1) Describe the challenges faced by US Customs and Border Protection agents attempting to secure the border. Be sure to include:
What is the functional equivalent of the border?
What is the Fourth amendment exception as it pertains to border searches?
How are seizure statistics used to justify the mission of border security?
There are many challenges faced by US Customs and Border Protection agents who are attempting to secure our nations border, including their range of operation and the rules and circumstances around border searches. Agents are only allowed to operate on the border or what is called the functional equivalent of the border, which is "generally the first practical detention point after a border crossing or the final port-of-entry"
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This creates a challenge for DHS with facilitating legal border crossings while maintaining secure borders. “Terrorist threats have pushed safety and security to the forefront of Government priorities” (US Customs and Border protection, 2009). Since illegal activities occur everyday at border crossings, the security is heightened. It is very challenging for agents to distinguish between suspicious activities and legitimate activities. People legally crossing at points of entry and physical borders are subject to the same routine or possibly non-routine checks that are intended to catch criminals and illegal activity. And since criminals and terrorists are always changing their ways, agents must always be adapting their security measures.
In order to deal with these challenges agencies are adapting and changing their ways of conducting operations. Using new surveillance technologies, drones, thermal imaging, and computer data software among other technologies, DHS is becoming more prepared for the task at hand. They are increasing the number of Border Patrol and CBP agents and have expanded their Air and Marine operations. But technology and manpower only can go so far when you have over 7,000 miles of land border and around 95,000 miles of shoreline to operate on and
In our past history, The United States Customs and border officials have been focused on relatively common matters of enforcing laws regarding trade and immigration, watching over agriculture and economic interests from pest and disease, and processing people, vehicles and goods. After the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, the primary concern was the homeland security. The threat of terrorists and terrorist tools coming through our borders all add to an increased set of dangers to The United States. Is it the responsibility of our United States Military to defend our country from these threats? The following myths are often understood as true, when in fact they are not.
The United States Border Patrol has a mission and duty to protect our borders through regulating laws and preventing illegal terrorists, drugs, and weapons from entering the United States. This has been a clear goal ever since laws have been passed to help secure our borders back in 1924. The need for Border Patrol and the demand for tighter security plans have been increasing due to terrorist attacks on American soil, the presence of radical groups, and a high rate of crime in the United States. The big idea here is that as crime continues to develop so will our border securities. I would like to primarily focus on the current role of the Border Patrol versus what it might have been in years past. Many tragedies have occurred in recent times more than what was experienced years ago. The United States has suffered throughout the year 2000 and continues to suffer from severe threats to the nation. It only makes sense to make changes and tighten our borders in order to help prevent the ongoing crimes. If the Border Patrol does this than the individuals living in this nation will live in a better and much safer environment. Along with their current role, the research on the Border Patrol’s changes that either have hindered their work or made them more effective will be looked into as well.
Prior to the events of 9/11, for nearly two decades, America welcomed immigrations to our country with open arms. After 9/11, America’s ideals begin to shift pertaining to immigrants, our nation’s safety, and border patrol. America was left with great fear, post 9/11, and began to implement many changes in our border patrol and immigration laws. “In response to record numbers of illegal border crossings and the security fears triggered by the 9/11 attacks, over the past two decades the United States has steadily increased its efforts to secure its borders against illegal immigration. The number of U.S. Border Patrol agents has risen from fewer than
The U.S Border Patrol’s daily routine include conducting line-watch and sign cutting near international borderline where they watch for illegal entry of people, animals, or vehicles. There are traffic checkpoints near the highways where the officers will detect for
This paper will be discussing the responsibilities and duties of the U.S. Department of Borders Protection (CBP). It will be explaining if what the CBP do is effective and how so. Also it will be explaining how they prevent terrorist attacks and how they work with other law enforcement agencies.
The Department of Customs and Border Patrol has control over almost all of the illegal immigration policy (IIP) in the united states although the Coast Guard and a few other agencies have control over their own type of illegal immigration policy. According to cbp.gov, “ Since its inception in 1924, the U.S. Border Patrol has had a proud history of service to our nation.” Although more and more people cross or attempt to cross the border the U.S Border Patrol tries to make an effort to stop and
By placing the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), immigration is considered a national security issue by default. Whether or not the issue is treated seriously is up for debate, as the situation constantly is an issue in media and in political campaigns. However, border fences have been increased as well and the amount of agents with CBP (Andreas, 2009).
For illegal immigrants, it is very dangerous for them to come across. They are risking their lives and their families’ lives in search for work. In the deserts that they cross are robbers, murders, no water and no food. The AZ Republic (2003) estimated that in a year’s time, approximately one million people will get caught trying to sneak illegally into the U.S., and over 1000 will die. According to the USCR (2002), in July, Mexico began a campaign to amplify the immigration enforcement at the southern border. The called their campaign “Plan Sur”, and it was aimed at stopping numerous illegal immigrants from stepping foot into the U.S. After September 11, hundreds more were deployed to watch the border from illegal immigrants. Also, The INS has the border wired with high-tech gizmos and practically 10,000 agents to slash the stream
The U.S. Border Patrol started its service for our nation in 1924. Even though some changes have affected every aspect of the operations from its early days, the values, professionalism, honor, integrity, and respect helped shape the Border Patrol from the early years and they still remain the same today. Since the very beginning agents have been patrolling our borders, “Mounted watchmen of the U.S. Immigration Service patrolled the border in an effort to prevent illegal crossings as early as 1904” (Border Patrol History, web). The agent’s efforts were undertaken only when resources permitted. The inspectors were all out of El Paso, Texas, “Though they never totaled more than seventy-five, they patrolled as far west as California trying to restrict the flow of illegal Chinese immigration” (Border Patrol History, web).
United States Border Patrol has been around since 1904 enforcing and regulating laws under the immigration and Nationality Act. U.S. border patrol is now under the Department of Homeland Security, which was created as a response to the attacks of September 11, 2001. Over the years, their jurisdiction and missions have changed to better protect the safety of nation. Although border patrol is a need for any nation, their extensive acceptations to constitutional laws can often be taken advantage of. The mission of the U.S. border patrol should be to prevent illegal aliens, which are a threat to American society, from reaching their purpose. Frequently, their purpose can be confused or executed in a bias manner.
1) What actions prompted the border control offensive and made the issue of illegal immigration a priority?
One of those agencies is the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), this agency is a direct result of the 9/11 events and has the responsibility for air, land and rail in an ever increasing world of transportation. Much like other security agencies, their job is to ensure freedom of movement for trade and people while mitigating any potential threat to the United States. This is achieved in a multitude of ways from check points to undercover air marshals. The very nature of their mission requires a great deal of interagency cooperation, the TSA must works with state, federal and local agencies across the country in order to secure all its areas of operation. An example of this interagency cooperation is the inspection process a person must go through when arriving in the country. Airports and sea ports both have an immigration checkpoint that everyone must pass through without regard to US citizen of visiting foreign national. They establish separate lines for citizen or non-citizen in attempt to speed the process, however all passports are checked and bags examined for any potential contraband. It is these checks where interagency cooperation comes in to play. A variety of security measures on the non-citizen line is in place that runs checks on passports which is linked to databases established to identify those who may be a threat to the US or have other undesirable traits which would likely limit or deny their access to the country. Such individuals would be
Functional Equivalent border searches can happen under (2) circumstances: (1) the search was immediately conduct after crossing the border and (2) there is no probable cause suggestion tampering. This can have both positive and negative outcomes. Extended border searches are conducted when there is reason to believe that the person and/or property has been compromised and a potential threat to national security has been breached.
The topic to be discussed is about Border Patrolling. During the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Border Patrol and other federal agencies merged were called into a new U.S. Agency Customs and Border Protection. By tradition, the mission of U.S. Border Patrol has always been the protection and prevention of the illegal entry of aliens and smuggling of illegal contraband into the U.S. The federal agencies US Border Patrol is charged with the responsibility to protect the U.S. not because of the influx of immigrants into the country, also by the violence that has raged on the border with Mexico for drug trafficking and weapons. However they have to
The 9/11 incident crippled the American economy and its impact is still felt at present times. Following this tragedy, a commission was initiated by President George W. Bush and the congress to investigate the reasons behind the bombing and provide recommendations to help avert such occurrences in the future. Therefore, this paper discusses the impact of making the US border more secure, the rationale behind replacing the "need to know" with the "need to share". Moreover, the paper highlights the DOD's role the role in border and coastal security, its relationship with the Department of Homeland Security and how DOD supports civil authorities.