Posted on 10/13/2018 4:40:39 PM PDT by BeauBo
“And the kicker? The Wall is being constructed as I type.”
The 2.25 miles in Calexico, CA; and the 20 miles West from El Paso (Santa Teresa, NM) are both wrapping up. There is a next wave of contract awards coming over the next few months, that will be even more significant - especially the Rio Grande Valley.
Two weeks ago, we saw work start on a four mile segment in downtown El Paso, with only one days public notice. Last week, word first came out that some unspecified amount of barrier in Arizona was included in the previously received funding. This week, 6.6 miles worth around Brownsville was revealed - contracts should follow within weeks.
Next Spring, I expect to see a dozen or more crews at work.
“Chain link fence and constant patrol!”
In practice, Border Patrol has found that they have to repair breaches in fencing virtually every day, and some flaps can be artfully cut, so they are hard to see. Such breaches can sometimes be used for a long time before they are noticed. Even small kids can usually scrape away enough dirt to wiggle under a fence in a short time.
It is a major operation to bust through heavy steel, concrete-filled bollards - they can stop a speeding truck. It is basically the end of maintenance, once bollards are installed. With two foot thick concrete footings extending six or more feet deep, tunneling is only for the pros.
The $5 billion is enough to show Trumps wall is getting some funding but not enough to complete it and it allows the GOP chamber of commerce whores to go back and say see, no complete wall and limited funding, please keep those checks and tropical vacations coming in!
a patrol every mile for 700 miles 24/7 would cost less than $250 mil.
Let’s see: 10 million illegals paying a $1k fine each will generate 10 billion bucks out of the 25 needed. Let them stay but not be citizens like Trump promised. I don’t think they should be fined for the government not doing it’s job but if it goes for the fence...Perhaps there are 25 million illegals amongst us. Problem solved.
“a patrol every mile for 700 miles 24/7 would cost less than $250 mil.”
It takes at least five folks (five shifts) to fill one position 24x7 (40 hours a week each). Six allows for easier scheduling of leave, sick leave, and training.
Border Patrol Officers must be trained and equipped, and each carries a relatively high overhead cost for retirement/medical benefits. Each costs well over $100K/year to have on staff.
If you have just one person per mile, what will they do if 10 immigrants make a run for it at once? 100?
In practice, it turns out that people are the most expensive component of border security, infrastructure is the second most expensive, and technology is the cheapest. Regardless of the price differences, to achieve effective outcomes, you need all three.
I preferred the minute men.
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