5. Border and Enforcement News:

Border fence plagued by glitches, long delays

The Associated Press is reporting that a number of technical difficulties have delayed the construction of a 2,000 mile "virtual fence" of cameras, ground sensors and radar along the Mexican-American border and have put the project in jeopardy.

After spending $672 million of the $6.7 billion government project to secure nearly the entire Mexican border with this high tech “fence”, many in Washington are calling for a reassessment of the whole idea. President Barack Obama has already proposed cutting $189 million from the venture.

The system was supposed to let a small number of dispatchers watch the border on computer monitors, zoom in with cameras to see people crossing, and decide if and when to send Border Patrol agents. The virtual fence was supposed to be completed by 2011. However, that target was moved to 2014, largely due to technical problems.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that the delays are unacceptable and that the government should consider more efficient and economical options. Proposals to scale back the project are surfacing. The new proposals advocate virtual fences along only a few segments of the nation's 2,000-mile southern boundary, while not further expanding the fence.

http://money.lehighvalleylive.com/APDEFAULT/external/Article_2010-02-03-US-Virtual-Border-Fence/id-pe9755e78585547fe8305b4f0eb55b511

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