Proff. VenaWells only please

Border Security

Author

Institution

Date

Problem statement

The problem of border security is a swore wound in American policy making for a while now. Policy makers and law makers alike have been under constant pressure to pass laws and draft policies that will deal with the issue once and for all yet the shortfall increases. In the recent scheme of things, a humanitarian crisis on the U.S-Mexican south east border has been the center of focus for politicians and observers alike. Opposing sides on the issue have argued that there is need for border security to be revamped on one side while those in charge of implementing and enforcing homeland security policies argue that border security is adequate. If the recent crisis of abandoned and undocumented children attempting to cross the border from Central America is anything to go by, there is enough ground to call for better policy making to address the issue wholesomely (Boozman, 2014). This is to avoid further strain on the border security enforcement resources, which culminate into a failed justice system, as well as, a compromised Homeland Security.

The perennial problem at the south east U.S Mexican border has become a melting point of the American politics. Despite the deployment of sophisticated technology in the form of sensors, motion detectors, and cameras among others the problem continues to persist. The greatest fear is in the spill over of violent crimes such as homicides, drug trade and increase in illegal immigrants into the U.S. for more than two decades the question remains whether the threats can be neutralized effectively. The tradition in border security management is to increase and improve security in centers with large population and potential target areas for terrorists. This is the duty of US Customs and Border Security however some elements of border security have eluded the noose of this agency. Despite the doubled manpower and employment of sophisticated software in border management illegal immigrants still find their way into the US. The question that therefore lingers is the approach in border security the appropriate one?

The current situation

CBP uses a high number of personnel to control the borders but it has only achieved effective control. Effective Control is the concentration of efforts in areas where it is likely to apprehend a n illegal immigrant trying to enter U.S (Steinmetz, 2011). The problem with this approach is that despite the doubled number of personnel the agency is still in need of more agents. Additionally, there seems to be lack of proper coordination of activities between the groups involved in border security. As a result coordination needs to be improved. On the same note, there is a need to expand rapid response of the agency. The personnel issue could be improved by reinforcement of the existing personnel by National Guard (Steinmetz, 2011). Since there are controls of deployment of the National Guard on U.S soil the best approach would be to overturn these laws. Another way of dealing with the issue is to work closely with the local law enforcement agencies in gathering and sharing of information. The CBP could build capacity in the local agencies by further training and equipping the agencies with modern technology. This could drive the war on organized crime and illegal immigration a notch higher.

Response time is another way CBP can improve response to illegal border penetration. To achieve this CBP should facilitate the accelerated construction of outposts in remote areas along the borders (Steinmetz, 2011). The support of swift local response teams would also assist in quick apprehension of detected threats. This approach is similar to the one in use today only that it is more profound and practical in approach.

The problem of economics of border security has also come into the limelight. Some have argued that the costly affair of erecting the secure fence is draining the economic resources of the country. On the same note, ethical and environmental concerns have been raised concerning the secure fence. One notable challenge is the cost of the materials used to construct the fences. This factor has significantly lowered the speed implementing the construction of the fence. Initially the project did not capture the increase in costs of the project especially due to the needs of increased personnel and technology. CBP should therefore reassess the cost of the advanced secure fence in its efforts to address the border security.

The other aspect of the issue that perhaps remains untouched is economics. Failure of implementing effective border security has a negative impact on the economic welfare of the country (Mcneill, 2009). A better policy that could improve border security while maintaining the economic wellbeing of the country is Security and prosperity partnership. This is a forum that brings together the U.S, Canada and Mexico. This partnership can help improve the economic wellbeing of the partner countries without compromising the sovereignty of either (Mcneill, 2009). This means that the livelihoods of the Mexicans will improve thereby eliminating the need for them to illegally enter America.

Conclusion

It would seem that the shortfalls experienced in the border security management could be addressed by multifaceted policies. These are policies that focus and bring together the separate aspects of current efforts to step up border securities. Such a policy should therefore capture sophisticated technology, increased manpower with adequate training, secure fence, state-federal government partnership as well as bilateral economic activities. In the combination of the above elements, lies the solution to deteriorating border security.

References

Boozman, J., (2014). Immigration Reform & Border Security. Retrieved on 27th July 2014 from http://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/immigration-reform-border-security

Mcneill, B., J., (2009). 15 Steps to Better Border Security: Reducing America's Southern Exposure. Retrieved on 27th July 2014 from http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2009/03/15-steps-to-better-border-security-reducing-americas-southern-exposure

Steinmetz, T., (2011). Customs & Immigration. FrontLines: Improving Our Border Security. Retrieved on 27th July 2014 from http://www.hstoday.us/focused-topics/customs-immigration/single-article-page/frontlines-improving-our-border-security/b40bed68bf60f37b806f46f2573e6629.html