Associated Press
Friday, February 22, 2008

The federal government has approved a "virtual" border fence, a 28-mile stretch of technology in Arizona that will use radars and surveillance cameras to try to catch people entering the country illegally.

The Bush administration plans to use some of the technology in other parts of Arizona and in Texas.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is scheduled to announce the approval today.

The 28-mile fence near Tucson was constructed by Boeing, which delivered it late after some of the technology did not work as expected.

The fence is part of a national plan to secure the U.S.-Mexico border with physical barriers and technology intended to detect and stop illegal immigrants on foot and drug smugglers in vehicles. As of Feb. 8, 295 miles of fencing had been constructed.

The virtual fence includes 98-foot unmanned surveillance towers that are equipped with an array of sophisticated technology including radar, sensor devices and cameras capable of distinguishing people from cattle at a distance of about 10 miles. The cameras are powerful enough to pick up group sizes and whether people are carrying backpacks that may contain weapons or drugs.