Take a look at the most popular technology that is currently being used on the border. These technologies are all part of an attempt to stop illegal immigrants and drugs from being smuggled into the United States from Mexico.
Landing Mat
This is the oldest form of fencing technology that is still currently in place on the border. It is badly outdated and ineffective, and new forms of border fencing are desperately needed to replace landing mat fencing where it still exists. The landing mat fencing is made from corrugated steel.It gets its name because this corrugated steel was originally used as landing pads for helicopters in Vietnam. There are two major problems with landing mat fencing. One problem is that Border Patrol agents cannot see through it, making it easy for people on the other side to conduct their illicit activities.
The other problem is that it is very easy to simply cut a hole through the corrugated steel with a cheap power saw, making getting through the border pretty straightforward. Even though this technology is badly antiquated, it is still being used on the border of every state except Texas.
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SBInet
Standing for Strategic Borders Initiative—Networked, SBINet was supposedly the future of border technology not too long ago. It is a virtual fence that uses buried motion sensors and cameras in towers to cover the border.The technology is quite costly, so it has not been implemented in very many areas yet. Over $1 billion has been spent to test the SBInet fencing on parts of the border, but it has been a failure so far. There have been numerous false readings and problems with the technology.
Bollards
Bollard fencing is made from concrete barriers that are made to stop vehicles from passing through. They are environmentally sensitive because they allow wildlife to pass though. The problem is that they also allow people to easily pass through. These Bollard fences are mainly used in areas where it would be easy for people to cross the border in a car.Normandy
This is an old form of fencing that was popular during both world wars, which is where it gets its name. Normandy fencing is made by stringing barbed wire between crisscrossed fence posts, making it difficult to get through an area. The Normandy fencing on the border is usually supplemented with Bollard concrete barriers to make it even more difficult to cross.However, many times the Normandy fencing is easily dealt with by smugglers. They simply build a ramp over the fencing and drive right over. Even though it has this flaw, it is still a very popular form of fencing along the border. It is most popular in Arizona, where it is the most prominent fencing type on the border.
Anti-Ram
This is the latest fencing that is proposed to be the future of the border. It is expensive, costing $3.8 million to install one mile of it. It is impervious to cutting, buried 6 feet deep to prevent tunneling, and strong enough to withstand a 10,000-pound vehicle impacting it at 40 miles per hour.
Hannah GortonAbout the Guest Author:
Hannah Gorton has learned about new fence developements, international relationships, and customs brokering with help from Hawthorne Global.
