A US state is to enlist web users in its fight against illegal immigration by offering live surveillance footage of the Mexican border on the internet. The plan will allow web users worldwide to watch Texas" border with Mexico and phone the authorities if they spot any apparently illegal crossings. Texas Governor Rick Perry said the cameras would focus on "hot-spots and common routes" used to enter the US.
The Texas governor announced his plans for streaming the border surveillance camera footage over the internet at a meeting of police officials on Thursday. "A stronger border is what Americans want and it"s what our security demands and that is what Texas is going to deliver," Mr Perry said.
The cameras will cost $5m (£2.7m) to install and will be trained on sections of the 1,000-mile (1,600km) border known to be favoured by illegal immigrants. Web users who spot an apparently illegal crossing will be able to alert the authorities by telephoning a number free of charge.