Rio Grande Valley Sector (O-16)

Deployment Analysis

Location: El Calaboz/El Ranchito, Texas – 2.45 Miles of rural Area

Key Issues/Constraints:
• Unincorporated rural area
o Population of El Calaboz/El Ranchito, Texas: 2,100.
o Population of La Brigada, Tamaulipas, Mexico: small rural community
unknown population
• Routes of ingress into La Brigada, Tamaulipas, Mexico from Matamoros, Mexico
to the interior of the U.S. are well established and heavily used.
• Homes and businesses in El Calaboz/El Ranchito, Texas are within a few feet of
the border.
• Homes and businesses in La Brigada, 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 the criminal element.
• Illegal entrants can mix in with the general population in El Ranchito, Texas due
to its close proximity to the U.S./Mexico border.
• (b) (7)(E)

The areas south of the proposed fence are primarily farmland, dense brush and
vegetation. Fencing is needed due to the proximity of the communities of El Calaboz and
El Ranchito to the Rio Grande River. The balance between Border Patrol’s response time
and the illegal entrant’s vulnerable time is greatly in favor of the illegal entrants. This
situation creates enforcement vulnerability for agents charged with gaining operational
control of the border. The proposed fence would deter an attempted illegal entrant by
creating a significant mental and physical obstacle.

Nature of the Threat:

• Daily activity in the 2.45 mile segment equates to 1-2 apprehensions per shift, but
this zone has the most Other Than Mexicans (OTM) apprehensions in the
Harlingen station.
o (b) (7)(E)

• 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
enforcement efforts.
• (b) (7)(E)

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 1

 (b) (7)(E)

o This zone experiences sustained narcotics smuggling trends.

ƒ FY07, this area produced 7 narcotics loads yielding a total of 870
pounds of marijuana.
• FY08 YTD narcotics seizures in the same area total 4 separate
seizures yielding a total of 666 pounds of marijuana.

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

• Sensors – Provide the capability for agents to detect and tract entries (via seismic
activity). Rural areas permit the deployment of standard ground sensors. (b) (7)
(E)

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 less than three minutes).
o (b) (7)(E)

o Although the initial cost for the fence would be somewhat higher, the
fence would provide the required persistent impedance necessary to deter
and/or apprehend illegal entrants, while sensors would only provide
detection and tracking capabilities. The quick access to residences and
routes of egress by illegal entrants allows little response time for Border
Patrol Agents.
• Cameras – Cameras will provide the initial visual detection of persons entering
the United States. (b) (7)(E)

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 2

 (b) (7)(E)

o The effectiveness of a camera is limited by the surrounding terrain, such

as trees, brush, ravines and buildings.(b) (7)(E)

• Mobile Surveillance Systems (MSS--Radar) - MSS units provide Border Patrol

the ability to track the movement of people in wide open areas. MSS units are
mobile and positions can be changed as needed (based on terrain features). (b) (7)
(E)

The initial cost and operational costs for a three

year period for the 2.45 mile segment of pedestrian fence would be
$11,843,000.
o (b) (7)(E)

• Border Patrol Agents – Border Patrol Agents are capable of detecting entries,
identifying and classifying the threat, and responding to intrusions. In numbers,
Border Patrol Agents would have a deterring effect for potential entrants.
o (b) (7)(E)

o The three year deployment of personnel to serve as a “front line” would

certainly decay the level of morale within the workforce. This front line
would basically be static positions, which has shown negative effects for
recruitment and sustainment of agents in the past.
o The “front line” that the agents would essentially be creating, could
potentially be compromised when an entrant or a group of entrants make

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 3

 an entry and the “line” collapses to respond with the threat. This would
negate the persistent impedance effectiveness.
• Pedestrian Fence – Pedestrian fence will deter or significantly impede
prospective illegal entrants by providing a persistent impediment.
o The placement of the pedestrian fence would be strategically placed in
areas where illegal entrants currently take as little as a few seconds to
reach urban areas on the U.S. side and take advantage of the opportunity
to blend in with the legitimate human and vehicle traffic or other areas
with established routes of quick egress.
o A physical barrier such as a pedestrian fence would create a demoralizing
effect on anyone wanting to cross over. Potential entrants would face a
thick metal bollard spaced only four inches apart and up to 18 feet high,
which makes illegal entry much more difficult.
o For this area, the initial cost and operational costs for a three year period
for the 2.45 mile segment of pedestrian fence would be $11,843,000.
o The physical barrier would provide the needed deterrence or delay effect
that agents on the ground would need to successfully get closer to securing
the border. The fence would be complimented with the appropriate
mixture of personnel, technology, and tactical infrastructure.

• Vehicle Fence –The design of the vehicle fence is an effective way of keeping
vehicles out of a designated area. The vehicle fence is primarily designed for
areas where “drive-throughs” occur on a regular basis.
o 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. Even under
drought conditions, the Rio Grande River is deep enough to prevent most
vehicles from driving through. The current bollard design provides
effective vehicle deterrence as well as pedestrian deterrence.
o Should this area have required this type of physical barrier, the initial and
three year cost for the 2.45 mile segment of vehicle fence would have been
$7,007,000. The initial cost and operational costs for a three year period
for the 2.45 mile segment of pedestrian fence would be $11,843,000.

• Boats Forward Deployed – Border Patrol marine operations are capable of

detecting entries, identifying and classifying the threat, and responding to
intrusions, immediately on the border.
o Fence segments lengths do not necessarily equate to river miles, due to the
winding and turning of the river, while the levee system has a straighter
path.
o (b) (7)(E)

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 4

 o (b) (7)(E)

o Water levels in the Rio Grande River tend to vary and are not always
consistent, thus not allowing boats to be utilized daily or from one end of
the segment to the other end.
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 and/or impedes the effective the navigation of
marine vessels.
o Marine vessel deployments can have a very effective deterrent effect on
most potential entrants, but the front line of defense would have to
collapse when an entrant or group of entrants decide to risk crossing over
the boundary. These vessels would then be required to respond to the
threat, thereby weakening the front line strength of their deployment
formation.
o Marine operations are limited in severe weather.

• Weir Dam – The Weir Dam Project (proposal) is an attempt to create a water
reservoir along the Rio Grande River in Brownsville, located in southern tip
of Texas. The dam would essentially create a backlog of water upstream from
the structure’s actual location. The effects would be 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 “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 The initial costs of the Weir Dam Project would be approximately
$40,000,000 (2004 estimates).
o The Weir Dam would not provide anymore deterrence effect than the
Rio Grande River currently provides.

Best Technology Combination – An analysis of technology components was

conducted to determine what complement of technology would be the most cost-
effective. Although cameras and MSS units (mobile radars) provide the most
effective methods for enhanced operations, they do not provide the necessary
consistent impediment of pedestrians.

Key Evaluation Factors:

(b) (7)(E)

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 5

(b) (7)(E)

• The fiscal cost of such a deployment is close to $51,600,000 per year (salaries,
benefits and personal equipment).
• The initial cost and operational costs for a three year period for the 2.45 mile
segment of pedestrian fence would be $11,843,000.
• 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 El Calaboz/El Ranchito, Texas.
• 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 increase
detection and tracking abilities, but would not provide the required level of
deterrence or enhance agent time-distance response.

Recommended Solution:
• Deploy pedestrian fencing to deter and to significantly slow those who are fit
enough to navigate the fence. Fencing can deter a large number of illegal entrants
from crossing. This reduces the number of agents needed to respond within a
segment area.
• Deploy a sensor system on the fence to alert agent when a person or person is
attempting to climb, or tampering with, the fence.
• Deploy cameras providing overlapping view sheds of the fence to provide
enhanced surveillance and compliment detection capabilities.
• 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 the fence and responding when the
technology systems detect an illegal entry.

Projected Results:
• Fewer illegal entries directly into the El Calaboz/El Ranchito, Texas area.

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 6

• Those who challenge the pedestrian fence will require equipment or assistance
from others, thereby increase the level of difficultly and frustration of the criminal
element and reducing the number of successful illegal entries.
• Not only will it provide a physical barrier but will also be a psychological
deterrent.
• Large groups will be unable to stage and cross simultaneously, providing a more
manageable volume of activity.
• Significantly fewer agents will be required to maintain control in the segment
area.
• Agents will be available to expand operations to the rural flanks to address any
possible shifts in smuggling patterns.
• Create the potential to re-allocate several million dollars in yearly salaries for a
one-time cost of technology and tactical infrastructure deployment.
• The Sector Chief anticipates that upon implementation of this infrastructure and
redeployment of personnel resources, the border security status will increase from
“Initial Control Capabilities Established” to effective control. The increased level
of control will be established immediately in this area upon implementing this
infrastructure. The redeployment of personnel resources will lead to an increased
level of operational control of other areas as well.

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 7