US Drones Will Patrol Entire Southern Border (Gary Martin)

A US Predator unmanned drone armed with a missile is seen on the tarmac. The US will today send another Predator drone on patrol flights along its border with Mexico, allowing authorities for the first time to monitor the entire frontier with the unmanned aircraft. (AFP/File/Massoud Hossaini)

Sept. 1, 2010 -- WASHINGTON (Sydney Morning Herald) -- The United States will today send another Predator drone on patrol flights along its border with Mexico, allowing authorities for the first time to monitor the entire frontier with the unmanned aircraft.

National Guardsmen will also arrive at the border this week as part of the Obama administration's plan to strengthen security and combat smuggling.

With immigration a critical issue in midterm elections in November, the President, Barack Obama, last month signed into law a $US600 million ($674 million) bill aimed at reinforcing border security, including programs aimed at countering the smuggling of drugs and migrants.

His administration is also pressing for a comprehensive immigration reform measure that would probably allow many of the millions of illegal migrants in the United States to legalise their status.

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