In June 2006 the federal government began Operation Jump Start, deploying 6,000 National Guard troops to assist the Border Patrol in securing our border with Mexico. Now, the number of National
Guard troops helping as part of Operation Jump Start is being cut in half and by September 1st only
3,000 troops will still be in place.
Since Operation Jump Start began, fewer illegal immigrants are crossing our southern border.
Marijuana, cocaine, and heroin seizures have increased—a reminder that better border security is an essential part of drug interdiction. Tightening control of our southern border may also be a factor in the lack of additional terrorist attacks in the United States since September 11, 2001. Clearly the National
Guard’s presence on our border with Mexico has been a success.
While the drawdown of the National Guard troops participating in Operation Jump Start was scheduled since the beginning of the operation, the troops were supposed to be replaced by 6,000 new U.S.
Customs and Border Protection agents. These replacements, called for by President Bush, would increase the total number of agents from 12,000 to 18,000. However, recruitment has been slow and continuing with the planned withdrawal of the National Guard is significantly reducing manpower on the border.
We’ve found a successful strategy for increasing border security. We need to advance it, not retreat from it. The President got the message and last week announced a new set of initiatives to combat illegal immigration. Having failed for years to solve our illegal immigration problem and protect our borders, however, Congress and the President need to keep the National Guard in place until we meet the goal of 18,000 border agents.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
The current immigration policy is seriously treated as a national security issue due to the rise of illegal immigration, drugs smuggling, and terrorism in recent years (Andreas, 2009). Preventing another 9/11 has been at the top of the agenda in all recent presidential administrations, which has made the immigration policy to fall around this issue by creating new anti-terrorism programs and initiatives that restricts the admission of person into the United States (Andreas, 2009). Before 9/11 immigration in the United States was a “Low Politics” issue meaning that it was not a top priority for presidents, government and state officials (Andreas, 2009). During that time the United States and Mexican border was just a mangle chain like fence with no border patrol officers and anybody could leave and enter the U.S. as they pleased without going through any border searches (Andreas, 2009). After 9/11 the issue of immigration went from “Low Politics” to “High Politics” to the extent that many presidential campaigns have run promising that immigration will be one…
- 640 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
America's borders are the boundaries between the United States and the rest of the world. The massive flow of people and goods across our borders helps drive our economy, but can also serve as a welcome mat for terrorists, weapons of mass destruction, illegal migrants, and other unlawful things. The new threats and opportunities of the 21st century demand a new approach to border management.…
- 1120 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
Arguably the event that transpired on the 9th of September 2001 transformed the lives of Americans completely. The days when Americans flew in planes without any threat of terrorism on US soil are long gone. In fact, terrorism has become a common vocabulary that most third graders are familiar with it. They may not comprehend what the word means, but they are aware of it and understand that it is not something pleasant. Fifteen years after the event of 9/11, Americans are not yet safe, but elaborate border security measures have been put in place to secure the US homeland (U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, n.d).…
- 902 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
What is a border? A border is a line separating two countries from one another. The border between the United States and Mexico is the most active in the world as well as one of the longest ones. This border covers 1,950 miles from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. President Trump has manifested his desire of building a wall between these two countries. On January 25, 2017 he signed an executive order to start building the wall. Trump believes the wall will protect the country from illegal immigration, drug cartels, and human trafficking. In reality, this wall will only harm the country in various ways. One of those ways is the logistical challenges it presents. Eminent domain is another harm it will cause, not only to the country but…
- 1774 Words
- 8 Pages
Better Essays -
The U.S. Foreign Policy with Mexico started in the early 1980’s Barack Obama, like George Bush and countless others before him, has declared that our immigration system is broken and in need of an overhaul although many people are asking themselves “what is he doing to fix it”. For the past two decades the United States has been pursuing a widely popular initiative that requires an ambitious expansion of government power in modern history which many refer to it as securing the nation’s borders against immigration. This is a major issue in the U.S. because the amount of illegal immigrants is taking away a large amount of job opportunities for the U.S. citizens. The problem hasn’t been just at the Mexican and American Borders, many Immigrants will find other ways around the guarded areas.…
- 1204 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
We notice that the United States encourages people from Mexico and other countries to illegal enter the U.S. by providing social services including free housing, food stamps, and other federally or state funded assistance programs without proper screening. Immigration reform will continue to be a heated topic with presidential candidates and voters alike. The border wall was not designed to be pleasing to the eye, instead to send a clear message to individuals contemplating entering the United States…
- 1454 Words
- 6 Pages
Powerful Essays -
In the name of national security and immigration regulation, the United States has undertaken a massive project to build physical barriers along portions of the border dividing the United States and Mexico. Yet, there is some disparagement surrounding the concept of outspreading the border fence. However, research has shown that border fencing is not only an achievable option, but is also more successful and safer than other forms of deterrence.…
- 777 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
million legal immigrants. However we have a growing problem of Illegal immigrants especially from mexico. Many americans think that this influx of -…
- 724 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Both Democrats and Republicans agree that border security is a definite step in the process to fix immigration. Reforms concerning border security would include adding more personnel, new technology,…
- 1213 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Immigration has become a problem in the United States in the 21st century because of the fear of overpopulation lurking in the near future. During the past decade annual legal immigration statistics show one million people entering the country legally, and roughly one million illegally. Data on illegal immigration cannot be accurately calculated because of the lack of enforcement and control of the United States borders. The efforts to reduce the number of illegal immigrants are not enough as thousands are still crossing every week. America needs to change their immigration control policy because there are many substantial negative effects hurting the country and its citizens.…
- 2226 Words
- 9 Pages
Powerful Essays -
“Any immigration bill must have enforceable border-security measures as a key national security element in protecting our country.…
- 613 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
people to flow freely through our borders. Illegal immigration is an economic, social and national security issue that needs addressing. With a controlled legal immigration system, the United States can protect itself and also welcome the best immigrants that the world has to offer. Not doing so subjects us to the lowest common denominator of immigrants, which cannot possibly be in the best interests of the country.…
- 111 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
First and foremost, building the border wall will extremely assist the US in reaching high levels of control. The US needs to be able to know who enters the country, how long they are in the country, and why they have the desire to enter the country. “Illegal immigration is undeniably a problem…
- 1135 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
The United States of America has faced the issue of illegal immigration for a very long time now. The Mexican border and the Pacific Ocean have been important culprits in illegal immigration, along with many other ways. Although some have taken the right path with entering the country legally with a visit visa, records show a majority have arrived and have stayed here illegally. ”Proponents of overhauling the U.S. immigration system increasingly point to the fact that about 40% of the 11 million undocumented workers in the country aren't low-wage workers who sneaked over the southern border illegally, but rather foreigners who arrived legally and simply never left.”(Murray 2013) It is really just a double edged sword, in one aspect the illegals…
- 675 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Illegal immigration into the United States is occurring at massive scale. More than 10 million undocumented aliens currently reside in the U.S., and the population is growing massively per year. On the contrary, the presence of so many aliens is a powerful testament to the attractiveness of America. On the other hand, it is a sign of how dangerously open our borders are.…
- 2141 Words
- 9 Pages
Powerful Essays