In the ongoing battle to secure the country, a new border fence now sits in the Imperial County sand dunes. Border patrol says it cost nearly $40 million to build. But unlike other fences this one can actually "float."

It's called a floating fence and border patrol says the design ensures that the barrier isn't swallowed up by the desert. At 15 feet high and stretching nearly 7 miles long, the steal fence separates the U.S. from Mexico. But, Agent Michael Espinoza said unlike other border fences, this one moves.

"It's just amazing, the concept of a floating fence here in the sand dunes that can just be picked up and settled back down," Espinoza said.

It's known as the floating fence, and it sits along a stretch of border in California's Imperial County sand dunes. The concept is simple. As sand builds up along its edges, sections of fence can be lifted by a machine and placed back on top of the sand, so the fence never loses its height.

"I personally have never seen a fence like this before," Espinoza said.

Agent Espinoza says the floating fence is the only one of its kind in the Yuma sector. To build, border patrol says the fence cost $6 million per mile. Since it was complete about three months ago, border patrol's reports a drop drug smuggling attempts and illegal immigrants, and agents credit that to the new fence.

"It would be very hectic for our agents to handle that traffic, and now that the fence is up, they have more time," Espinoza said.

Border patrol says there is a similar floating fence in the El Centro sector.