Good Idea Out of Texas

[Annie]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060608/ap_on_re_us/immigration_web_cameras

Texas to install border Web cameras

By ALICIA A. CALDWELL, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 1 minute ago

EL PASO, Texas - The governor of Texas wants to turn all the world into a virtual posse. Rick Perry has announced a $5 million plan to install hundreds of night-vision cameras on private land along the Mexican border and put the live video on the Internet, so that anyone with a computer who spots illegal immigrants trying to slip across can report it on a toll-free hot line.
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"I look at this as not different from the neighborhood watches we have had in our communities for years and years," Perry said last week.

Some say it is a dangerous idea and a waste of money.

"This is just one of those half-baked ideas that people dream up to save money but have no practical applications," said Jim Harrington, director of the Texas Civil Rights Project in Austin. "We would be far better off to invest that money in Mexican small towns along the border so people wouldn't have to emigrate."

The plan marks a political about-face for Perry, a Republican seeking re-election, who has long argued that security along the state's 1,200-mile border with Mexico is strictly a federal responsibility.

This week, he said cuts in federal homeland security funding, a rise in reports of border violence and the crossing of Mexican soldiers into Texas about two years ago have demonstrated that "Texas cannot wait for Washington, D.C., to act."

Under the plan, announced on the eve of the state GOP convention, cameras and other equipment would be supplied to willing landowners and placed along some of the most remote reaches of the border. The live video would be made available to law enforcement and anyone else with an Internet connection.

Viewers would be able to call day or night to report anything that looks like trespassing, drug smuggling or something else suspicious.

The governor plans to pay for it all with grant money the state already has, and wants the first cameras in place within 30 days.

The Border Patrol already has lots of its own surveillance cameras along the border, but the images are not made available to the public. Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar did not comment directly on the governor's plan Wednesday, but said: "We are looking forward to the opportunity to sit down and discuss it with him to ensure that whatever is done will be aligned with the efforts of the Border Patrol."

Agency officials did not immediately return calls for comment Thursday.

Luis Figueroa, an attorney with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, warned that the cameras could lead to racial profiling and vigilanteism.

"This leaves the door open to anyone who has a vindictive state of mind or a racial motive," Figueroa said. "Anyone down there could easily be mistaken and falsely accused of something they didn't do."

Harrington said letting the public watch what is essentially a law enforcement search could be illegal.

And T.J. Bonner, president of the union that represents nearly all Border Patrol agents, said the plan could further strain the overworked agency.

"At first blush, it sounds like just another crazy idea that is going to overwhelm the capabilities of the federal government to be able to respond to the number of calls coming in and to the number of reports," Bonner said. "But there is a silver lining: It might just make legislators aware."

Bonner said it won't take smugglers long to figure out where the cameras are.

Connie Hair, a spokeswoman for the Minuteman organization, which patrols the border against illegal immigrants, said access to the video should be restricted to trained volunteers and law enforcement officials, to prevent smugglers from using the equipment to adjust their routes.

But the governor said it will be hard to know where the cameras are just by watching the live Internet video. And if the smugglers do figure it out, the equipment can easily be moved. "This isn't our first rodeo," he said.

 

[5stringJeff]

Not a bad idea, but Sam Houston's plan was better.

 

[William Joyce]

Not a bad idea, but Sam Houston's plan was better.

 

[dilloduck]

If nothing else it will make it real apparent that they come across en masse and easily. We still need boots on the ground to send em back--wayyyy back.

 

[Bonnie]

If nothing else it will make it real apparent that they come across en masse and easily. We still need boots on the ground to send em back--wayyyy back.

Dillo Im curious as to what you think of Rick Perry as Governor? I really like the way he handled things in his state after Katrina. I thought he was very strong in leadership then when many were not (he had his shit together) .

 

[pegwinn]

Awesome idea.

I will sign on in a heart beat.

Of course, minefields would be better.

 

[Gunny]

Awesome idea.

I will sign on in a heart beat.

Of course, minefields would be better.

:rotflmao:

A few claymores and tripwires in between?

 

[pegwinn]

:rotflmao:

A few claymores and tripwires in between?

Damn right. I would also go halves with any border landowner that maintains an electric fence or attack dogs. And using UAV's to map the high traffic areas so the arty could shoot fascams into them.

I'd run for office except that the camera adds ten pounds. Means I'd be six feet tall and look like 200 pounds of spring steel and sex appeal instead of my trim 190.

 

[Abbey Normal]

Damn right. I would also go halves with any border landowner that maintains an electric fence or attack dogs. And using UAV's to map the high traffic areas so the arty could shoot fascams into them.

I'd run for office except that the camera adds ten pounds. Means I'd be six feet tall and look like 200 pounds of spring steel and sex appeal instead of my trim 190.

I may have to drool just a bit.

 

[dilloduck]

Dillo Im curious as to what you think of Rick Perry as Governor? I really like the way he handled things in his state after Katrina. I thought he was very strong in leadership then when many were not (he had his shit together) .

He's a mushy wannabe who tries to make everybody happy. He got told how to handle things after Katrina and Rita. I can stand watching the guy talk. Domo arrigato, Mr. Roboto .

cameras for the internet. Fooey!

CLAYMORES AND TRIP WIRES !!!!!!

 

[Gunny]

He's a mushy wannabe who tries to make everybody happy. He got told how to handle things after Katrina and Rita. I can stand watching the guy talk. Domo arrigato, Mr. Roboto .

cameras for the internet. Fooey!

CLAYMORES AND TRIP WIRES !!!!!!

That ain't no "stuff." Seen his "See how great I am" commercials on the tube?

After that little shell game he played that amounted him raising my taxes like a Dem, my vote's in jeopardy.

 

[Gunny]

Damn right. I would also go halves with any border landowner that maintains an electric fence or attack dogs. And using UAV's to map the high traffic areas so the arty could shoot fascams into them.

I'd run for office except that the camera adds ten pounds. Means I'd be six feet tall and look like 200 pounds of spring steel and sex appeal instead of my trim 190.

Hell, I'd vote for you. That's my idea of policing the border!

 

[dilloduck]

That ain't no "stuff." Seen his "See how great I am" commercials on the tube?

After that little shell game he played that amounted him raising my taxes like a Dem, my vote's in jeopardy.

The bastard killed me. I rent so now I get to pay for everyone elses property tax cut. I outta walk down to his house and TP the mansion.

 

[pegwinn]

I am getting ready to build a place. So your nightmare will get a newbie in about eight months.

I'll bring the beer so we can cry innit.

Edited to add: Why can't I rep anyone? I keep getting the "you must spread it around" message no matter who I rep. I mean do I gotta rep everyone so that the ones I really respect can get the reps they legitimately earn? Please someone help a rookie out........

 

[Gunny]

The bastard killed me. I rent so now I get to pay for everyone elses property tax cut. I outta walk down to his house and TP the mansion.

WHAT property tax cut? You mean the one where he's going to cut my property tax $20. when it ALREADY went up $50 just this year? Thanks, Rick.

That's not to mention paying through the teeth in school tax so my daughter could go to one of the best high schools in SA. She's gone, the tax is still here!

 

[5stringJeff]

Your property taxes only went up $50 bucks this year? Consider yourselves lucky. Mine went up $110, and are now sitting at over $2500 yearly.

 

[rtwngAvngr]

Wow. a hotline. Journey with me to the theater of the mind.

"All our operators are busy, your call will be handled in the order in which it was recieved. currently you are number 7,890. Average hold time is 12 hrs, 52 minutes. Meanwhile please enjoy this prerecorded message from our president, "Fuck you"."

 

[Annie]

Your property taxes only went up $50 bucks this year? Consider yourselves lucky. Mine went up $110, and are now sitting at over $2500 yearly.

ARRRRGGGG!!!! Mine are over $4k! I have a 3 br, 2 ba townhouse. Single family homes are higher.

 

[Gunny]

Your property taxes only went up $50 bucks this year? Consider yourselves lucky. Mine went up $110, and are now sitting at over $2500 yearly.

No, they went up more than that. I just threww out an abstract number to illustrate the discrepancy. They actually went up about $300.