Although immigration reform and the never-ending coverage of President Trump’s wall project is one of multiple debates, dragging on for what seems like an eternity, new emerging technology could shed some light on a compromise. And where does this potential solution come from? Somewhere far away, but a place that has quickly become a model for ingenuity and progress; India. You see the border between India and Pakistan, is a dangerous one, and not because of immigration. The tension between these two countries has been around for decades. They have fought four conventional wars since 1947, so it is easy to see why border control is of primary importance.
CRON Is Key
It wasn’t too long ago in 2016, India’s Border Security Force (BSF) planned to switch out its wire fencing for top of the line laser wall technology. The technology was developed courtesy of CRON Systems, an India-based start-up. The technology itself uses a hefty amount of interfaces to create the ultimate trackable barrier. The laser wall is comprised of laser beams, thermal images, receptors, and various infrared sensors. The fence itself is hidden to the human eye and remains invisible.
Although the border will only cover 40 points on the western border and not the entire 3,233 km India-Pakistan border, it does pose a question to many…Could this technology be used as an alternate to Trump’s wall when it comes to the border of the US and Mexico?
The Real Cost of The Wall
Although Trump’s wall would span from 700 to 900 miles along the border of the US and Mexico it would need quite a few resources to become a reality. Despite the wall remaining as a figurative mention from president Trump’s presidential campaign back in the 2017 election, as a solution to our illegal immigration issues, it loses momentum once you break down the plan.
When it comes down to the initial construction of the wall, the expenses range from 8 billion to 67 billion. The variability remains high with so many parties weighing in including one group of experts from MIT. All estimates aside though, this is something the American people would likely to be asked to dig in their pockets for. Although Trump insisted Mexico would be footing the bill, the Mexican government shows no interest in paying for such a project according to MSNBC. Additionally, the number of people needed to guard this wall 24/7 would be an additional cost as well.
Overall, the wall itself may provide a multitude of security measures, but what about using technology to help?
The Laser Wall Advantage
Part of what makes the laser wall so intriguing is the potential of enforcing immigration laws, without using any large concrete structures. The fence itself would have the power to detect when someone passes the border and also recognize the difference between a person and an animal. Additionally, the laser wall could offer potentially an effortless surveillance solution. With the lasers watching for intruders it could mean fewer people are needed to guard the border itself. This could mean less money is needed to maintain such a structure, without compromising security.
Let’s hypothetically take it a step further. What if we were able to attach drone technology to the detection system. When a breach occurs, the drone goes up locates the person or whatever caused the breach and immediately sends video back to law enforcement. These videos and images could also be scanned and used to search any database potentially identifying multiple offenders. You would have all the information BEFORE deploying personnel. I would imagine this would be quite a cost savings, and better yet, we would be able to control all of this from a remote location if necessary.
While the cost of the laser walls remains undisclosed, it causes many to wonder exactly how much this would cost if it was implemented in the U.S. Although the American people would still likely be the ones to foot the bill, it does have the potential to remain as a unique and potentially less costly alternative. With the technology of today moving ever-forward, we are being presented with sensible and humane solutions to current problems. I don’t think most people would argue that border protection is important. But how you do it, now there is something that we are yet to agree on.