Outrageous Fence Story

August 5, 2008

The French AFP news service (touted to be the oldest international news service) reported that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) "construction crews have completed a steel fence authorities say is a new model for border security."

Let’S take a look at what the DHS says is a model for border security.

Based on an aerial survey taken July 16, 2008, the fence just west of El Paso is 2.35 miles long. [See map]

Of that total, 1.6 miles is an old chain link fence. The eastern part of the fence is steel, but it is only about 800 feet long.

There another 880 feet of steel fence on the west part of the overall fence, plus about 500 feet of mesh fence [see photo].

Watch this video as ABP flew by the fence.

ABP reports that there is other fencing much further west of El Paso but the AFP story seems to be talking about the fence just west of El Paso.

See this video of fence much further west in New Mexico.

The AFP story says, "The five-meter (18-foot) tall fence has a mesh woven so tightly that feet and fingers cannot grab hold, but it still allows people to see through. Steel pylons are set close enough to stop a truck from bursting through, and two meters of reinforced concrete underground deters any tunneling.

"The structure is designed to push would-be illegal immigrants and drug smugglers out into the desert where they are more easily caught, said Border Patrol Agent Martin Hernandez."

"This is absolutely outrageous," said Glenn Spencer of American Patrol. "Most of the fence just west of El Paso is old chain link fence and is easily climbed."

Spencer suggests people study the details about the fence provided by American Border Patrol and then read the AFP story carefully. "If this doesn’t totally convince the reader that the media and the press are out to bamboozle them, then nothing will," he said.

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