Over the years, border security, particularly the U.S. southern border, has been a critical aspect of the U.S. national security focus. The border mentioned above is a boundary that divides the U.S. and Mexico. The border mentioned above traverses various terrains, and according to Baumgartner (2015), it is the world's most frequently crossed border with a documented crossing of around 990 million every year and a significant number of undocumented crossings. Baumgartner (2015) further indicates that there are approximately half-a-million unauthorized entries in the U.S. annually. For instance, during the year 2012, the agents of border patrol made arrests of over 370,000 undocumented individuals. Although the United States is in support of immigration, the significant increases in undocumented immigration paint border-crossing negatively. Furthermore, Cutler (2017) associates undocumented immigration with the considerable increases in illegal trafficking of contraband, weapons, drugs, and humans and the incidences of terrorism in the country. There is, therefore, an increasing need to implement strategies that aim to ensure the security of the southern border. The paper presents an analysis of the options or approaches that ought to be considered to ensure that the border is secure.
To ensure that the border is secure, the U.S. government should employ strategies that seek to ensure the proper renovation of ports and the adequate staffing of employees. According to Sliney (2016), the substantial amounts of illegal drugs, for instance, cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin that cross the southern border, do so at the "entry ports." "Entry ports" are usually overwhelmed, and one typically takes one to two waiting hours on vehicle lines before entering the U.S. Furthermore, Sliney (2016) reports the unmet needs of the U.S. ports; these ports are typified by dilapidated infrastructure. In his study, the Sliney (2016) reveals that the D.H.S. (Department of Homeland Security), in a 2016 report, identified the ports' renovation and construction needs, which amounted to approximately $5 billion; this figure incorporates some non-Mexico-US border ports. Garret (2018) further identifies understaffing as a primary factor that impacts the C.B.P. Office of Field Operations' capacity to control illegal activities along the border, for instance, drug and human trafficking. Future investments in infrastructure ought to focus mainly on the "ports of entry" to ensure that there is an improved level of security and a significant reduction in the waiting hours at the border (Garret, 2018). The government should also encourage the involvement of the private sector in advancing the infrastructure within the boundary. The above strategies will not only play a crucial role in saving the resources of the government; it will also foster the private sector’s capacity to utilize its creativity and knowledge to design commerce and security-friendly infrastructure. The government can employ various strategies that encourage the involvement of the private sector. For instance, the government can expand the SAFETY Act (Garret, 2018). Proper staffing of these employees is also essential in ensuring the proper functioning of the ports of entry.
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Secondly, the government should ensure the proper training of border security personnel by expanding raining capacities, develop alternative training avenues, and utilize contractors to provide or offer additional workforce (Baumgartner, 2015). Training border agents is essential; it aids in maintaining the agents' safety, fostering the agents' capacity to comprehend and accomplish their missions, and in minimizing liability. The C.B.P. ought to ensure that all its agents receive quality training. Furthermore, Congress ought to provide additional funds to enhance the proper training of border agents. The government should provide funds for developing new classrooms, firing ranges, physical fitness, and training facilities at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and Border Facilities. According to Cutler (2017), employing contractors is an appropriate approach for increasing the workforce within the borders. Contractors can execute virtually any security mission within the borders; this includes law enforcement duties, or they assume the roles of screening and polygraph administrators.
Also, the government should employ various technologies that ensure the efficacy of different border security practices. When considering the implementation of various technological aids, Sliney (2016) underscores the need for the government to consider the implementation of SBI net ; this equipment can offer security within the border regions, particularly in regions where physical fencing is impossible. However, the government ought to ensure that the issues associated with the pilot program don't emerge or become prevalent in the course of the permanent construction of the project phases. Congress can facilitate the SBI net ’s success by ensuring the full funding of the SBI net project (Kiekintveld, Juett, & Guitierrez, 2013). According to Wein, Liu, and Matskin (2015), the SBInet’s capacity to function appropriately depends largely on the availability of adequate resources. In the past, Congress has diverted some of the funds meant for SBI net 's development to physical fencing, an action that could delay the implementation of the aforementioned technology and cost the government more time and money.
Fourthly, there is an increasing need to reform the congressional oversight of the Homeland Security Department. Currently, around eighty-eight commissions, subcommittees, and committees have a significant level of oversight over the D.H.S. The oversight has led the U.S. Congress to convey conflicting information to the D.H.S. Wein, Liu and Motskin (2015) indicate that the C.B.P., being a part of the D.H.S., has encountered mixed conveyance of information in its effort to implement programs and policies at the border. To resolve this issue, Congress ought to ensure that they offer a more transparent oversight to ensure that both the D.H.S. officials and contractors implement the appropriate measures at the border. The Congress should also consolidate the Homeland Security's oversight into at least four primary committees (2 in the Senate and 2 in the House). The D.H.S. and Congress can function together to create a smart border approach without interfering with the sovereignty of America by making sure that the C.B.P. answers to a limited number of committees that are all committed to the homeland security (Cutler, 2017).
Additionally, the D.H.S., local government, and state government can enter into or establish assistance compacts under section 287 (g) of the I.N.A. Garret (2018) indicates that the D.H.S. and Congress ought to promote these entities' (local and state government) involvement in 287 (g) as a strategy to strengthen the proposed program. Garret (2018) argues that the D.H.S. is incapable of demanding the participation of the local and state government under 287 (g); however, the Congress can ensure that the states are knowledgeable about this particular option. The D.H.S. can develop and execute a marketing strategy aimed at informing states about the program and endorse the countrywide implementation of the I.N.A. as mentioned earlier Section. Sliney (2016) further argues that the establishment of a national center for lessons learned and best practices and mandating the D.H.S. to present a report to the Congress yearly on the progress of the program will play a crucial role in ensuring the continued success of Section 287 (g). Kiekintveld, Juett, and Guitierrez (2013) further propose the expansion of the Border Enforcement Security Taskforces of the D.H.S. by including Section 287 (g).
Lastly, Congress can encourage or endorse the development of State Defense Forces by states; this is the most effective way to minimize liability and safety ramifications. According to Garret (2018), State Defense Forces are volunteer organizations committed to helping the federal government to execute various activities such as border control. Congress ought to necessitate the involvement of the Department of Defense and the D.H.S. in encouraging the formation of State Defense Forces by the Border States. Cutler (2017) indicates that the formation of the S.D.F.s will play a crucial role in developing the team effort around the border by increasing the availability of resources. States are not obliged to form S.D.F.s, and, therefore, they may be reluctant to implement this strategy without the guidance and support of the D.H.S.
In conclusion, there is an increasing need to implement strategies that seek to secure the southern border. The southern border is the world’s most frequently crossed border with a documented crossing of around 990 million every year and a significant number of undocumented immigrations. Although the United States is in support of immigration, the significant increases in undocumented immigration compromise the country’s security; it triggers the illegal trafficking of contraband, weapons, drugs, and humans and the incidences of terrorism in the country. Some of the proposed strategies to ensure border security include the proper staffing and renovation of ports, proper training of border security personnel, employment of the necessary technologies that ensure safety, and the involvement of state and local governments in border security.
References
Baumgartner, A. L. (2015). The Line of Positive Safety: Borders and Boundaries in the Rio Grande Valley, 1848-880. Journal of American History , 101(4), 1106–1122.
Cutler, J. A. (2017). The New Border. College Literature , 44(4), 498–504.
Garrett, T. M. (2018). An analysis of U.S. Custom and Border Protection’s tripartite Mexico border security policy. Annales. Etyka w Zyciu Gospodarczym , 21(4), 89–111.
Kiekintveld C., Juett J., & Gutierrez E., (2013). Generating Effective Patrol Strategies to Enhance U.S. Border Security. Journal of Strategic Security , 6(3), 152 - 159.
Sliney, S. A. (2016). Use of the National Guard on the U.S.-Mexico Border to Quell Border Security Concerns: Increase Coordination between Border States and Federal Government by Expanding 32 U.S.C. § 112 to Encompass Immigration Issues. Indiana Law Review , 49(3), 693–711.
Wein, L. M., Liu, Y., & Motskin, A. (2015). Analyzing the Homeland Security of the U.S.-Mexico Border. Risk Analysis: An International Journal , 29(5), 699–713.
