Sunland Park, NM – As Border Patrol agents work to combat the movement illegal immigrants, infiltrators Across the southern border in the El Paso sector, they say a multi-layered enforcement system that has been expanded in recent years and combines the use of barriers with technology and other types of enforcement is helping to thwart cartel smuggling operations and deter illegal immigrants. America has helped in catching
wall/fencing
There is a mile-long border wall along the border in Sunland Park, New Mexico. Part of it is the border fence built during the Obama administration, while other parts include the Trump-era bollard wall.
When Fox News digital agents were on the ground Illegal immigrants caught They had made a hole just a few feet away from the fence. Even though he escaped, it gave agents time to capture him. Agents usually like this bollard fencing, saying that it is hard to cut. And other parts of the fence have been reinforced with bollards and, in some cases, filled with concrete.
Caught on camera: Feds bust migrants cutting fences
Parts of the border fence have been strengthened with bollards to prevent vandalism. (Fox News)
However, critics of the barriers have stated that the barriers are not a solution in themselves. Obstacles, even those with bollards and those filled with concrete, can be cut. And makeshift ladders and ropes were scattered along the border, which migrants use to climb the barrier.
Wall construction is not possible in other parts of the border. This is the case of the rising Mount Cristo Rey, a steep area where walls cannot be built US-Mexico border Only marked with obelisk. This is where the other layers of enforcement tactics come into play.
autonomous monitoring tower
The Biden administration halted most border wall construction in 2021, although it has continued to make some repairs and advance construction that had already been appropriated. However, overall, the importance of technology has been emphasized instead. And in this area, agents say that the administration has completed the work.
Officials say there are now 24 autonomous monitoring towers (ASTs) in the El Paso sector, and more than 50 deployed in the neighboring Big Bend sector. The Biden administration’s fiscal 2025 budget includes an additional $127 million to “modernize border security technology,” including additional deployment of towers.
The 24-hour towers, which run on renewable energy, work by scanning the environment with radar. they use artificial intelligence “Lending a hand” to each other. Therefore, if a group goes out of sight of one tower, the neighboring tower picks it up. The use of AST did not begin with the Biden administration. It began during the Trump administration, but has expanded dramatically under the current administration.
Click here for more coverage of the border security crisis
There has been a significant increase in autonomous monitoring towers in recent years. (Fox News)
CBP says this technology comes into play even before migrants enter the US, allowing agents to plan before they even set foot on US soil. AI technology can scan faces, distinguish between humans and wildlife, and send instant alerts to agents in the field on their phones or tablets. It can also identify how many people are in a group. So, if agents are asked to search a group of eight migrants and only find five, they know there are still three others to locate.
What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
The towers are deployed throughout the range, but here in the mountains they are especially useful given the treacherous terrain. With the towers installed, agents no longer need to chase migrants up the mountain. They can monitor and track them through towers and wait for the migrants to eventually emerge (often exhausted) on flat land.
Helicopters, Agents and K-9s
Border Patrol agents use K-9s to stop illegal immigrants and smugglers. (Fox News)
Even if migrants cross the border wall and come within sight of surveillance towers, they still need to be caught. This is where Border Patrol agents will express concerns.
But they get help. The CBP Canine Unit is headquartered in El Paso, and some Border Patrol agents are trained to use specially trained dogs to track migrants and smugglers, in addition to the unit’s roles in other areas under CBP’s jurisdiction. How to do it.
K-9s can also help catch illegal immigrants who may become violent and try to attack agents. Fox observed Canu, one of the K-9s stationed at Sunland Park, working with his handler as he sniffed the area for a possible lead.
An Air and Marine Operations helicopter surveys the southern border in New Mexico. (Fox News)
The surge in the number of illegal immigrants from this US rival shattered last year’s record.
Meanwhile, the Border Patrol also receives assistance from helicopters from CBP’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO). They swoop into the mountains to provide additional surveillance, scaring off migrants who might be planning to flee, while also allowing the AMO to assist with a quick rescue if needed.
In the fiscal year 2025 budget, the administration wants to invest an additional $210 million in staffing, including for the Border Patrol, as well as $86 million for AMO support.
rescue tower
Another deployment here in El Paso is the use of rescue towers, which allow migrants to press a button to call for help. The sector’s 21 towers warn migrants that they are in danger and can call for help. The button triggers a bright blue light at the top of the beacon that is visible to agents for miles.
Fox looked at a rescue tower where an infamous case occurred in 2021 two young girls, 3 and 5, dropped over the wall by a smuggler. Luckily, the agents spotted and saved them. Other migrants have not been so lucky, and there have been several instances when agents have found bodies. These towers are designed to help prevent this.
Rescue beacons are deployed along the entire southern border. (Fox News)
So far in fiscal year 2024, El Paso Sector agents have rescued more than 300 migrants, but there have also been 34 migrant deaths.
cooperation with government officials
While nearby Texas is at loggerheads between the federal government and state officials, here in New Mexico, local officials and CBP are working together.
New Mexico state law enforcement will coordinate with the Border Patrol to prevent illegal immigrants from arriving. Recently, Doña Ana County officials announced a partnership to prosecute state crimes committed by traffickers.
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Overall, the Border Patrol believes the multi-pronged enforcement strategy is working. They point to a significant reduction in apprehensions compared to last year. There were 427,471 in fiscal year 2023 border Patrol In the sector. There have been just over 150,000 so far in fiscal year 2024, which began in October.
Separately, officials have pointed to the bust of over 136 hideouts with over 1,377 smuggled migrants by their interdiction teams so far in fiscal year 2024.
