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Deployment Analysis
Key Issues/Constraints:
• The area is in a remote setting adjacent to and inclusive of the Otay Mountain
Wilderness Area (OMW).
• The OMW consists of rugged, mountainous terrain with large rock outcroppings
and high growth vegetation that provides cover and concealment.
• Closest patrol road to the area is over a mile away called the Otay Mountain
Truck Trail which is a single lane dirt road that follows the contour of high
mountain ridges that extend over 3,500 ft. elevation.
o The next closest road system is approximately two miles north along Otay
Lakes Road.
• Access to the area is limited to aerial insertions and foot patrol.
• Terrain hazards have resulted in significant officer safety risks to agents.
o 3 agent deaths since 1996
• 2 agents died from falls off steep rock faces while on foot patrol in
the OMW area.
• 1 agent died while attempting to traverse Otay Truck Trail by
vehicle with limited visibility and subsequently veered off the
roadway and rolled 1,200 feet down a steep mountain slope.
o 128 reported agent injuries between FY’05 through FY’07
o 293 reported Border Safety Initiative rescues between FY’00 through
FY’07
o In 2007, 1 National Guard Helicopter crashed atop Otay Mountain while
transporting agents and guardsmen to entry interdiction posts in the
OMW. The crash resulted in several injuries to include a National Guard
Pilot and agent passengers.
• Area is sandwiched between two Mexican metropolitan areas that provide
infrastructure to support smuggling operations such as stash houses, access roads,
cell phone and two-way radio communication.
o To the west lies the City of Tijuana, Baja California is the 6th largest city
in Mexico with a population of 1.5 million
o The City of Tecate, Baja California lies to the east and has a population of
over 50,000
o The Tecate Highway runs east and west between these two cities
providing access within 100 yards of the border immediately south of the
OMW.
The lack of access in the OMW and the close proximity of the two heavily populated
Mexican cities create an opportunity for criminal organizations to gain quick unopposed
access thus enabling the use of cover and concealment throughout the wilderness to
points north. The ability to avoid detection and apprehension creates enforcement
vulnerability for agents charged with gaining effective control of the border.
Alternatives Analysis:
(b) (7)(E)
• Cameras – Cameras will provide some visual detection of persons entering the
United States and will provide limited tracking capability for a relative short
distance due to terrain, vegetation and inclement weather to include fog, rain,
snow and frequent marine layer.
(b) (7)(E)
(b) (7)(E)
o The Sector Chief anticipates that the deployment of MSS combined with
the current baseline deployment will facilitate increased detection and
identification but will not meet classification or response requirements that
the pedestrian fence alternative provides.
• Border Patrol Agents – Border Patrol Agents are capable of detecting entries,
identifying and classifying the threat, and responding to intrusions, but can be
overwhelmed by the number of illegal entrants (on foot) they confront. However,
o The Sector Chief anticipates that the deployment of the additional 504
total agents combined with the current deployment baseline will enhance
detection, identification, classification and response requirements but is
deficient in the areas of executability and sustainability when compared to
the pedestrian fence alternative.
• Pedestrian Fence – 3.58 miles of pedestrian fence will deter illegal entrants who
are not physically capable of climbing the structure and significantly delay those
who may be fit enough to climb it.
o Bollard design (PV-1) built to accommodate anti-climb, vehicle stop
capability and 18’ height requirements.
o Estimated cost to commercially construct fencing, access road and
associated drainage installation - $17.8 million per mile.
o As a stand alone feature, pedestrian fence cannot detect illegal entrants or
alert enforcement personnel for a proper response and resolution to the
situation. As a result, personnel and technology are required to
compliment tactical infrastructure.
o Proposed access roads and fencing will enhance operations by increasing
agent mobility and enabling them to tactically address the high volume of
pedestrian traffic in the area. San Diego Sector has requested a fence
design that meets both pedestrian and vehicle stop capability requirements
for the A-1 segment.
o The operational tolerance to depth of intrusion necessitates a pedestrian
fence to allow agents the opportunity to confront illegal entrants before
they can access the OMW where there is a higher risk to their safety,
safety of agents and environmental degradation.
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 –3.58 miles of vehicle fence as a stand alone option is not viable
for the A-1 project area. The tolerance of intrusion depth will essentially be
located near the access road only a short distance from the fence itself. As a
(b) (7)(E)
(b) (7)(E)
• 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 and to significantly slow those who are fit
enough to negotiate the fence. Fencing will deflect a large number (women,
children, less-than-fit males, etc) from crossing.
• Build access road to facilitate fence construction and upgrade for patrol activities.
• Deploy a sensor system on or in the area of the fence to alert agents when a
person or person is approaching, attempting to climb, or tampering with, the fence
(fence alignment is built several feet off the border enabling the deployment of
sensors to the south).
• Deploy cameras providing overlapping view sheds of the fence and brush clearing
to provide enhanced surveillance and compliment detection capabilities.
Projected Results:
• Fewer illegal entries will occur resulting in a lesser agent and alien presence in the
OMW. This ultimately will minimize exposure to the dangers associated with
terrain and subsequent environmental impacts.
(b) (7)(E)
• Those who challenge the pedestrian fence will require equipment or assistance
from others, thereby increasing the level of difficultly and frustration of the
criminal element.
• Long term effect will allow significantly fewer agents to maintain control in the
OMW area.
• Field Commanders will be able to redeploy agents to new areas of operation to
address the shift in smuggling patterns.
• Fewer aerial assets will be required to support operations which will reduce risks
to agents and pilots and result in budget savings associated with subsequent
maintenance and fuel costs.
• Create the potential to re-allocate several million dollars in yearly salaries for a
one-time cost of technology and tactical infrastructure deployment.
• Increased level of effective control will be established.
• This enhancement is expected to raise the border security status 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.