San Diego Sector (A-2g)

Deployment Analysis

Location: Campo, California – La Gloria Canyon (Zone 29) - .44 miles

Key Issues/Constraints:
• The La Gloria Canyon project area is located in the remote East San Diego
County and is approximately 2 miles southeast of the town of Campo, California.
La Gloria Canyon is also located approximately 3 miles south of State Route 94, a
significant east west highway that parallels the International boundary in San
Diego County and is commonly used for smuggling activity.
• La Gloria Canyon is located Zone 29 and is a moderately large canyon that
extends across the International border. The current Border Road that crosses La
Gloria Canyon is located approximately ¼ of a mile north of the International
Border. This road is very steep, winding, treacherous and narrow and prone to
washing out during inclement weather.
(b) (7)(E)

• Primary fencing has been installed on the east and west side of La Gloria Canyon
but there is currently no primary fencing in the canyon or on the eastern or
western flanks of the canyon. The existing barb wire fence in the canyon is in
very poor shape and barely visible in certain areas.
(b) (7)(E)

• The terrain directly north of La Gloria Canyon consists of deep ravines and
mountains with heavy brush. The smugglers utilize the ravines and brush as
cover while walking their groups towards State Route 94, Campo proper or other
northern destination.
(b) (7)(E)

• The area to the south of La Gloria canyon is designated as a development area by

Mexican officials and has been subdivided for future home construction.
(b) (7)(E)

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 (b) (7)(E)

o The city of Tecate, Baja California lies to the west and has a population of
over 100,000. There is a major highway that connects Tecate with
Mexicali which provides a conduit for smuggling activities.
• This is an area of environmentally sensitive habitat which is adversely impacted
by alien foot traffic. The La Gloria Canyon project area has been identified as a
possible area that contains sensitive habitat for the Quino Checkered Spot
Butterfly and the Arroyo Toad.
• Inaccessibility also negatively affects other public safety efforts to include fire
suppression, rescue and area policing to reduce cross-border crime such as bandit
activity and predatory violence against illegal entrants.
• Due to lack of access and terrain challenges, an expansive enforcement footprint
is presently the only means of patrolling this area thus subjecting agents to the
hazards of the area and does nothing to prevent environmental degradation caused
by illegal entrants.

Nature of the Threat:

• La Gloria Canyon is within Campo Station’s primary operating domain (POD)
and Campo Station has been responsible for 12.6% of the total entries and
(b) (7)(E)

• Since October 1, 2005, in Zone 29, there have been:

o 7 confirmed vehicle incursions.
o 9,097 lbs of Marijuana seized.
9,882 undocumented alien apprehensions
(b) (7)(E)

(b) (7)(E)

(b) (7)(E)

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 Alternatives Analysis:
(b) (7)(E)

o The current deployment provides an “Initial Control Capabilities

Established” border security status in the project area. This status is
accomplished with staffing augmentation from specialized operations
units and expansive enforcement footprint that extends throughout the La
Gloria Canyon area.
• Sensors – Sensors are a detection tool that alerts agents to possible incursions.
Standard ground sensors are currently deployed on the most frequented trails.
(b) (7)(E)

(b) (7)(E)

(b) (7)(E)

o The Sector Chief anticipates that the deployment of additional sensors

combined with the current deployment baseline will facilitate increased
detection capabilities but will not enhance identification, classification or
response requirements.
• Cameras – Cameras will provide some visual detection of persons entering the
United States and will provide limited tracking capability for a relative short
distance due to terrain, vegetation and inclement weather to include fog, rain,
snow and frequent marine layer.
(b) (7)(E)

(b) (7)(E)

(b) (7)(E)

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 (b) (7)(E)

o The Sector Chief anticipates the deployment baseline will facilitate

increased identification and classification capabilities, will aid in detection
but will not enhance deterrence or response requirements that the
pedestrian fence alternative provides.

• Mobile Surveillance Systems (Radar) – Mobile Surveillance Systems (MSS)

function by detecting objects within their field-of-view that are moving. Mobile
Surveillance Systems are easily defeated by illegal entrants who utilize
concealment offered by scrub brush, deep canyons and large rock outcroppings.
(b) (7)(E)

(b) (7)(E)

(b) (7)(E)
(b) (7)(E)

o The Sector Chief anticipates that the deployment of MSS combined the
current baseline deployment will facilitate increased detection and
identification but will not meet classification or response requirements that
the pedestrian fence alternative provides.
• Border Patrol Agents – Border Patrol agents are capable of detecting entries,
identifying and classifying the threat, and responding to intrusions, but can be
overwhelmed by the number of illegal entrants they confront. However, these
capabilities are hindered by the terrain and lack of access. Current deployment
requires the use of air assets and increased foot patrols which drain manpower, as
well as budgetary resources, and is not sustainable over a long period of time. For
an agent-only deployment to reach effective control of the area, agents must be
close enough to respond to the incursion, contact it, and resolve it at the
immediate border. This requires a very close agent-to-agent proximity and agent-
to-border proximity in order to achieve a successful law enforcement resolution.

The fiscal cost of such a deployment over three years is estimated at $28,800,000.
(b) (7)(E)

(b) (7)(E)

(b) (7)(E)

(b) (7)(E)

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 o The Sector Chief anticipates that the deployment of the additional 64 total
agents combined with the deployment baseline will enhance detection,
identification, classification and response requirements but is deficient in
the areas of executability and sustainability when compared to the
pedestrian fence alternative.
• Pedestrian Fence – 0.44 miles of pedestrian fence will deter illegal entrants who
are not physically capable of climbing the structure and significantly delay those
who may be fit enough to climb it.
o Bollard design (PV-1) built to accommodate anti-climb, vehicle stop
capability and 18’ height requirements.
o Estimated cost to commercially construct fencing, access road and
associated drainage installation - $2,594,550, which includes three years
of maintenance.
o As a stand alone feature, pedestrian fence cannot detect illegal entrants or
alert enforcement personnel for a proper response and resolution to the
situation. As a result, personnel and technology are required to
compliment tactical infrastructure.
o Proposed access roads and fencing will enhance operations by increasing
agent mobility and enabling them to tactically address the high volume of
pedestrian traffic in the area. San Diego Sector has requested a fence
design that meets both pedestrian and vehicle stop capability requirements
(b) (7)(E)

o The Sector Chief anticipates that the deployment of the pedestrian fencing
and supporting road infrastructure combined with the current baseline
deployment will enhance detection, identification, classification and
response requirements. In addition, the pedestrian fence provides the
necessary persistence of impedance requirement that facilitates long term
sustainability.
• Vehicle Fence – Vehicle fence deters and prevents vehicles from crossing the
border by creating barrier that vehicles cannot go around or over without
significant persistence. The 0.44 miles of vehicle fence in this area, as a stand
alone option, is not viable solution for the La Gloria Canyon project area. The
tolerance of depth intrusion will essentially be located near the access road, only a
short distance from the fence itself. As a result, vehicle fence will not answer the
time and distance requirement that addresses the volume of traffic seen in this
area.
o Estimated cost to construct vehicle fence is $2.2 million per mile not
including necessary road and drainage structures.
o Total cost for the La Gloria Canyon project section of vehicle fence would
be $1,258,400, which includes three years maintenance.

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 o The Sector Chief Patrol Agent anticipates that the deployment of the
vehicle fence combined with the current deployment baseline will not
enhance detection, identification, classification and response requirements.

• Best Technology Combination - An analysis of technology components was

conducted to determine what component of technology would be most cost
effective. Based on the analysis conducted by field commanders and the Sector
Chief, the most cost effective combination of technology mix for the La Gloria
Canyon project area was determined to be the cameras and sensors. This
alternative provides enhanced detection, identification and classification
capabilities but does not address the response or persistence of impedance
requirements.

Key Evaluation Factors:

(b) (7)(E)

(b) (7)(E)

(b) (7)(E)

(b) (7)(E)

• The installation of the technology, as a stand alone alternative, would not provide
the required level of deterrence or enhance agent time-distance response.

Recommended Solution:
• Deploy pedestrian fencing to deter and to significantly slow those who are fit
enough to negotiate the fence.
• Build access road to facilitate fence construction and upgrade for patrol activities.
• Deploy a sensor system on or in the area of the fence to alert agents when a
person or persons is approaching, attempting to climb, or tampering with the
fence (fence alignment is built several feet off the border enabling the deployment
of sensors to the south).
• Deploy cameras providing overlapping view sheds of the fence and brush clearing
to provide enhanced surveillance and compliment detection capabilities.
• Deploy visual deterrence systems (lights that may be activated by camera
operators) for nighttime deterrence.
• Deploy agents in a mobile capacity, patrolling the fence and responding when the
technology systems detect an illegal entry.

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Projected Results:
• Fewer illegal entries will occur resulting in a lesser alien presence in La Gloria
Canyon. This ultimately will minimize exposure to the dangers associated with
terrain and subsequent environmental impacts.
• The added tactical infrastructure will afford agents the ability to confront,
intercept and deter illegal entrants before entering into a more hazardous
environment.
• Those who challenge the pedestrian fence will require equipment or assistance
from others, thereby increasing the level of difficulty and frustration of the
criminal element.
• Long term effect will allow significantly fewer agents to maintain effective
control in La Gloria Canyon.
• Field commanders will be able to redeploy agents to new areas of operation to
address the shift in smuggling patterns.
• Fewer aerial assets will be required to support operations which will reduce risks
to agents and pilots and result in budget savings associated with subsequent
maintenance and fuel costs.
• Create the potential to re-allocate several million dollars in yearly salaries for a
one-time cost of technology and tactical infrastructure deployment.
• Increased level of effective control will be established.
• This enhancement is expected to raise the border security status to a sustainable
level of “Initial Control Capabilities Established” and achievable increase to
“Effective Control” with the proper combination of technology solutions, tactical
infrastructure and appropriate staffing.

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