Virtual Fence Ready On Mexican Border

A $20 million virtual fence is ready to service a 28 mile stretch of the Mexican border announced Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. The announcement was made during a review of border control efforts.

The review also allowed officials to reveal the higher fines for employers who hire illegal immigrants. The fine will be increased to $16,000 per illegal hire from the current $11,000. The goal of the fence is to use more technology to fight back illegal border crossings and human smuggling. The 700 mile fence is still being planned. Both Clinton and Obama suggested during Thursday's debate the use of high tech surveillance would lessen the need for the huge border fence. Homeland Security is also getting another unmanned aerial vehicle bringing the count to four for patrols. By year's end they hope to have six aircraft up and running. They also plan to go from six ground based mobile radar surveillance systems to 40 this year.

"In some form or fashion, technology is going to be virtually every place on the border, but it's not necessarily going to be in the configuration of P28," Chertoff said.

President Bush has asked Congress this month for an additional $775 million to build more fencing and install high tech surveillance equipment along the border between Mexico and the United State