• Font Size    
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Border Web Camera Program Misses Goal

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +   
Jul 12, 2009 3:57 pm US/Central

Border Web Camera Program Misses Goal

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) ― Gov. Rick Perry's border Web camera program is out of money after a first year that fell far short of the goals for arrests and reports of illegal crossings.

An internal report showed that just 17 of 200 cameras were installed with a $2 million federal grant obtained last year.

Reports obtained by the El Paso Times indicate that nearly 125,000 people registered as "virtual Texas deputies," but those eyes led to just eight drug busts and 11 arrests. The cameras were expected to generate 1,200 arrests.

About 300 illegal immigrants were reported to the U.S. Border Patrol, far short of the 4,500 expected.

Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition chief Don Reay says the goals were unrealistic.

Perry wants another $2 million for the project.

(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

© MMIX, CBS Stations Group of Texas L.P. All Rights Reserved.