Boeing to replace 9 towers at border

Existing ones failed to cut illegal immigration enough

By Brady McCombs

ARIZONA DAILY STAR

ARIVACA — Homeland Security plans to replace nine camera towers along a 28-mile stretch of border flanking Sasabe with new models by the end of 2008.

The towers — the backbone of a $20.6 million Boeing Co. test project known as Project 28 — have been operational for about three months but have failed to meet expectations since going up in summer 2007.

Border Patrol agents began using the system in December and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff officially accepted the system on Feb. 22 — eight months after the scheduled launch date.

"We are now moving on with the next state-of-the-art project," said Tom King, director of the SBInet field offices in Washington D.C., at a community meeting in Arivaca. "We are going to replace those towers with the new, stout towers." SBInet is part of Homeland Security's Secure Border Initiative.

"The technology that is on those towers isn't as effective as technology that is available today. … You have to understand that that was back in October of 2006 technology, and there is better technology out there today. We have proven technology that is actually very successful for us," King said.

The new 80-foot towers will use the same cameras and radar that are on 12-foot mobile surveillance units that Border Patrol agents use from the back of agency trucks, King said.