New ID Rules Look to Shore Up US Borders

$4.3M, 18-foot fence to extend into Imperial Beach waters

(NEWSER) - For some people, "from sea to shining sea" just isn't good enough, not when it comes to keeping illegals out of America the beautiful. The Great Wall of America is getting a $4.3 million upgrade at its westernmost point, at scenic Imperial Beach, where an 18-foot-high steel fence will be extended 300 feet into the Pacific Ocean, reports the Los Angeles Times . More»

Napolitano says no 'one-size-fits-all' solution for border

(NEWSER) - After four years, about a billion bucks, and lots of yelling on both sides ("Complete the danged fence," anyone?), the White House is officially canning the US-Mexico border fence, reports the AP. Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano made the long-expected announcement yesterday, saying that there's no "one-size-fits-all" fix for border security, and that the US would look for technology more suited to the rugged border. More»

Fourth to launch tomorrow from Texas

(NEWSER) - From Afghanistan to ... Arizona. With the launch of a fourth drone tomorrow, the entire 2,000-mile US-Mexico border will now be guarded by Predator B drones, according to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. And by the beginning of next year, a total of six should be operational, outfitted with night-vision cameras and a 30-hour flight capacity to allow them to detect drug and human smuggling, reports the Christian Science Monitor . More»

National Guard presence to be especially strong in Arizona

(NEWSER) - National Guard troops are headed to the Mexican border next month to beef up security along the border fence. As part of President Obama's new border plan, the 1,200 troops will spend a year in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, where they'll help border patrol agents monitor and prevent illegal border crossings, CNN reports. The troops will be a gap-filler while the border patrol hires and trains additional staff. More»

(NEWSER) - The Supreme Court has refused to hear a challenge to the completion of the border fence between the US and Mexico, Fox News reports. Environmental groups, an Indian tribe, and the city of El Paso brought the challenge, contending that a fence will cut off access to the Rio Grande for religious, cultural, and municipal purposes. The Obama administration had encouraged the court to reject the case. More»