Several illegal tunnels used to smuggle people, drugs and guns from Mexico to the United States have been left open even though some of them were discovered years ago. The LA Times reports today that seven of the largest tunnels -- including the longest underground passageway ever found between Tijuana and San Diego -- remain unfilled.
Currently, authorities have closed the entrances and exits with concrete plugs but the tunnels themselves are untouched. Officials say motion sensors are in place to notify them of trespassers. But the paper reports that smugglers have gained access to the tunnels by digging around the entrance points. And at least in one case, traffickers have reused one tunnel.
David Shirk heads the Trans-Border Institute at USD. He said today that organized crime syndicates have stepped up gun, drugs and people smuggling through these tunnels over the past 15 years.
Shirk: Certainly, these tunnels represent a kind of illegal activity and a means to enter the country that we do not want to have along the border regardless of where you stand on the immigration issue. I think these tunnels are a serious concern for law enforcement and for protecting our borders.
Customs and Border Protection is responsible for filling the tunnels but an agency spokesman says officials are looking for money to plug the seven tunnels, an expense that could total more than $2.5 million. In a statement, California Senator Dianne Feinstein said the agency is huge with a huge budget. If the department doesn't have the money, it should tell Congress, Feinstein said, and lawmakers will find the money. Meanwhile, Shirk offered one way to cut smugglers use of such tunnels.
Shirk: The real issue I think is what we can do to reduce the profits that these organized crime syndicates are able to make by taking migration out of the equation and focusing really on the serious threats to national security that are caused by both drug traffickers and potential terrorists that would like to come across the border.
According to news reports, Mexican officials say their portion of the tunnels has been filled. But U.S. authorities here are doubtful. They say Mexico doesn't have the money to fill the tunnels.
