Show Me! -- $600 Million for What?

Show Me!
$600 Million for What?

Glenn Spencer -- American Border Patrol -- August 6

From Popular Mechanics -- August 2010

    Yesterday the U.S. Senate voted unanimously to spend an additional $600 million for border security, but not one dollar to find out if the money is being properly spent.
    Border funding includes $32 million dollars for two new Predator B unmanned aerial vehicles. According to Popular Mechanics (Aug. 2010), since 2004, six Predators based in Arizona have flown 3,000 hours and helped in the apprehension of 4,766 illegal aliens. That figures out to be about 200 apprehensions per Predator per year. Figuring each Predator costs about $4 million per year in operating, maintenance and replacement costs, we paid $20,000 each time the Predator was used to help apprehend someone.
    In 2008, ABP used its new border camera to aid in the apprehension of 1,500 aliens – in six months. The camera cost $100,000 and was operated by volunteers. Annual operating costs are about $40,000. In other words, it cost ABP about $13 per aided apprehension. For those in Congress who are mathematically challenged, $20,000 is more than $13. (Cut the Predator cost by 50% and $10,000 is still greater than $13.)
    Border funding also includes adding 1,000 Border Patrol agents. Border protection must be done 24/7, or, at most, 200 new agents will be on the line at any one time.
    For years, Washington has hoodwinked the American people. In 1986 and 1996, they promised border protection and law enforcement, but it didn't happen. In 2006 they promised to build a 700-mile double-layered fence that wasn't built.
    It is time the American people put their collective foot down and, to borrow a phrase from my parent's home state, scream: Show me!