Surveillance Techniques

The role of the Border Patrol has significantly changed from the past when we look at it today. In the past, Border Patrol has lacked in technology. A lack of technology hinders the agents

In addition, he plans to triple the number of border patrol agents and increase aerial surveillance. Due to the rapid advancement of technology, Cruz plans to also provide the border patrol with state of the art technology involving new cameras, sensors, and monitors. Another solution proposed by Cruz is implementing a biometric tracking system at the nation's ports of entry. Cruz believes that “In the first 100 days of a Cruz Administration, those who have broken the law will be held accountable, regulations that stand in the way of finishing the system will be eliminated, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will complete implementation by the end of [his] first year in office,” (“Cruz Immigration Plan”). He plans to hold the DHS more accountable in general by reevaluating the staff and by working more closely together with the states to help enforce immigration laws locally. His second idea is to restore the rule of law

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

Borders between nations are, largely, used to control and monitor the movement of people internationally. One of the fundamental problems with the border control of states is their ineffectiveness in preventing and deterring people from crossing borders. The most notorious border, the Mexico-United States border, spans an area of 1,989mi (International Boundary & Water Commission, 2017) and has become increasingly militarised over the years due to the, ever increasing, influx of Mexican immigrants attempting to cross the border. The US border security claimed an 81% success rate in preventing illegal immigrants from crossing the border in 2015. However, alternative estimates suggest that the border security’s success rate was in the 40-55% range

The fact is the framework of the plan describes the proposals idea regarding this issue. To mention a few, it includes “enhanced border security efforts through the use of technologies like unmanned aerial vehicles, surveillance equipment, and improved radio interoperability, allowing the Border Patrol the ability to enhance monitoring and detection along the border to better protect U.S. sovereignty and halt illegal border crossings. Also insuring that the U.S. Coast Guard has the resources it needs, and instituting the cooperation between the Mexican and U.S. law enforcement with Border Enforcement Security Task Forces.”

To ensure that any program for the undocumented immigrants currently in the United States functions, the influx must stop. My plan would begin with investing in enforcement of current border fencing near populated areas and more easily passed terrain, where most fence crossings occur. A writer for CQ Researcher argues that the current focus away from entry points is backwards, “experts estimate that around 40 percent of the undocumented workers already in the United States entered the country legally through ports of entry and then overstayed their visas . . . halting illegal immigration would also require a system that not only tracks the entry of visitors into the United States but also accurately records the exit of every visitor” (Karaim). The statistics show that such a system would be effective, therefore, I would put it into practice. Securing entry into the United States from further immigrants is critical to addressing those already living here, else all other efforts are

A program in 2008 called Secure Communities was launched with the purpose of focusing on illegal immigration of “serious convicted criminals” (Esquivel, 2012, p. 1). In this program, the FBI shares fingerprints from county jails with the U.S. Immigration and Customs

As previously established, the United States, a country with borders stretching over thousands of miles, lacks the capacity to fully observe and protect every corner of its territory. Some individuals seem unmoved by so many undocumented persons entering the country, stating that “borders should generally be open and… people should normally be free to leave their country of origin and settle in another…” (Higgins 528). However, these proponents of open borders neglect to recognize that as hundreds of illegal immigrants cross the borders, the issue of terrorism and overall safety becomes a major concern. Without undergoing the proper restrictions and precautions required to enter the United States, these illegal immigrants could potentially be a major threat to the country. So in order to decrease these Terrisits attacks in the United States, we need to strengthen the border security. Because of the events of 9/11 and the expanding population of displaced people, the legislature of the United States has consistently expanded its endeavors to upgrade national security over the previous years. The Secure Fence Act of 2006, marked into law by George W. Shrubbery, ordered the development of 652 miles of wall along our Southern fringes. What's more, as of February 2012, DHS has finished 651 miles of obstructions. As per DHS, the quantity of Border Patrol specialists

A nation without borders is not a nation. Today, every country is putting efforts to secure its borders not only from terrorists and drugs smuggling, but also from the illegal immigration. All these recurring activities have sparked the United States to secure its borders against illegal immigrants and terrorism by creating a special department named the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS is headed by the Secretary of Homeland Security. After the terrorist attack of 9/11, terrorism and illegal immigration were two striking issues for the DHS. To solve these issues, the Department of Homeland Security further created two immigration enforcement agencies: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in year 2003. The United States has over seven-thousand miles of border to cover each day. The US shares its borders with Canada and Mexico. That’s why the CBP was established to safeguard our borders through the deployment of technology, personnel, and infrastructure. The US Border Patrol is the most visible of DHS’s agencies and is now touching majority of population than ever before. It has increased its strength to more than 21,000 agents, up from 8,500 in 2001and 4,000 in 1994(17). The primary function of the Border Patrol Agency is apprehension of terrorists, drug interdiction and immigration enforcement. The book ‘Border Patrol Nation’ by Todd Miller is a classic example of the Border Patrol

Krikorian explains about how we have improved our Border Patrol in order to regulate and insure that immigrants don’t cross the U.S. southern border. Local law enforcement has learned how to think like an immigrant to predict and shut down any attempts to cross without any of the proper paperwork, this has allowed law enforcement to remain so successful according to Savant. Illegal aliens will always inspire with new ways to march across for a possibility to live a pleasurable life. Savant states that, “the issue boils down to legal conformity versus possible starvation,” he defines that illegal aliens would rather take the risk of deportation than starvation. The U.S. Border Patrol is always keeping a watchful eye out in order to prevent overpopulation.

According to the CIS, the US Border Patrol has “improve[d] its ability to target individuals who threaten public safety, national security, and border security as demonstrated by the fact that 99.3 percent of individuals [240,255 illegal immigrants] that were removed met the civil immigration enforcement priorities”. This improvement has effectively deterred the problem of drugs and alien smugglers. Moreover, new laws have been passed that lead to the prosecution of employers who “try to exploit illegal workers at lower payroll costs” (Borjas 3). This move was essential to leveling the playing field so that no employer has a comparative advantage by hiring illegal workers. Currently, the US Border Patrol is developing procedures that remove the incentives to immigrate to the US: “the concept is that if foreigners know that they will not be able to get jobs here they will not come” (Camarota 3).

Government surveillance in the past was not a big threat due to the limitations on technology; however, in the current day, it has become an immense power for the government. Taylor, author of a book on Electronic Surveillance supports, "A generation ago, when records were tucked away on paper in manila folders, there was some assurance that such information wouldn 't be spread everywhere. Now, however, our life stories are available at the push of a button" (Taylor 111). With more and more Americans logging into social media cites and using text-messaging devices, the more providers of metadata the government has. In her journal “The Virtuous Spy: Privacy as an Ethical Limit”, Anita L. Allen, an expert on privacy law, writes, “Contemporary technologies of data collection make secret, privacy invading surveillance easy and nearly irresistible. For every technology of confidential personal communication…there are one or more counter-technologies of eavesdropping” (Allen 1). Being in the middle of the Digital Age, we have to be much more careful of the kinds of information we put in our digital devices.

In today’s online world, it is almost impossible to remain anonymous. With every website and service requiring a log in which stores personal information, and surveillance users are unaware is even there. Although this sounds like an invasion of personal privacy and loss of personal liberty, it has turned into the “norm” and most of the time goes on without even being questioned. In some cases, consensual surveillance has been turned into forms of entertainment. The average person online is very aware of the surveillance taking place, but it is likely they are unaware of the severity of the surveillance and the justification behind it. It is known that the main use of surveillance is to keep citizens safe and free from terrorist attacks

Implementing stringent security controls along the borders is likely to reduce the influx of illegal immigration into the United States. With the increased border security, the American government could have helped alleviate the occurrence of the 9/11 bombing. Though this strategy is essential in alleviating the influx of illegal immigrants to certain geographic areas, increased border controls in these locations have made other, less controlled areas of the border more vulnerable. Rising crime rates, discarded debris, increased apprehension rates, and growing public scrutiny in these less secure areas provide clear evidence that border security is at once a social, an economic, and a national security issue.

It was reported in the San Antonio Express News that “Border-Patrolling Drones Would Call Texas Base Home.” Lynn Brezosky reported that “U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin cut the ribbon for the launch of the nation’s fourth base for operating border surveillance drones.” This is important in securing the U.S.-Mexico border, which the U.S. has an approximate 1,933 mile long border with Mexico (Beaver). Brezosky also reported that “the Homeland Security budget called for two drones for Texas.” The new drones in Texas are another step towards securing the U.S. border with Mexico. On the other hand, the so called “border fence” is producing less than favorable results.