The San Diego Border Fence Success

The Chicago Tribune reports:

If there's a war being waged over illegal immigration, then San Diego's border with Mexico is its most militarized battleground.

Disputes over the success or failure of the buildup during the past dozen years can be as dramatic as its stature: 14 miles of double or triple fencing, a no-man's land between countries for U.S. patrols, stadium spotlights, and a secret number of sensors and infrared cameras.

For many local residents, the barriers have effectively halted the sensational events of the early 1990s when illegal immigrants ran amok in back yards and on freeways. Crime is down. Illegal crossings have dropped.

Good fences make good neighbors, as the saying goes.