COLUMBUS, N.M., July 29 (Reuter) U.S. border agents have proposed putting
up a huge concrete barrier in this small New Mexico town to halt a sharp rise
in illegal immigration and drug trafficking from Mexico, officials said on
Tuesday.

William Veal, chief of the U.S. Border Patrol in West Texas and New Mexico,
said the barrier the first of its kind in New Mexico would seal off the
land border between Columbus and Palomas, Mexico.

Columbus, a town of just 800 people, has become a popular crossing point for
illegal immigrants and drug smugglers.

The number of illegal immigrants arrested here jumped from 4,447 four years
ago to 15,612 so far this year, while drug seizures rose over the same period
from $2.3 million to $17.3 million.

Veal said the barrier would be made of cement blocks with small spaces in
between. He declined to give further details, but said it would not be an
eyesore.

``It would be aesthetically really pleasing. You can't walk through it, but
you can shake hands,'' Veal said.

But Columbus Mayor Carlos Ogden is opposed to the barrier because he says it
could damage the town's good relations with Palomas, and would fail anyway.

``Besides they'll just dynamite it or dig under it,'' Ogden said of the
proposed barrier. ``It's just a waste of taxpayers' money. If they (the
Border Patrol) want to prove themselves wrong, let them do it in Columbus.
We'll all laugh at it.''

He said Columbus and Palomas plan to create a binational school where
students from both countries could attend and learn about their history and
culture.

``We're married to Palomas and we'll never get divorced,'' Ogden
said.

Veal said the Border Patrol might also try installing overhead lights and
increasing manpower in the area to see if that helps stop the drug
trafficking.

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