Homeland Security chief cancels costly virtual border fence

yaystarcraft · yaystarcraft

Quote:

(CNN) -- Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Friday canceled the controversial virtual fence along the U.S. border with Mexico, citing technical problems, cost overruns and schedule delays since its inception in 2005.
The Secure Border Initiative-network, a high-tech surveillance system to reduce border smuggling, so far has cost taxpayers almost $1 billion for two regions in Arizona, covering 53 miles overall on the 2,000-mile border, according to a Homeland Security report.
Napolitano announced "a new path forward for security technology" along the border that is tailored to the needs of each region and provides "faster deployment of technology, better coverage and a more effective balance between cost and capability," she said in a prepared statement.
"There is no 'one-size-fits-all' solution to meet our border technology needs," Napolitano said about her decision to end the problem-plagued virtual fence.
Her new plan would use mobile surveillance systems, drones, thermal imaging devices and tower-based remote video surveillance, she said.
"Where appropriate, this plan will also incorporate already existing elements of the former SBInet program that have proven successful, such as stationary radar and infrared and optical sensor towers," Napolitano said.
Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Connecticut, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, lauded the decision.
"The secretary's decision to terminate SBInet ends a long-troubled program that spent far too much of the taxpayers' money for the results it delivered," Lieberman said in a written statement. "From the start, SBInet's one-size-fits-all approach was unrealistic. The department's decision to use technology based on the particular security needs of each segment of the border is a far wiser approach, and I hope it will be more cost effective."
Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, D-Mississippi, ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said the virtual fence "has been a grave and expensive disappointment since its inception."
Thompson said he is glad that homeland security officials are "finally listening to what we have been saying for years -- that the sheer size and variations of our borders show us a one-stop solution has never been best," he said in a prepared statement. "I applaud them for taking this critical step toward using a more tailored technologically based approach to securing our nation's borders."
Napolitano said "unprecedented" manpower, infrastructure and resources along the border will complement her new border security plan.
The U.S. Border Patrol is better staffed than at any time in its 86-year history, having nearly doubled the number of agents from approximately 10,000 in 2004 to more than 20,500 in 2010, according to a homeland security report.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has increased the number of federal agents deployed to the Southwest border, with a quarter of its personnel currently in the region.
President Obama has also deployed 1,200 National Guardsmen to the border.
In fiscal years 2009 and 2010, federal agents seized more than $282 million in illegal currency, more than 7 million pounds of drugs, and more than 6,800 weapons along the border -- increases of more than $73 million, more than 1 million pounds of drugs and more than 1,500 weapons compared with 2007-2008.
Also, the Border Patrol's nationwide apprehensions of undocumented immigrants decreased from nearly 724,000 in 2008 to about 463,000 in 2010, a 36 percent reduction, indicating that fewer people are attempting to illegally cross the border, a homeland security report said.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/01/14/bor...x.html?npt=NP1

I find it amusing and happy to know that the fence was a complete waste of money and failure.

But then again, just shows how we're a long way from "securing the borders..." Right..

Nic89 · Nic89

Well there is no way you can secure the borders, but only thing might work is internal inforcement with CIR. I would say let thease 12 millions come out of shadow and make them pay up to 10k in penalties to isuue each green card. Can you imagine how much that will be??... Use these money toward pay off debt and not to forget these 12 millions will be paying billions of dollars in taxes each coming yrs.

theboys2010 · theboys2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nic89

Well there is no way you can secure the borders, but only thing might work is internal inforcement with CIR. I would say let thease 12 millions come out of shadow and make them pay up to 10k in penalties to isuue each green card. Can you imagine how much that will be??... Use these money toward pay off debt and not to forget these 12 millions will be paying billions of dollars in taxes each coming yrs.

Yeah I will tell you how much it would mean it would mean our unemployment rate would skyrocket or benefits to those citizens would double and we would be further in debt. Nothing is happening till the majority of the country says its secure. napolitono can say whatever she wants she will have now say on the security of the border it will end up in the hands of the court.

Nic89 · Nic89

Quote:

Originally Posted by theboys2010

Yeah I will tell you how much it would mean it would mean our unemployment rate would skyrocket or benefits to those citizens would double and we would be further in debt. Nothing is happening till the majority of the country says its secure. napolitono can say whatever she wants she will have now say on the security of the border it will end up in the hands of the court.

Here the solution for that: Don't Offer any kind of benifits to anyone untill they become citizen. Make it 10 or even 15 yers to become citizens. I don't think any of these people care about any kind of benifits. They just want stay here, work hard and pay back to country.

mikesandy · mikesandy

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaystarcraft

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/01/14/bor...x.html?npt=NP1

I find it amusing and happy to know that the fence was a complete waste of money and failure.

But then again, just shows how we're a long way from "securing the borders..." Right..

Wholeheartedly agree with you. It's contributed to the increase in our country's national deficit. Also, truly "securing" the border is almost an impossible task to carry out.

Jaliciense _DREAMER · Jaliciense _DREAMER

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaystarcraft

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/01/14/bor...x.html?npt=NP1

I find it amusing and happy to know that the fence was a complete waste of money and failure.

But then again, just shows how we're a long way from "securing the borders..." Right..

Yes. We are a long way from securing the border first. That's why a border security plan and leglization MUST OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME THROUGH CIR. Republicans are clearly offering Obama and Democrats some things to compromise on.

theboys2010 · theboys2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nic89

Here the solution for that: Don't Offer any kind of benifits to anyone untill they become citizen. Make it 10 or even 15 yers to become citizens. I don't think any of these people care about any kind of benifits. They just want stay here, work hard and pay back to country.

no education, no emergency health care, no food stamps , no welfare do you no how many illegal famlies depend on this?

Nic89 · Nic89

Quote:

Originally Posted by theboys2010

no education, no emergency health care, no food stamps , no welfare do you no how many illegal famlies depend on this?

If they are alredy getting all these binifits, then why not let them pay for it??....Most economist have sugest that by legalizing these peoples will generate billions of dollar in taxes.

LuckyGirl · LuckyGirl

Quote:

Originally Posted by theboys2010

no education, no emergency health care, no food stamps , no welfare do you no how many illegal famlies depend on this?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nic89

If they are alredy getting all these benefits, then why not let them pay for it??....Most economist have sugest that by legalizing these peoples will generate billions of dollar in taxes.

In complete agreement, Nic89. Most economists know that legalizing the undocumented immigrants would be good for the country and the economy. If you were to remove 12 million undocumented immigrants then you'd have 12 million LESS people buying inside of US. Less people : less people renting houses ( bad for the housing market) : less people purchasing food( bad for the farmers): less people buying cars ( the reason why there's an economical mess in the first place and the housing market) : less people purchasing clothes ( bad for the clothing industry) : less people paying taxes ( harder to accomplish things like Social Security).

They need to bring the jobs back which brings me to outsourcing ( but that's a topic for another discussion).

yaystarcraft · yaystarcraft

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuckyGirl

In complete agreement, Nic89. Most economists know that legalizing the undocumented immigrants would be good for the country and the economy. If you were to remove 12 million undocumented immigrants then you'd have 12 million LESS people buying inside of US. Less people : less people renting houses ( bad for the housing market) : less people purchasing food( bad for the farmers): less people buying cars ( the reason why there's an economical mess in the first place and the housing market) : less people purchasing clothes ( bad for the clothing industry) : less people paying taxes ( harder to accomplish things like Social Security).

They need to bring the jobs back which brings me to outsourcing ( but that's a topic for another discussion).

But the illegals are taking our jerbs!! Lawbreakers! Get back in line!

lol j/k. I agree wholeheartedly. I think this needs to be a tweet that gets tweeted everywhere.

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Homeland Security chief cancels costly virtual border fence