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ABP Releases Fence Count
December 9, 2007
American Border Patrol has released its estimate of the amount of fencing and vehicle barriers on the U.S./Mexico border as of November 20, 2007. ABP reports that there are a total of 150 miles of pedestrian barrier and 148 miles of vehicular barriers on the border. (See chart) Of the pedestrian fencing, 16 miles are double-layered. The ABP data on pedestrian barriers (150 miles) agrees with DHS data as reported in the media. According to the press reports, DHS plans to add 225 miles of new fencing by October 1, 2008, however Congress has not yet approved the 2008 fiscal budget for the department.
ABP estimates that of the 150 miles of new fencing, about 75 miles was added in fiscal year 2007. "If DHS is going to construct 225 miles of new pedestrian barrier in the next nine months they are going to have to hurry," said Glenn Spencer of ABP.
ABP reports that much of the vehicle barriers are made up of old railroad rails that are washed out in many spots. Also, in California, the old pedestrian barriers (about 30 miles) have many breaks, thus allowing people to walk around them.
Spencer said it is critical that ABP's Operation B.E.E.F. continue to monitor the progress of the border security systems.
Because of a computer failure, ABP was forced to manually review its HD videotape of the November 17/20 border survey to arrive at the latest figures. ABP expects their computer to be back online by Tuesday, December 11, and hopes to distribute detailed results of its survey to members of Congress by December 20.
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