State Rep. Veronica Gonzales, D-McAllen, chairwoman of the Border and International Affairs Committee, had some pointed questions about Gov. Rick Perry's border Web camera program today.
Gonzales referred to reports, first published by the El Paso Times, that the $2 million camera program fell far short of its intended goals. Initially, the state had expected to install some 200 cameras along the border and apprehend 1,200 criminals and 4,500 undocumented immigrants as a result of tips from online viewers.
But reports from the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition, which is in charge of the camera program, showed only 15 cameras were installed, and that the cameras resulted in three arrests in the first six months and six immigrant apprehensions.
"When the public reads that there were three apprehensions as a result of $2 million, that looks like a very unwise investment of our monies, and we have to answer for that," Gonzales told Steve McCraw, Perry's director of state homeland security.
McCraw defended the program. The goal, he maintained, was not to make arrests but to deter illegal crossings and criminal activity from happening in the first place.
Putting humans in place of the cameras, McCraw said, would require 135 people and would cost more than $18 million. Ranchers whose property the cameras are on and border sheriffs, he said, appreciate the technology.
"We're very exited about it," McCraw said. "...We think it's a force multiplier."
State Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Vann, later during the committee meeting also defended the camera program. He said the tiny number of apprehensions actually show the cameras are working.
"When people know they're being watched, they're not going to try as often to come across," Flynn said to Gonzales. "The media's not always the best judge of what we do."
National Public Radio is the latest media outlet to follow the border camera story. Check out their report today here. I've also heard that The Daily Show with Jon Stewart may have a segment on their program, and have got a call into Comedy Central to get the lowdown.
Most of those cameras are looking at fast flowing waters of the river and no one would cross there.
So of course there are few arrests because of these few cameras.
Put them in high crime rate areas, not where a few favored ranchers want them.
Posted by: Sue | February 24, 2009 at 08:54 AM
Who is the contractor that was awarded the contract and what's the performance of the cameras that are installed? Are they up and running 24/7?
Posted by: UTEP Fan cheering from afar | February 24, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Frankly the cameras are a silly idea without the personnel to back them up. What Perry should do along with all border state Governor's is deploy the Texas National Guard to the border and keep them there until the fence and enough patrol are deployed to halt the invasion of these illegal criminals. You mentioned the phrase undocumented immigrants in your post but this is not what they are. They are criminals and we have a right to our border and our sovereignty. They have zero rights here so call them what they are.
Posted by: Brent | February 25, 2009 at 08:23 AM