5 Essay Questions
jwiter
week_8_forum.docx1. Compare the similarities and differences between the external borders of New Europe and the U.S. - Mexico border.
The European Union concluded the Schengen Agreements in 1995, which outlines the steps the EU takes when dealing with their borders. The concept was to allow free movement of European workers to move and settle in any EU State. Part of it states that “Any person, irrespective of nationality, may cross the internal borders without being subjected to border checks.” [1] There is a stipulation that border police can ask for identification during “spot checks”. If there is a serious security risk to an EU state, that state can introduce border security measures but must inform the European Parliament and Commission.
While tightening controls of external borders, rules were implemented in the agreement such as types of visas needed and how the checks at external borders have to be done, improved police cooperation including the right to cross-border surveillance, and a strong judicial cooperation through a faster extradition system and transfer of enforcement of criminal judgments.
EU’s Smart Borders plan is to improve the management of the external borders, fight against unequal immigration and provide information on people whose visas have expired but have not left, as well as facilitate border crossings for prescreened frequent third country national travelers. [2]
Like the EU, the US and Mexico have agreements on SMART Borders to help ease the flow of people and goods as well as secure the borders by blending efficient border management with state-of-the-art advanced technology. Rules are set in place to help facilitate the crossing of daily workers into the US and those going to Mexico to work at US plants.
Unlike the EU, the US/Mexican government do not have a system for cross border surveillance cooperation nor can any US or Mexico law enforcement agency cross each other’s borders in pursuit of a criminal. Also, the US and Mexico judicial systems are entirely different which makes transferring criminal judgments non-existent.
2. Has your perception of homeland security changed since taking this course? Why or why not? What was and what is now your understanding of border protection? Fully explain your response using course resources and outside resources.
Truthfully, my perception of Homeland Security is a bloated bureaucracy which at times is inept, bad leadership, interagency non-cooperation, and political restraints. Although there are aspects of Homeland Security that have proved effective, the knee-jerk reaction of past and current administrations in the White House does not provide me with the confidence that this overhaul was necessary to the extent that it is today.
In the past, border protection had more to do with trying to control illegal immigration and drug smuggling. Now border protection includes trying to keep terrorists from crossing the border, protect US citizens along the border from the drug cartels which smuggle not only drugs but are in the human trafficking trade, and trying to keep the flow of commerce going between the countries without having chemical or radioactive material smuggled in.
Due to the overhaul of US agencies that now fall under the umbrella of Homeland Security, the expense of protecting our southern border has become nearly unmanageable. We have government agencies such as ICE that don’t enforce federal laws pertaining to illegal immigrants and states such as Arizona who are enforcing state laws while at the same time battling the US government in court over these laws. The US Justice Department sued the state of Arizona over its immigration laws, stating, “The state's measure is unconstitutional.” [3]
Border protection, with its sophisticated technology, barrier walls, increased hiring of border agents, and other resources dedicated to securing our border, continues to be an ongoing debate of what does it take to do the job right.
3. What has been the most interesting part of the course for you? Please discuss.
The most interesting part of the course has been the problem with illegal immigration. I have strong opinions on this topic as I see politicians not working together to fix the problem but instead trying to maneuver their parties to gain the Latino vote. I see the president overstepping his authority and for the second time issuing an Executive Order stopping the deportation of illegal immigrants while at the same time having allowed his aunt to stay in the US illegally.
Having researched the subject for the class paper, it came as no surprise that politicians in Washington can’t solve this problem because neither part wants to. I fully back states such as Arizona and Texas in their attempt to stem the problem that affects their states the most. When agencies, whose job it is to enforce federal regulations, are told to stand down, it’s disheartening. At the same time when the Justice Department sues a state to stop their right to enforce state laws and allow a foreign country to join in the lawsuit, I wonder in which direction this country is headed.
On the Mexican side, I don’t see much cooperation at all when dealing with the smuggling of drugs and humans as a corruptive government has been shown over and over again to be working with the cartels. Until the Mexican government decides to actually work to enforce their own laws along the border, cooperation between the US and Mexico will have little effect, if any.
Notes
European Commission Home Affairs. April 29, 2014. Assessed November 22, 2014.
Frenzen, Niels. Heinrich Böll Foundation Study: Borderline- The EU’s New Border Surveillance Initiatives, Assessing the Costs and Fundamental Rights Implications of EUROSUR and the ‘Smart Borders’ Proposals. July 16, 2012. Accessed November 22, 2014. http://migrantsatsea.org/tag/eu-external-borders-fund/
Markon, Jerry and Shear, Michael D. Justice Department sues Arizona over Immigration Law. Washington Post. July 7, 2010. Accessed November 22, 2014. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/06/AR2010070601928.html
