DHS's Border Surveillance Program: Does it Work? Is it Big Brother? Or are we again allowing a Contractor to serve as Big Brother?

Recent news reports suggest the US Border Patrol has secured new technology that has the ability to "see" for up to 10 miles away and scan 180 degrees in about 10 seconds." The hype says "the system detected about 40,000 potential undocumented immigrants in the last three months of 2008." The key word here is "potential." In reality, the system has many bugs. Reports indicate it cannot tell the difference between a human vs a prairie dog. For $500,000 a tower, you would think the technology would better serve the Department of Homeland Security.

On the other hand, many on the ANTI side are opposing the new technology, especially the unmanned drones. They are saying this type of technology is one step away from "Big Brother." Who is to stop DHS from spying on good ole US neighborhoods they wonder.

I am a bit torn on the subject.

I agree that in this age of potential terroristic threats, we do need security on all borders, ports and terminals. I say ALL because we should not focus on just the southern border, but all borders, ports and terminals!

I also agree that we should use technology vs a 2000 mile border fence. I don't believe we should give our civil liberties away, however. So, who is to say what is the right answer?

The other down side of the story is that we are allowing one vendor, Boeing - as SBInet, to manage the project. This raises the question, are we contracting away our nation's security to the highest bidding contractor? Remember the bad experiences we've had with Blackwater and Halliburton.

My only hope is the new DHS, under Janet Napolitano, will be open enough to let us every day Americans know what is going on and have the ability to provide our input on whether policies are working or not working. Additionally, she should prevent this program from turning into "Big Brother."

Since it appears this program is well underway, all we can do at this point is wait and see.

References:

40,000 Undocumented Immigrants Detected By New Border System (hype)

Proposed SBInet Texas Mobile Project

Why “Open-Borders” makes for bad neighbors

SBInet , Boeing wikipedia

AZ Gov Napolitano Vetos Immigration Bill - Some Say Due to Arpaio´s Racial Profiling!

Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano has vetoed AZ´s lates immigration bill. This is upsetting many of the local AZ ANTI politicians.

YumaSun.com reports:

Napolitano vetoes bill on enforcing immigration

April 28, 2008 - 10:35PM

PHOENIX - Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed legislation Monday to require police departments and sheriff's deputies to do more to crack down on illegal immigration despite its bipartisan support. On one hand, Napolitano said HB 2807 is unnecessary because nothing in state law precludes local police agencies from entering into agreements with the federal government to have their officers certified to stop, question and detain people not in this country legally. She said the only thing they need is the proper federal training. "Many of these have already entered into these agreements on a voluntary basis,'' the governor wrote. "A legislative mandate to that effect is unnecessary." She also said the legislation could end up being a $100 million drain on the already overtapped state treasury. The measure mandated that police agencies have some sort of program to deal with violations of federal immigration laws...

Prezelski said he believes Napolitano's real reason for vetoing the bill had less to do with what it says and more to do with the politics surrounding the whole issue of illegal immigration and the role of local police agencies. "I don't think there was any problem with the bill legally, any problem with what the bill said in black and white,'' he said. But Prezelski said there were "larger political implications'' at hand. "It's happening in the context of what (Sheriff) Joe Arpaio is doing in Maricopa County,'' he said. The sheriff, who has had many of his officers certified to enforce immigration laws, has done a series of "sweeps'' of certain neighborhoods, looking for minor traffic violations as an excuse to pull people over and question them about whether they are in this country legally. In some circumstances that has occurred over the objections of officials of the cities where he is operating. Napolitano has repeatedly refused to take a public position on whether she believes the sweeps are legal or even good public policy. But Prezelski said this may be her way of expressing her concern. "Maybe this was an opportunity to say, 'No, this is not a local matter,'" he said. The activities of Arpaio clearly were on the minds of Hispanic activists who urged Napolitano to veto the legislation. "Racial profiling and targeting a sector of the population based on race, color of skin and national origin will only multiply as has been demonstrated in the Maricopa County Sheriff Office's operations,'' officers of Somos America wrote to the governor last week. The group, whose name translates as "We Are America,'' said the legislation "will amplify sweeps of this style, violate (individuals') civil liberties and often result in costly litigation.''

Letter from a Latino Veteran to the Governor of Arizona: "PLEASE STOP THE RACIAL PROFILING IN ARIZONA"

An Arizona Veteran, Latino blogger, and my new friend, George Velez, wrote the following letter to Az. Gov. Janet Napolitano:

My Angry Letter to Encourage Change
April 24, 2008 – 5:24 am
Dear Governor Napolitano,
I am first and foremost a proud American. I was born in America. I served in the Armed Forces for 6 years. My dad is a retired military veteran with three tours of duty in Viet Nam. Both of my parents legally immigrated from Peru in the sixties. I pay my taxes, and I exercise the right to cast my vote regularly. My two kids are both honor’s students in school. Our entire family has never been in any sort of legal trouble, and we love living in Arizona (since 1989).
However, and it’s a big however, I am beginning to question if I wish to continue living in Arizona. Namely the actions of Joe Arpaio’s saturation raids are forcing me to examine if living in Arizona might deter my family’s pursuit of happiness. Because of my Hispanic heritage, I have a fear that my kids, my brother, or I might get caught up in Arpaio’s dragnet. I find myself ensuring our vehicles are washed and clean at all times. I intentionally avoid any potentially ethnic areas of the city, and I am constantly preaching to my family to make sure they don’t forget to bring any ID cards along– just in case.
Having to live like this with the threat of getting racially profiled by officers of the law distresses me. I don’t mind complying with the law. In fact, my best friend from my military days in Georgia moved to Arizona in the early 90’s and presently is an officer in MCSO. I just don’t want my kids exposed to this sort of racism. The ends do not justify the means - especially to innocent, law abiding Arizona citizens.
I have read in news articles of your opposition to Arpaio’s tactics, and I applaud it. The purpose of this letter is to add one more voice of opposition and ask for your continued leadership in making Arizona a great state.

Respectfully,
George M. Velez