Border Security: Funding, Technologies and Enforcement

In today's ever-expanding global movement of people border security becomes increasingly important. Stopping the illegal movement of weapons, drugs, and people, while allowing lawful trade and travel, is essential to our nation's security and economic prosperity. This book examines the funding, technologies and enforcement used to keep our borders secure. Chapter 1 reviews the critical infrastructure, technology, and personnel funding needed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to enhance our Nation's border security. On January 25, 2017, in one of his first acts as President, Donald Trump ordered 'the immediate construction of a physical wall on the southern border. As reported in chapter 2, Border Patrol agents have rarely recommended building a wall to address the most commonly identified vulnerabilities - or 'capability gaps' - along the southwest border. More often, agents recommended additional technology and personnel as solutions for securing the border. The U.S. Border Patrol, within the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), has made progress deploying surveillance technology-a mix of radars, sensors, and cameras-along the southwest U.S. border as described in chapter 3. There is a wave of foreign nationals headed for the U.S. southern border. Chapter 4 discusses the impending arrival of what was initially called an immigrant caravan, which remains a challenge of U.S. border security. The San Diego-based group, Pueblo Sin Fronteras, or People Without Borders, has taken credit for organizing the effort. While they claim to provide humanitarian aid to migrants and refugees, what they are doing now is undermining the rule of law. Chapter 5 highlights the potential vulnerabilities in the visa issuance process. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a component within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), implemented the Visa Security Program (VSP) in 2003. ICE has since deployed officials to certain U.S. embassies and consulates overseas to strengthen the visa review process by working with Department of State (State) consular officers in reviewing applications.