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Physical fencing is used in areas where the border is close to a "vanishing point" where an illegal immigrant can easily blend into a larger population and move into the interior of the country.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has created a toolbox of fencing solutions which include but are not limited to:
These designs were the result of CBP's Fence Lab which evaluated nine low-cost fencing solutions that could be rapidly deployed along the Southwest Border.
In remote areas along the border, tower-based integrated cameras and sensors, ground-based radar, mobile surveillance systems, and an unmanned aerial system along with traditional border patrols. These tools are part of CBP's technology solution, which includes the Secure Border Initiative's SBInet program.
Rivers, mountain ranges and other geographic objects can provide a natural barrier to illegal entry.
The Department of Homeland Security has issued two environmental and land-management waivers to expedite the installation of additional physical barriers and roads at the border to deter illegal activity.
A substantial portion of the project areas addressed by these waivers has already undergone environmental reviews. In those areas where environmental reviews have not yet occurred, the department will conduct a review before any major construction begins.
The Department is committed to meeting national security requirements while respecting the needs of the border communities.
Since May 2007, the Department has continued to hold extensive discussions with state and local stakeholders, including landowners, about the placement of the remaining miles of fencing. As part of these outreach efforts, more than 600 individual landowners have been contacted and over 100 meetings with local officials, public open houses and town halls have been held along the southwest border.
To meet the fencing deadline, the Department
Once we complete the steps in our decision-making process, the Department will proceed with construction. More information available.
This page was last reviewed/modified on April 23, 2008.