McCain calls virtual border fence in Arizona a 'disgrace'

The Associated Press

Published: 03.03.2008

PHOENIX - Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Monday that a high-tech "virtual fence" meant to secure Arizona's porous border against illegal immigration is a "disgrace."

"And all of us who know the need to secure the border are very disappointed," he told reporters in Phoenix. "It's so disappointing when Americans — one of their highest priorities is to secure our borders — that we have a major corporation that gets a major contract and it turns into be a failed effort."

The virtual fence near Sasabe, Ariz., is part of a national plan to secure the U.S.-Mexico border with physical barriers and high-tech detection capabilities.

McCain said fence contractor Boeing Corp. did not consult with states, the U.S. Border Patrol and other agencies as it spent money on the 28-mile array of radars and surveillance cameras.