A congressional watchdog agency reported last week that the effort to keep illegal immigrants from crossing the U.S.-Mexican border through the use of technology and fences is behind schedule, rising drastically in cost and offers no guarantee of success.

The General Accountability Office (GAO) report said the Secure Border initiative run by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is seven years behind schedule in putting in place the technology that includes a system of cameras, radars and sensors. Originally slated to be in operation this year, the date has now been pushed back to 2016.

The cameras, radars, command and control systems, communications and intelligence technologies are being designed by the contractor, Boeing. The system, however, has fallen prey to weather, mechanical an technical problems.

The Boeing technologies include software and hardware to produce a common operating picture of activities within specific areas along the border. The sensors, radars, and cameras are to gather information, and the system is to transmit this information to the terminals located in command centers to provide border with situational awareness.

The GAO warned that the effectiveness of the multibillion-dollar program hasn't been fully tested and that Boeing hasn't worked out technical glitches that have long plagued the project. Richard Stana of the GAO said that Boeing's technology hasn't sufficiently progressed. For instance, new cameras being tested still register false readings on windy days. Stana said many missed deadlines make him skeptical that the system will be fully operational in seven years.

For more on the border tech flaws:
- see this New York Times article

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