Us-Mexico's Virtual Wall

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The BBC News article “US-Mexico border: Effort to build a virtual wall,” by Anahi Aradas introduces the concept of a virtual wall built by the United States government along its border with Mexico. The US has introduced advanced technology along its border with Mexico to increase security and prevent intruders from crossing into the United States illegally. Motion sensors, cameras, and surveillance drones are just some of the few major additions to the US Customs and Border Protection’s arsenal. The United States has implemented Unattended Ground Sensors(UGS) along the border. According to the US government, “7,500 sensors were acquired between 2003 and 2007, to create a movement detection perimeter" (Aradas). With some 7,500 sensors placed along the border, more intruders will be detected and our border will be more secure. The sensors will replace the need to have patrols. These sensors, “known as Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS)...[have] been around since the 1970s. [These] sensors are now tiny, solar powered and capable of operating for decades" (Aradas). With new sensor capabilities, they can…show more content…
Unattended Ground Sensors “are supported by drone aircraft known locally as "desert phantoms" (Aradas). Drones are a great addition and are difficult to avoid due to its color, high altitude, and that an intruder can't harm it. The Predator can detect intruders 6,000 meters above the surface, allowing for a much greater look on the area surrounding the border and allowing for more land to be covered. Predators come “equipped with radar, seven video cameras, an infra-red sensor and a powerful zoom” (Aradas). The Predator is a great addition to the US border control arsenal, but costs $20m. With only nine in use, the US government has spent $180m; this is a very large amount of money for just nine drones, they are to become less expensive as they become more developed and mass

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