The United States Border Patrol

In 1924, the U.S. Border Patrol started its service for our nation. Although changes have affected nearly every aspect of its operations from its earliest days, the values; professionalism, honor, integrity, respect for human life, and a shared effort, helped shape the Border Patrol from the early years and they still remain the same today.

The U.S Border Patrol’s main job is to prevent terrorists, weapons, and illegal aliens from entering the U.S. without identification. They want to make sure that the nation is safe from crimes and attacks that can happen from the South American or Canadian borderline. Border patrollers want to detect and prevent illegal human trafficking, drugs, or species that will cause harm to the country. They have to work day and night to protect their country from harmful people or items.

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 Border Patrol has existed in the United States since 1924, working to keep our country a safer place. There were some methods of Border Patrol that existed before 1924 but they were not professional or continuous. “Mounted watchmen of the U.S. Immigration Service patrolled the border in an effort to prevent illegal crossings as early as 1904, but their efforts were irregular and undertaken only when resources permitted” (Border, 2015). The patrol agents were called Mounted Guards and operated out of El Paso, Texas at the time. Records show that there were as little as

Never exceeding more than seventy-five guards, this placed them severely understaffed for the need of manpower, but it was reinforced with the help of “Military troops along the southwest border performed intermittent border patrolling…Texas Rangers were also sporadically assigned to patrol duties by the state” (Border Patrol History, 2015). At that time the United States government was more concerned with intercepting enemy communications than they were about illegal entry into the country. However, struck by the realization of how ineffective their efforts were to secure and patrol the border without enforcement between stations; Frank W. Berkshire, the Supervising Inspector, addressed his concerns of uncoordinated efforts in enforcing

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

Basing their mission on national security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sees to identify and apprehend criminal aliens and other removable individuals from within the United States, as well as those along the border who are attempting to enter the U.S. illegally. During 2015 ICE conducted 235,413 removals (ice.gov). Even though ICE claims to only detain and deport those who are criminals and threaten national security, ICE detains children, women, and those who have no criminal record. ICE takes part in racial profiling in order to determine who is illegal. In order for ICE to systematically support deportation they illegally enter homes, raid communities, and intimidate people and exploit individuals lack of education and resources.

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).

The United States should try to use more technology and less officers on the border to prevent less deaths. Unlike soldiers who are at times well equipped and armed in tanks, the border patrol officers are in trucks, quads and at times on foot. The border patrol agents are at a big risk while patrolling the border. The Associated Press, in an article for Fox News states, “Twenty-six U.S. Border Patrol agents have died in the line of duty since 2002” (“Border Patrol”). Twenty-six agents have been killed over ten years, it does not seem like a lot but it is. The border patrol officers are not fighting a way, they are not on someone else’s country, and they are on America’s soil and are being killed by criminals. “Brain Terry, 40, died in a

During a former era, 20 years ago, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement was detaining nearly 400,000 people in private immigration facilities and county jails, annually. California, second to Texas, was one of the states with the largest amount of immigrant detainees. These people were being held prisoners for being immigrants without the proper documentation required for being in the United States. During that time there were countless problems that our people faced, which led to a considerable amount of effort by the people to make it what it is today, a nation without borders.

Terrorists were the key to mass chaos in the United States. The northern border of the United States was one the longest unprotected borders in the world. The Northern United States Border was 4000 miles long. Furthermore, Canada receives twice as many immigrant as the United States every year. Also, when it comes to the law in Canada they were the most welcoming of immigrants. This was away for terrorist to enter into the United States undetected (Custred). The job of Border Patrol was to stop the flow of terrorists and terrorist weapon from entering the United States. This has remained the goal since 1924 when the agency opened its doors (“Border …”). Even with the size of this agency terrorists still make it into the United States (Custred). With poverty to the south and one of the most welcoming of immigration to the north the need to protect the borders were need more than ever.

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.

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 changed the structure of many organizations and agencies within the law enforcement realm. The horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 brought to light the many shortcomings our country had when it came to the gathering on intelligence, information sharing and the overall response and protection of the country. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 is a direct reflection and response to those very short falls. Under the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the structure of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) changed drastically. On March 1, 2003, employees from the U.S Customs Service, Immigration and Naturalization Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service came together to create the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (Staff, 2016, p. 1).

It doubled the number of boarder guards, made it harder for legal immigrants to bring their families over. The Border Patrol is the most effective and widely used form of prevention. It is an agency of Immigration and Naturalization, that is charged with detecting and preventing illegal passage to the United States between Mexico and America. The new immigration legislation nearly doubles the size of the Border Patrol. In addition, National Guard and active-duty armed forces personnel are used more and more along the border. Local police forces are also being authorized to enforce immigration law, says Roberto Martinez of the American Friends Services Committee's U.S./Mexico border program.12.

For border patrol agents the requirements differ. Border patrol which are also known as the U.S. Customs Border Patrol or CBP must meet general, training, physical, and education requirements similar to those of the police agents. The general requirements for a CBP include must be a U.S. citizen or resident under 40 years to be able to qualify for a CBP position. Those with military background or past law enforcement experience are exceptions. CBP prefers agents who are fluent in Spanish but gives consideration to those who have the ability and are willing to learn Spanish. The next qualification is that the CBP only hires agents who possess a valid driver’s license and those who can pass a background investigation and a drug test.