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Disputed US/Mexico Border Fence Now Under Construction

by Jordan Yerman | August 16, 2008 at 08:00 am

435 views | 7 Recommendations | 3 comments

Heedless of damage to the environment and to relations with Mexico, The US Department of Homeland Security began moving the earth near San Diego to begin work on the border fence, which officials believe will curb illegal immigration.

Border Patrol Agent Jason Rodgers confirmed yesterday that contractors have been using heavy equipment this week to excavate soil from the west side of the canyon, which lies west of the San Ysidro port of entry. The federal government's plan is to build an earthen berm stretching across the canyon to support new steel mesh fencing and roads.
Kiewit Corp., based in Omaha, Neb., was awarded a $48.6 million contract for the work.

The project was not conceived by the DHS, though that department has championed it since its existence began shortly after the events of Sept 11, 2001.

At a cost of about $16 million a mile, the fence will be far more expensive than fences the U.S. government is building elsewhere along the nation's 1,952-mile border with Mexico. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the average cost along the entire border is $2 million to $3 million a mile.

"It's crazy," said Victor Clark Alfaro, director of the Binational Center for Human Rights in Tijuana. "I don't see the justification to spend $60 million on an area that's no longer an important crossing."

Clark predicted the new fence will reduce crossings to "almost zero" but inflict serious environmental damage.

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joellerose

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 09:16 on August 16th, 2008

jordan, I like this story. It's good stuff. We've waited a long time for this. I don't care how much it costs.

eastvanray

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 10:16 on August 16th, 2008

jordan, I like this story. It's good stuff.

$60 million? That's it? That is about 8 hours of the Iraq war. What would make the US better off? A fence that keeps foriegners from entering the US illegally or 8 extra hours of the war in Iraq? I am not an American and I support the fence.

cascara (not verified)

at 06:04 on September 29th, 2008

I am hispanic, living in a border town. I belive that the fence is a great idea. It will assit in reducing the flow of imigrants. Its important to remember this country was built mainly on cheap labor. The US should make it easier for imigrants to work in this country....