GOVERNMENT
Border protection is a very critical matter of nation al security. Complex border security programs existed even before the 911 incident, but after the attacks, the control of the nations land borders became a serious matter of national security in the US. It is very beneficial not only to the government, but also to the people as it restricts the entry of dangerous people as well as materials into the country. Border protection should be viewed as an accurate security of the nations perimeter.
It does not merely mean the development of a fence around the nation. Rather, it is a set of policies that utilizes the fact that people as well as goods are scrutinized easily after their arrival at check points. Talks of making immigration easier and fair should not be developed at a time when the borders are not secure. There are also very many people who are waiting for legal immigration in line and these deserve to be attended to and have their application heard in timely basis. This process is hindered by the numerous numbers of illegal immigrants who are entering into the country. Border protection is very important as it will stop the illegal flooding that is currently occurring in the country. Restriction of illegal flooding will help the immigration department in the screening for drug dealers, assassins, rapists and terrorists (Bullock, Haddow, and Coppola, 2006).
Is border protection considered National Security
As stated by Bullock, Haddow, and Coppola, (2006) illegal immigration is an issue that acts as a threat to national security. Undocumented immigration in the United States for the last about 20 years have drastically affected the economy. The social benefits from the economy have also been affected by illegal immigration.
Politicians are the other important group of people to consider in the debate whether border protection is a matter of national security or not. Local politicians as well as national politicians have entered a fray on this issue. Politicians have used rhetoric terms to depict the intensity of this issue. Some of the rhetoric terms so far used is like, to hear politicians talk about the border is to hear people talk of total chaos and anarchy. Politicians speak of the scourge of human trafficking as well as smuggling. All these rhetoric terms are used in order to draw attention to the issue.
Some politicians have still used the issue of border protection to build a political base. Some Governors such as Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico declared a state of emergency and blamed the federal government for being unwilling to put to an end the immigration of workers without documents. Governors are even using a lot of money to enforce the state of emergency as well as establish law enforcement agencies at the borders. Other politicians still have been advocating for fewer restriction on entry and more immigration. If this were to be allowed, terrorists would freely gain entry to the United States thereby increasing the cases of bloodshed and also perpetrating such cases in the future. Advocates for unrestricted immigration are only interested in business which demands for perpetual supply of cheap labor and materials at the expense of American workers and security (Anon, n.d.).
The 911 incident have been linked with border insecurity. The attack brought the nation to the realization that even the most invincible nation was not safe from the conspiracies of terrorists. This incident led to the advent of war on terror. However, this somehow complicated the procedures that had already been put in place to find a solution and establish border policies especially on the border between the US and Mexico. Strict border protection measures put in place limits the incursion of soldiers from other nations especially Mexico. Foreign soldiers who are often used by drug cartels threaten the US patrol agents at gun point. This insurgence of foreign soldiers is a matter of national security and should therefore be looked into critically. Foreign soldiers displace the border patrol agents as a plan of getting a chance to smuggle illegal drugs as well as humans into the United States (Smith, 2008).
Movements along the border allow spot lighting to take place. Failure of the spotlighting around the border was one of the major factors that led to the entry of 911 hijackers into the nation. The government through border protection units will monitor the types of goods that are gaining entry into the country. Digitalized Border protection strategies greatly enhance the movement of people as well as goods in and out of the country. Computer programs incorporated in border protection activities provide the knowledge of where ships as well as materials on transit are. This leads to greater ability to respond quickly to ship accidents (Anon, n.d.).
According Weiner and Russell (2001), the geographical setting of the United States allows for easier spotlighting as an effort of monitoring the borders. Very long land borders are however very difficult to guard. Considering there is no one major step that can be taken to keep illicit materials as well as people out of the country and that there is no analytical technique of realizing the most efficient level of monitoring capacity, border protection should be taken as a very serious matter of national security. Illegal immigration negatively affects trade and travel. This is one of the goals of tighter border protection measures.
Border protection that utilizes the measures of monitoring and regulation of peoples movement in and out of the nation plays a critical role in denying access to those without proper supporting documents. Border protection particularly restricts the entry of those on the terror list.
It is thus a matter of national security as it plays a major role in preventing illegal immigrants, illegal weapons, smugglers, drug dealers and other contraband from entering the United States. Dangerous people as well as smuggled weapons negatively affect the security of the nation (Anon, n.d.).
Bose (2009), states that Border protection has three main aims preventing terrorism, strengthening the national security, and protecting the citizens as well as the nation at large. Border protection prevents terrorism by restricting the entry of terrorists and weapons of mass destruction to the country. It strengthens the national security by preventing illegal entry of persons as well as materials into the country. Border protection plays a major role in developing a safer America through scrutinizing the entry of any person or goods. Border protection maintains both the security of the northern as well as the southern borders. It also plays major role in coordinating and making the efforts of various agencies as well as departments that are responsible for assuring the safety of the nation and the citizens more efficient.
In conjunction with prevention of entry of dangerous people and goods into the country, the law enforcement agencies plays a very crucial role in apprehending individuals who try to enter into the country illegally. Illegal immigrants pose a very big threat not only to the people, but also to the agriculture and the business sector. Illegal immigrants may introduce harmful pests and diseases to the nation thereby making the state to incur a very heavy loss in its fight against such pests and diseases. Diseases brought by illegal immigrants would therefore adversely affect the economic status of the nation. Dangerous people may also come into the country with intent of stealing. These people can steal anything ranging from intellectual to personal property (Bullock, Haddow and Coppola, 2006).
The US border patrol, the fundamental operational organization within the bureau of customs and border protection, has the mandate of protecting the borders. This agency after detecting illegal immigrants apprehends them. This cannot be effectively accomplished without the support of the government. The border patrol units play a major role as the drug interdict along the border. To minimize chances of people who plan terror attacks finding a legal way into the country and overstay their visas, the government should record real time from the US. This lightens the governments task of identifying and following those who overstay.
Lack of border protection programs would pose a very big security threat to the 12.5 million tons of cargo as well as thousands of people who travel around the United States through air. It would also pose as threat to those who are transported by ships. Each and every passenger goes through a very extensive scrutiny before heshe can take a flight. This process ensures the security of the public. This tedious process in spite of all the inconveniences makes one to feel that heshe is taking part in assisting the government in its fundamental role of preserving the security of the nation. The border patrol unit is charged with the responsibility of ensuring compliance of federal laws at the border. It is also charged with the mandate of preventing the entry of contraband goods and illegal immigrants into the country. The border patrol agents conduct inspection, examination, search of vehicles, individuals, as well as goods to determine whether they are being introduced into the United States contrary to the rule of law (Bullock, Haddow and Coppola, 2006).
Conclusion
Border protection is a very critical issue that has existed in the United States for a very long time. After the terrorist attacks of the September 11, border protection became a very serious issue in the government. Border protection does not only benefit the government but also the citizen who are guaranteed safety of their country. There are those who consider border protection as a matter of national security and there are those who do not. Considering the fact that borders act as entry points for illegal immigrants, weapons, drugs, and illegal goods, border protections thus becomes a matter of national security. There are those who politicize the issue in order to obtain personal benefits. Politicians want to acquire more powers while business men want to acquire financial benefits by vending goods that have not been taxed. Terrorists particularly find borders very beneficial to them as they can smuggle weapons of mass destruction into the country. If borders are not strictly manned, illegal drug dealers will smuggle narcotics and other hard drugs into the country.
Categories:
0 comments:
Post a Comment