence as Impractical (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 01:35:33 PM EST
    Good Lord, at least it's SOMETHING!!!! I live in Yuma, Az.and we're grateful for ANYTHING!!!!Unless you're in the midst of this neglected situation, you don't KNOW the problem.

    Re: Experts See Border Fence as Impractical (none / 0) (#8)
    by jarober on Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 01:35:33 PM EST
    Do experts also tell you not to bother locking your doors, since committed criminals will just break your windows? I guess the entire concept of making things incrementally harder eludes TL.

    Re: Experts See Border Fence as Impractical (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 01:35:33 PM EST
    George Patton: Fixed fortifications are monuments to the stupidity of man. If anything made by God can be overcome, anything made by man can be overcome.

    Re: Experts See Border Fence as Impractical (none / 0) (#11)
    by Jen M on Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 03:49:32 PM EST
    now they tell us

    Re: Experts See Border Fence as Impractical (none / 0) (#12)
    by kdog on Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 04:53:17 PM EST
    If only there were a way to fedex our lawns to Mexico for mowing, and not have to worry about medical care and schools for the mowers and their families, all our problems would be solved.

    Re: Experts See Border Fence as Impractical (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 05:31:09 PM EST
    I was puzzled by this too:
    ...as much of the terrain is inaccessible even on foot.
    That does sort of obviate the need for a fence doesn't it? I also have a pretty good guess as to why some Border Patrol or Customs agents might be opposed to a fence: Even if a fence were to deter or divert only a portion of the illegal immigrants there would be more than a few agents looking at a transfer or finding a new job.

    Re: Experts See Border Fence as Impractical (none / 0) (#14)
    by burnspbesq on Tue Oct 03, 2006 at 11:56:36 PM EST
    After last week's assault on the Constitution, why does anyone continue to believe that the purpose of the border fence is to keep people out?

    Re: Experts See Border Fence as Impractical (none / 0) (#15)
    by ScottW on Wed Oct 04, 2006 at 11:32:15 AM EST
    Helen Low, with the quote of the week" "Good Lord, at least it's SOMETHING!!!! I live in Yuma, Az.and we're grateful for ANYTHING!!!!Unless you're in the midst of this neglected situation, you don't KNOW the problem." It's a good thing the Lord is on your side. Last week I had a near death experience and I saw a white light, it was shinning on the fence building going on up in Heaven. God hates Mexicans too, who knew ?? I live in Houston and I would guess we have way more illegal's then you. I don't really care, anyone who wants a better life for their themselves and their family is welcome to my country. Or were you referring to the terrorists running amuck in Yuma. FYI, I don't know what kind of fence they are planning to build, but in high school there wasn't a fence me and my buddies could get through. I think it's people like Helen who don't really care if the fence is effective as long as it keeps brown people out of her city, she's down. It's a sick made up joke for the election. Two years ago about 10 people were talking about the immigration problem, what changed ?

    Experts See Border Fence as Impractical | 15 comments (15 topical)