OBP006312

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection
PF225 Operational Justification

Report Date: 01/18/2008

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Project Fence 225 is a Department of Homeland Security initiative designed to provide

tactical infrastructure and technology deployment supplemented by a mobile law
enforcement presence. The deployment of the tactical infrastructure will enhance border
security and prevent the entry of terrorists and terrorist weapons of mass effect while at
the same time impacting upon human trafficking and narcotics organizations’ ability to
operate along our Nation’s border.

Project Fence 225 will augment current station resources along with future technologies
deployed via the SBInet program in targeted areas to achieve operational control of the
nation’s northern and southern borders. The deployment of the tactical infrastructure is
geared toward disrupting identified routes of ingress into the United States that are
utilized by smugglers and potential terrorists, providing RGV Sector the means to
formulate pre-emptive strategies to address these incursions through the deployment and
integration of tactical infrastructure, technology and personnel.

RGV border stations have identified several significant areas where a border security
fence will assist with achieving the mission of the border patrol. These projects are
known as RGV Sector Projects O-1 through O-21. These areas have been selected for the
placement of a fence based on the operational necessity in each particular area. Each
selected area has geographic characteristics requiring an actual physical barrier in
conjunction with the appropriate mix of personnel and detection technology.

SITUATION

General Situation:

PF 225 is designed to provide for additional tactical infrastructure deployment (border

fencing), to enhance current law enforcement patrols, and to coordinate government
enforcement assets and to address the high volume of illicit trafficking activities in and
around the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Sector. This deployment of tactical infrastructure
will target high traffic areas in order to enhance the probability of apprehension of
terrorists, weapons of mass effect (WME), Aliens from Special Interest Countries
(ASIC), Other Than Mexican (OTM), Undocumented Migrants (UDM), Human
Trafficking Organizations (HTO) and Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTO) from
entering illegally through the RGV Area of Responsibility.
OBP006313

General Concept:

The concept of the operation is to deploy tactical infrastructure while utilizing current
and future technological assets throughout the approximately pre-designated 70.00 miles
of targeted areas. It will provide field agents with real-time intelligence and a tactical
advantage over illegal entries throughout the operational area. This operation will
strengthen the Sector’s defense in-depth strategy and is intended to push the station’s
northern depth of intrusion as far south from the IBWC levee as possible, and with the
implementation of additional technologies will ultimately push operational control as far
south as the US/Mexico border.

Synopsis of Each Project

Project O-1 Roma & Project O-2 Rio Grande City, Texas
The terrain throughout the Rio Grande City Area of Responsibility consists of urban,
rural and remote areas. The rural areas consist of both farmlands with wooded areas
lining the river’s edge, and rolling hills that are dense in brush and cacti. The urban areas
consist of neighborhoods and businesses within close proximity to the river. Pedestrian
fencing would cover several river miles of urban area in the cities of Roma (project O-1),
Rio Grande City, Texas (project O-2) and the rural areas immediately adjacent to these
cities. This pedestrian fencing would cover approximately 3.8 miles of urban and rural
area in Roma, Texas. In Rio Grande City, Texas pedestrian fencing would cover
approximately 8.7 miles of urban and rural area.
(b) (7)(E)
OBP006314

Project O-3 Los Ebanos, Texas

Fence placement in this location provides additional security for the area surrounding the
LSE POE (b) (7)(E)

Project O-4 Penitas, Texas to Abram, Texas

This area consists of fencing to begin where the U.S. International Boundary and Water
Commission levee begins, just west of Penitas, Texas. The proposed fence will parallel
the levee until reaching Abram Extension Road. The areas south of the proposed fence
are primarily Federal refuge property and farmland. (b) (7)(E)
OBP006315

Project O-5 Granjeno, Texas

This project consists of continuous fence running just south of the Anzalduas Port of
Entry which is currently under construction near Granjeno, Texas. This fencing will
provide additional security for the POE as well as for the community of Granjeno, Texas.
(b) (7)(E)

Similar to the Pharr POE, the Anzalduas POE construction design consist of a long
bridge spanning across several acres of U.S. soil before crossing into Mexico. (b) (7)(E)

Project O-6 Hidalgo, Texas

(b) (7)(E)
OBP006316

(b) (7)(E)

Project O-7 & O-8 Donna, Texas

The terrain throughout the Weslaco Border Patrol Area of Responsibility consists of 39
river miles of urban and rural areas. The rural areas consist of both farmlands with
wooded areas lining the river’s edge, and the urban areas consist of neighborhoods and
businesses within close proximity to the Rio Grande River. The proposed location of
both fence projects will tie into the future Donna Port of Entry fence on both the east and
west sides creating a continuous fence line. (b) (7)(E)

Project O-9 & O-10 Progreso, Texas

The terrain throughout the Weslaco Border Patrol Station’s Area of Responsibility
consists of 39 river miles of urban and rural areas. The rural areas consist of both
farmlands with wooded areas lining the river’s edge, and the urban areas consisting of
neighborhoods and businesses also within close proximity to the river. The proposed
location of pedestrian fencing will cover urban areas near the city of Progreso Lakes,
Texas (project O-9), and near the rural areas of the Progreso Port of Entry (project O-10).
The proposed location of the fence will tie into the Progreso Port of Entry fence thus
creating a continuous fence line.
(b) (7)(E)
OBP006317

(b) (7)(E)

Project O-11 Santa Maria-Bluetown, Texas

The fence starts at the Santa Maria Canal and parallels the levee to Nemo Road in
Bluetown, Texas. The areas south of the proposed fence are primarily Federal and State
refuge properties and farmland. (b) (7)(E)

Project O-12 West side Los Indios, Texas

The fence starts at the Yellow Barn Road and runs parallel to the levee to Treviño Road
in Los Indios, Texas. The areas south of the proposed fence are primarily farmland,
dense brush and vegetation, while the areas north of the proposed fence have a number of
small sub-divisions. (b) (7)(E)
OBP006318

Project O-13 Los Indios, Texas

This fencing will provide additional security for the POE as well as for the community of
Los Indios, Texas. The areas south of the proposed fence are primarily Federal refuge
properties and farmland. (b) (7)(E)

Project O-14 Los Indios, Texas

This fencing will provide additional security for the POE as well as for the community of
Los Indios, Texas. (b) (7)(E)

Project O-15 La Paloma-El Calaboz, Texas

The fence starts at Cemetery Road in La Paloma, Texas and runs parallel to the levee to
Garza Sandpit Road in El Calaboz, Texas. The areas south of the proposed fence are
primarily farmland, dense brush and vegetation. (b) (7)(E)
OBP006319

(b) (7)(E)

Project O-16 El Calaboz-El Ranchito, Texas

The fence starts at Garza Sandpit Road in El Calaboz, Texas and runs parallel to the levee
to just east of Estero Road in El Ranchito, Texas. The areas south of the proposed fence
are primarily farmland, dense brush and vegetation. (b) (7)(E)

Project O-17 Mulberry Lane to Riverbend Resort Water Tower

Fence placement in this location provides additional security for the area surrounding the
Riverbend Resort and San Pedro, Texas community. A proposed future railway port of
entry will be located along this alignment. (b) (7)(E)
OBP006320

(b) (7)(E)

Project O-18 Los Fresnos Pump to PUB Fence line (west)

Some areas north and south of the proposed fence are Federal refuge property and
farmland. (b) (7)(E)

Project O-19 Extension of Palm Blvd. to River Levee Dr. (“Y”)

This fencing will provide additional security for the urban areas of Brownsville, Texas
and the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB) campus. (b) (7)(E)
OBP006321

(b) (7)(E)

Project O-20 River Levee Dr. (“Y”) to Veterans Port of Entry

Placement of the fence in this area is essential due to the fact that USFWS Cat Corridor
easement runs along the south side of the USIBWC levee near Brownsville, Texas. (b)
(7)
(E)

Project O-21 East of Veterans POE to Sea Shell Inn

The terrain contained within this area is agricultural, urban and marsh in nature. (b) (7)(E)
OBP006322

(b) (7)(E)

(b) (7)(E)