The Virtual Fence proposal is a project funded by the United States aimed at curbing the number of illegal immigrants and smugglers entering into the United States through the Canada and Mexico borders. This plan is part of the Secure Border Initiative which aims to enhance the effectiveness of the physical fencing already present in these borders.

Components of the Virtual Fence

Components of the Virtual Fence project includes border control vehicles equipped with state of the art computers, unmanned aerial vehicles, high powered cameras, including infrared cameras capable of seeing more than ten miles, satellite phones, vehicle barriers, radar, underground sensors, lookout towers, and physical fencing.

Unlike physical fences, virtual fences can be relocated anywhere where they are needed. The design is effective even in adverse weather conditions. A combination of two or more technologies mentioned above makes the virtual fence effective even in areas lacking any visible structures.US Virtual Fence Proposal

How the Virtual Fence Works

The virtual fence works by combining the effectiveness of different technologies. The components of the virtual fence forward any report on anomalies and disturbances to the central border patrol offices located in Arizona. The central office then collates the data and forwards a Common operating picture to agents in the field near the tagged locations.

The primary function of the virtual fences is to assist in preventing illegal immigrants and smugglers from blending into urban areas. For the most part, border areas will have unmanned drones patrolling the area. Although these drones won't engage the illegals directly, they will relay all pertinent information to human guards to act upon.

All in all, the virtual fence project will include 1800 towers with mounted long range cameras, 6000 new agents to patrol the border as well the integration of other technologies designed to make the virtual fence immune from the effects of weather as well as the time of the day.

Drawbacks of the Virtual Fence

Critics of the virtual fence proposal have voiced concerns over the effects of this project to privacy, tourism, economy, and the environment. For one, citizens living near the border have voiced concerns that the government may use the long range cameras to spy on their activities and threaten their privacy.

The virtual fence may also limit the grazing areas of livestock as it has been shown that even animals can set off the alarms. This may also disturb the natural grazing and migratory patterns of the local wildlife. The ballooning cost of installing, maintaining and managing the virtual fence has also raised questions as to the long term viability of this project. In the span of several years, the projected cost has increased from two billion dollars to more than thirty billion dollars.

Of course, for some tourist destinations located near the borders, the virtual fence may have a negative impact on the tourism of these areas. Some residents of these areas cross the border daily to work on the other side or to visit their relatives. The US government is currently assessing the impact as well as the cost of this project by having regular discussions with the residents of the affected areas.