Congress must stop waste of Ariz. Homeland Security funding

Given the nature of bureaucracies and the vast amount of money being poured into the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, it's hardly a surprise that some of those funds are being wasted.

But the disclosure by a top regional official for the agency that up to $60 million intended to beef up wireless communications along Arizona's border has all been sopped by the bureaucracy is both stunning and outrageous.

At a time when carefully controlling access to the United States must be our nation's top priority, every dollar appropriated by Congress for homeland security must get where it's intended to go — especially since our southern border is as porous as ever.

And that means making life tougher for those trying to gain illegal access to this country — not making life easier for bureaucrats.

As the Tribune's Mark Flatten reported on Sunday, Charles Cape, the Southwest zone manager for the department's integrated wireless network program, got so fed up with the diversion of funds from actually improving border security that he decided to go public. It's a courageous move, and one we sincerely hope will be rewarded with positive action from Homeland Security officials, not retribution.

Cape told Flatten that he has been trying since he took over the post in June 2004 to get funding appropriated by Congress to implement several proven border surveillance and communications systems that would go a long way toward plugging the gaping holes. “I've not seen one dollar since I've been here,” Cape told Flatten. “There's nothing. They've sucked it all up at headquarters.”

One promising technology that Cape wants to put in place along the border is already in use by the U.S. Marine Corps to detect humans who enter the Barry M. Goldwater Range in southern Arizona so they can be removed before the Marines drop bombs on the range. This technology works. Not only does it save lives, it intercepts many illegal immigrants who happen to cross at that point.

Imagine putting such sophisticated detection technology in place all along the border, and beefing up communications so the Border Patrol could swiftly intercept illegal border crossers. It would vastly reduce the flow of illegals that has raised public frustration and concern in recent years. Yes, most of those slipping across the border are doing so for a better life, not to do us harm. But if they can get across in large numbers with relative ease, terrorists are likely to use the same route.

U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz., told Flatten he was deeply concerned about Cape's claims, and would look into them. Several other members of Arizona's congressional delegation indicated in writing that they would do the same.

We're anxious to see what they find.