OBP006331

Secure Fence Act Question

Q: The Secure Fence Act includes mileage in addition to the proposed 6 miles of P225
surrounding the Del Rio and Eagle Pass Port of Entry. Has the Secretary decided to allow
a virtual fence as a substitute for physical fencing in those additional miles addressed
within the Secure Fence Act? I believe this is some 89 miles located within remote areas
adjacent to the Rio Grande River within the Del Rio Sector.

A: Technology is not a substitute for miles of fence planned as part of the SBInet solution.
Fencing and technology are two critical elements of the SBInet solution, and they are not
mutually exclusive.

The stated intent of the SFA was to secure the southern border from illegal crossings. The
Administration has a plan to ensure that we are securing the most critical areas where fence is
determined to be operationally necessary with the funding that has been made available. The
Administration is also committed to maintaining the flexibility necessary to secure the border as
quickly and efficiently as possible.

Through SBInet, DHS will field the most effective proven technology, infrastructure,
staffing, and response platforms, and integrate them into a single comprehensive border
security suite for the department. This comprehensive suite will be implemented along the
entire Southern border, and optimized for the most efficient and effective deployment for
each border mile.

For example, in an urban environment, the illegal entrant can be across the border and into
the community in a matter of minutes, sometimes seconds. If accessible to entry, urban
areas require an inordinate number of enforcement personnel to effectively confront the
illegal activity. In this environment, pedestrian fencing provides a critical barrier. Fences
block, or substantially slow, illegal entry between ports of entry. In a rural area or remote
area, the time it takes for an illegal entrant to mix into the community infrastructure is
greater, thereby giving enforcement personnel the advantage of time to respond, and
reducing the need for pedestrian fencing. In this rural or remote area, technology can
provide the necessary information to enable the Border Patrol agent to effectively and
efficiently respond to the entry, and bring the situation to the appropriate law enforcement
resolution.

Border Patrol Chiefs in the field have identified the areas where primary fence would
significantly strengthen their ability to secure the border, including the 6 miles adjacent to
the Del Rio and Eagle Pass Port of Entry. These fence requirements were then coordinated
with the CBP National Border Security Strategy and will be a vital part of the proper mix
of technology, infrastructure, personnel and response platforms.