Boeing virtual fence for Mexico border on hold: report

A metal border fence stretches across a valley separating the US and Mexico, near Campo, California on March 17, 2008.

(Reuters) - The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is putting off plans for a "virtual fence" being built by Boeing Co along the Mexico border and instead will focus on getting a physical fence in place, the Wall Street Journal said.

The highest priority is to put out a system of physical fences and barriers that will keep people and vehicles from illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, Jayson Ahern, U.S. Customs and Border Protection deputy commissioner, told the Journal.

The physical fence is over budget and needs $400 million more than is budgeted, people familiar with the situation told the paper.

Boeing has struggled to overcome technical problems on its high-tech virtual fence, part of a contract called SBInet that also includes physical fences.

No one was available at Boeing or Customs and Border Protection for comments.

(Reporting by Sweta Singh in Bangalore; Editing by Quentin Bryar)