
RANCHO ANAPRA, Mexico, May 18 (UPI) -- The fence along portions of the U.S.-Mexico border has made it difficult for human and drug smugglers to reach American soil, officials say.
The border fence is the largest and most expensive undertaking by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which took over border security responsibilities when it was created in 2002, the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram reported Sunday.
Tetra Tech, a California company, helped build the border wall near San Diego. It is close to completing a $12 million, 3.4-mile section near the Santa Teresa Point of Entry in New Mexico.
The project includes 53 miles of fencing designed to impede foot and vehicular traffic in the Border Patrol's El Paso sector, which includes all of New Mexico and two counties in western Texas.
Joe Romero, a U.S. Border Patrol agent in El Paso, said the fence will help agents gain a valuable advantage as they pursue immigrants sneaking into the United States or suspected criminals fleeing into Mexico.
"Five seconds can mean the difference between apprehending somebody or having them get away," he said. "This area used to be notorious for a lot of human, as well as narcotic, smuggling, and we've seen quite a dramatic decline."
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SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Feb. 13 (UPI) --
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake shook Costa Rica Monday and could be felt as far away as Panama, officials said.
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Adele cleans up at Grammy Awards ... New Jersey funeral planned for Whitney ... 39 million watched Grammy Awards show ... 'The Artist' wins big at BAFTAs ... News from United Press International.
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PORTLAND, Maine, Feb. 13 (UPI) --
So-called tar sands oil from Canada is "much, much worse" for the environment than conventional crude oil, a Maine environmental advocate said.
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UPI horoscopes for Monday, Feb. 13, 2012.
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