Rio Grande Valley Sector (O-12)

Deployment Analysis

Location: Los Indios, Texas – .96 miles of incorporated rural community

Key Issues/Constraints:
• Incorporated rural community
o Population of Los Indios, Texas: 1,242
o Population of Lucio Blanco, Tamaulipas, Mexico: small rural community
unknown population
• The areas south of the proposed fence are primarily farmland, dense brush and
vegetation, while the areas north of the proposed fence have a number of small
subdivisions.
• Homes and businesses in Los Indios, Texas are within close proximity of the
border.
• During the daytime, illegal entrants can mix in with the general population in Los
Indios, Texas.
• Homes and businesses in Lucio Blanco, Tamaulipas are located within a few
miles of the U.S. border.
• Unimproved farm roads on the Mexican side and paved streets in the U.S. side
facilitate lateral movement of illegal entrants and smugglers.

(b) (7)(E) Formatted: Highlight

Nature of the Threat:

• This project, O-12, falls within Harlingen’s Zone 24 and is shared with Project O-
11. Daily activity in the .96 mile segment equates to approximately 3
apprehensions per day.
o (b) (7)(E) Formatted: Highlight

o Since October 2005, there have been 4 documented border violence

incidents in this area.
o This proposed alignment would provide a necessary persistent impediment
between the community of Santa Maria and Bluetown, Texas and the Rio
Grande River and occupies parts of RGV Sector zones 24.
• Despite the fact that agents are able to detect entries, the number of entrants and
their ability to assimilate into the general population, has a dissipating impact on

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 enforcement posture. As a result, the tolerance to depth of intrusion is limited to
the immediate border area.
• Human and narcotics smugglers have established networks and infrastructure in
place for potential exploitation by terrorist organizations to attempt an illegal
entry into the United States. This zone is experiencing a recent increase in
narcotics smuggling.
o FY07, this area produced 11 narcotics loads yielding a total of 547 pounds
of marijuana and 10 pounds of cocaine.
o FY08 YTD narcotic seizures in the same area total 6 separate seizures
yielding a total of 1,829 pounds of marijuana.

Alternatives Analysis:
• Baseline – (b) (7)(E) Formatted: Highlight

• Sensors – Seismic sensors provide agents with a useful method for detecting
possible illegal incursions throughout the border area. The rural area permits the
deployment of standard ground sensors.
o Some areas near residential neighborhoods immediately southwest and
southeast of the populated area will support sensors, but require an
immediate response to confront activity prior to assimilation into the
surrounding environment (generally 2 to 10 minutes).
o (b) (7)(E) Formatted: Highlight

o Although the cost of this alternative is less than the 3 year cost of
$5,631,586 for the construction and maintenance of the fence, sensors fail
to provide the persistent impediment necessary to establish effective
control of this area.
o The Sector Chief anticipates that the deployment of additional sensors
combined with the current deployment baseline will facilitate increased
detection capabilities but will not enhance identification, classification or
response requirements. This option does not address the need for
persistent impedance in this area.
• Cameras – Cameras could provide the initial visual detection of persons entering
the United States along the immediate border and areas free of cover to the north.
o (b) (7)(E) Formatted: Highlight

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 (b) (7)(E)

o The expense of camera deployment is slightly greater than the 3 year cost
of $5,631,586 for the construction of the fence. However, camera
deployment as a stand alone feature fails to provide the persistent
impediment necessary to establish effective control of this area.
o The Sector Chief anticipates the deployment of cameras combined with
the current deployment baseline will facilitate increased identification and
classification capabilities, will aid in detection but will not enhance
deterrence or response requirements that the pedestrian fence alternative
provides. This option does not address the need for persistent impedance
in this area
• Mobile Surveillance Systems (Radar) –Mobile surveillance systems, also
known as “Ground Radar” can be useful for detecting illegal intrusions in vast
open areas.
o Two MSS units would be required in this area. The estimated three year
cost of implementing MSS (Ground Radar) in this area is $1,700,400.
o Such systems are easily defeated in this populated environment by persons
who remain hidden behind buildings, residences, or brush and can blend in
with local residents immediately following their entry. As a result, Mobile
Surveillance Systems are not a viable alternative in this area.
• Border Patrol Agents – Border Patrol Agents are capable of detecting entries,
identifying and classifying the threat, and responding to intrusions.
o (b) (7)(E) Formatted: Highlight

o The cost of such a deployment over a three year period is estimated at

approximately $61,200,000 and far exceeds the expense for fence
construction which is estimated at approximately $5,631,596 over a three
year period.
o (b) (7)(E) Formatted: Highlight

• Pedestrian Fence – The installation of a Pedestrian fence will deter or

significantly impede prospective illegal entrants.
o The estimated cost of construction of this segment is $5,631,586 over a
three year period.
o Installation of a pedestrian fence in this area addresses the need for
persistent impedance in the immediate area.

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 o However, as a stand alone feature, a pedestrian fence cannot detect illegal
entrants or alert enforcement personnel for a proper response and
resolution to the situation. The implementation of this tactical
infrastructure is the only viable alternative that addresses the need for a
physical structure that will impede prospective illegal entrants.
o In order to achieve the optimal level of effectiveness, the fence must be
complimented with the appropriate mixture of personnel, technology, and
tactical infrastructure.
o The Sector Chief anticipates that the deployment of the pedestrian fencing
and supporting road infrastructure combined with the current baseline
deployment will enhance detection, identification, classification and
response requirements. In addition, the pedestrian fence provides the
necessary persistence of impedance requirement that facilitates long term
sustainability.
• Vehicle Fence – The deployment of a vehicle fence would assist in preventing
vehicles from driving across the border.
o The estimated cost of deploying a vehicle fence is about $2,745,600 over a
three year period.
o However, the U.S./Mexico border in Texas has the Rio Grande River to
serve as a natural, vehicular barrier between both countries. Vehicle
fence, as a result, is not a requirement for this section of the border.
• Boats – Border Patrol marine operations are capable of detecting entries,
identifying and classifying the threat, and responding to intrusions.
o Water levels in the Rio Grande River tend to vary and are not always
consistent, thus not allowing boats to be utilized daily.
o Hydrilla, an invasive, non-native weed that plagues the Rio Grande River.
The weed grows from the river bottom to the surface forming sprawling
dense mats that prevents the navigation of marine vessels.
o The Rio Grande River spans a distance of approximately 1.1 linear miles
directly behind the proposed fence alignment.
o (b) (7)(E) Formatted: Highlight

o Over a three year period, the overall costs of implementing such a

deployment would be about $11,376,000 as compared to the 3 year cost of
$5,631,586 for construction and maintenance of the pedestrian fence.

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 • Weir Dam – The Weir Dam Project (proposal) is an attempt to create a water
reservoir along the Rio Grande River in Brownsville, Texas, located in the
southern tip of Texas. The dam would essentially create a backlog of water
upstream from the structure’s actual location. The effects could be noticeable as
far as 40 miles upstream.
o During periods of normal water flow, the downriver side of the structure
would create a very dangerous situation where the water would essentially
flow over the lip of the dam and create a “whitewater” effect. This
whitewater effect actually turns into a continuously spinning cycle,
causing anything that gets caught in it to potentially stay underwater for
extended periods of time.
o During periods of drought, the Weir Dam would essentially provide a
clear, smooth, flat, and easily identified pathway that would connect the
Mexican riverbank to the United States’ riverbank.
o There is no evidence to suggest this alternative would provide any benefit
to border security. The effects of this project in Brownsville would have
only a minor impact on water levels near Project O-12.
o The initial costs of the Weir Dam Project would be approximately
$40,000,000 (2004 estimates)

• Best Technology Combination – An analysis of technology components was

conducted to determine what complement of technology would be most cost-
effective. In this particular area, cameras and mobile radar provide the most
effective methods for enhanced detection and are the most cost effective means to
improve detection. However, this combination does not address agent response
requirements or the persistence of impedance requirements necessary for
obtaining effective control in this area.

Key Evaluation Factors:

(b) (7)(E) Formatted: Highlight

• Comparatively, the total three year cost for a pedestrian fence is approximately
$5,631,586.
• The community relations cost of such a deployment is a perception by the local
residents and businesses that we have become an “occupation army”, standing
shoulder to shoulder along the border, pursuing illegal activity up streets, through
backyards, and into businesses.
• The operational cost of the total number of agents deployed to gain and maintain
control of the area precludes any significant deployment of agents to address
shifts in smuggling activity to the rural flanks of Los Indios, Texas.

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 • The terrain features (river) will make it difficult for illegal entrants to use aids like
ladders to overcome the physical structure (fence). Those who are fit enough to
overcome the fence or get assistance by accomplices on the south side of the
fence will find they are unable to easily escape back into Mexico once on the U.S.
side of the border.
• The installation of the technology, as a stand alone alternative, would not provide
the required level of deterrence or enhance agent time-distance response.

Recommended Solution:
• Deploy pedestrian fencing to deter prospective illegal entrants in the immediate
area.
• Compliment the pedestrian fence with technology assets.
o Deploy a sensor system on the fence to alert agent when a person or
person is attempting to circumvent or compromise the fence.
o Deploy cameras providing overlapping view sheds of the fence to provide
enhance surveillance and compliment detection capabilities.
o Deploy visual deterrence systems (lights that may be activated by camera
operators) for nighttime deterrence, and audio systems (speakers that
allow operators to “talk” to potential illegal entrants to let them know they
have been detected and will face arrest if they continue into the US.
• Deploy agents in a mobile capacity, patrolling along the fence and responding
when the technology systems detect an illegal entry.

Projected Results:
• Fewer illegal incursions in the immediate area are anticipated.
• Those who attempt to negotiate the pedestrian fence will require equipment or
assistance from others, thereby increase the level of difficulty of entry by
prospective illegal incursions.
• Agents will be available to expand operations to the rural flanks to address the
shift in smuggling patterns, thus improving the border zone security status of
other zones as well.
• The Sector Chief anticipates that upon implementation of this infrastructure and
redeployment of personnel resources, the border zone security status will increase
to a sustainable level of “Initial Control Capabilities Established” and achievable
increase to “Effective Control” with the proper combination of technology
solutions, tactical infrastructure and appropriate staffing.

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