Virtual fence not fit for purpose

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NY Times:

The Department of Homeland Security on Friday canceled a project to build a technology-based “virtual fence” across the Southwest border, saying that the effort — on which $1 billion has already been spent — was ineffective and too costly.

... Ms. Napolitano said border agents would instead use less expensive technology that is already part of their surveillance equipment, tailoring it to the specific terrain where they will be scouting for illegal border crossers and drug traffickers.

...
I waw always dubious about this idea. A physical barrier does a better job of channeling those trying to infiltrate and is likely to take less manpower in the long run.

BTW, the headline borrows a phrase used by the British, which seemed particularly fitting for this post.
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