Concertina wire could be installed on the border fence to the east and west of downtown Nogales, much to the chagrin of the city council.

The wire, made of razor-sharp blades attached to coiled metal strands, was installed on the fence separating San Diego and Tijuana five years ago and the Border Patrol is considering a similar action in Nogales.

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During his meeting with Lawson, Garino said, she told him that rather than place the wire on top of the fence, the wire would be installed about 10 feet above the ground on the U.S. side of the fence.

Lawson told Garino that the wire would act as a deterrent to prevent people from jumping the fence, he said.

“There’s been a lot of injuries - broken ankles, hips, and different injuries - from people trying to jump,” he said, noting that the Border Patrol’s concern about injuries was “understandable.”

However, Garino said, he has “concerns” about the dangers of installing razor wire on the fence.

“If somebody at night was to jump the fence, not knowing that on the other side of the fence, 10-feet high, waiting for him is the razor wire. I don’t know what conditions we would find that person there,” he said. “Is it better for that person to break an ankle or is it better for that person to be tangled in that wire?”

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The cost to the Nogales Fire Department for extricating illegal border-crossers entangled in the wire was a point of concern for the council on Wednesday.

Parada asked staff whether the city could hold the Border Patrol responsible for “picking up the tab” on healthcare costs for people caught in the wire.

City Attorney Jose Machado said that department heads could instruct their personnel to take care of the injured person without taking the person into custody, which would make the city responsible for the costs. He noted that the federal government is responsible for injuries sustained within 60 feet of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Read the rest: Border Patrol Considers Putting Razor Wire on Nogales Fence - Nogales International: News

Let’s see… broken ankles or costly concertina extractions? Deterrence, or more apprehensions? And who will pay to treat the injured?

You can see from the photo that Nogales is really one town with a wall running through it.

In this file photo from October 2012, a Border Patrol vehicle stands watch at the corner of West International Street and Hereford Drive in Nogales, one of the areas where the agency is reportedly considering installing concertina wire. Photo by Jonathan Clark.