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US Policy Toward Illegal Immigration and Border Security

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US Policy Toward Illegal Immigration and Border Security U.S. Policy Toward Illegal Immigration and Border Security: Summary and Evaluation Robert Alexander, West Texas A&M University abstract: Immigration has been a recurring issue throughout American history. Recently, American’s attention has been diverted from immigration from across the seas, to the immigration concerns at the Mexican American border. This paper examines several policies and studies about immigration. One will gain knowledge of the history of America’s immigration and the policies used to regulate immigration. The effects of these policies will also be evaluated. In addition, the reader will learn about potential policies that officials considered implementing, but upon weighing the options, decided against. Finally, the reader will gain an understanding of why Mexican citizens are choosing to immigrate to America. The United States and Mexico have been close partners degree the DHS policies have failed in preventing the il- due to economic factors and geographic proximity. Focus legal passage of immigrants. These policies have ignored on the relationship between these two countries often peaceful, balanced, and mutually beneficial solutions to centers on the border region, an area that experiences a the dilemma. The paper will conclude with recommen- complex history, and where Mexican immigrants have his- dations for resolving the complex problem. torically crossed in search of economic opportunity. Many When one thinks of the southern border, visions of continue to cross the border illegally by the hundreds of a rugged region, a wild frontier with dirty border towns, thousands. While issues of securing our border and stem- vast ranches, señoritas, banditos, cowboys, and violence ming the flow of illegal immigrants into this country fade generally come to mind. The history of the two nations in and out of our national consciousness, when they do and their people’s interactions date back to the countries’ come to the forefront of our political debate, a number foundings. After achieving independence from Spain in of strong emotions, beliefs, and perceptions confront the 1821, Mexico opened up trade to the North commencing problem. Arguments concerning national sovereignty and a flood of American migration to the border region moti- border security are complicated with racist sentiments, vated by economic opportunity (Truett, 2006, p. 36). In human rights concerns, and economic considerations. 1848, Mexico lost a significant portion of its territory to This paper will provide an overview of the 2,000- the United States as a result of the Mexican-American War mile border between the United States and Mexico and (p. 32). The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo established the the policies that affect it. Immigration policy is not a re- boundary line and surprisingly, economic activity con- cent federal concern. Change over the last 150 years has tinued to flock to the borders (Maril, 2004, p. 139). impacted the interactions and border crossings between Economic interaction between the two nations was American and Mexican citizens. After discussing previ- encouraged by the Mexican government from the Benito ous policies directed at the southern border and the im- Juárez period of reform through the rule of Juárez’s suc- migration issue, including the roots of the problem, this cessor, Porfirio Díaz, whose regime lasted from 1876 to paper will analyze the dramatic intensification of policy 1910 (Truett, p. 59). Despite the encouraged economic toward immigrants and border security that occurred growth, the border remained a violent region with tense under the Bush administration after the tragic events of relations between the Americans, Mexicans, and Apaches September 11, 2001. We will also examine the role of the (p. 60). While smuggling may be viewed as a modern U.S. Border Patrol and the deterrence theory. problem, it was just as prevalent in the mid 19th century The 9/11 attacks brought U.S. national security un- due to the newly established international border. In der intense scrutiny. This resulted in the reorganization the place of drugs and immigrants, tools, leather, furni- of the border security and immigration agencies into the ture, tobacco, and guns were smuggled across the border newly established Department of Homeland Security (Maril, p. 140). The problem with exploited immigrant (DHS). The goal of this investigation is to assess to what workers dates back decades with the mines in Arizona re- vol. 1 no. 2 PB&J • 1 U.S. Policy toward Illegal Immigration and Border Security: Summary and Evaluation sorting to the Mexican population for a supply of cheap The Law Enforcement Era was ushered in during the labor (Truett, p. 38). At the beginning of the Mexican Nixon administration, which marked a surge of conser- Revolution in 1910, the border was once again redefined. vative ideals that placed an emphasis on law and order This marked a shift in how the United States addressed (p. 11). In line with the trend, this era continued to place border security. During the conflict, officials north of the restrictions on immigrants and increased the enforce- border, disturbed by the violence and fearful of incur- ment along the border. A number of legislative pieces sions by Mexican forces, stepped up security and limited were passed to meet this goal. These included the 1986 entry into the country (p. 167). The Mexican Revolution Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), the 1990 affected America’s policies towards the border. By 1917, Immigration Reform Act, and the 1996 Illegal Immigra- it was clear that America had begun to patrol its southern tion Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (Guer- border in a new manner: Mexicans began to cross in in- ette, 2007, p. 247). The 1986 IRCA did take a somewhat creasing numbers, drawn by the opportunities available balanced approach to the problem by granting amnesty in the United States (p. 177). to three million illegal workers already in the United T. Payan (2006) identifies the three major eras of States. Despite that provision, the focus remained on in- U.S. policy towards immigration and the border. The first creased forces patrolling the border. The result was the of these is the Frontier Era, which lasted from 1848 to Border Patrol tripling its personnel from 4,000 agents to 1910. During this time the southern border was largely 12,000 agents during the 1990s (Maril, p. 168). During unregulated as Mexicans freely passed to and from Mex- the 1990s the Border Patrol implemented military-style ico. At the time, anti-immigration sentiment was directed operations along the border, which included Operation toward the Chinese through the Chinese Exclusion Act Hold the Line in Texas, Operation Safeguard in Arizona, of 1882. Of four immigration laws passed during this pe- and Operation Gatekeeper in California (Payan, p. 12). riod, the U.S.-Mexican border was not mentioned (p. 6). The purpose of these operations was to deter immigrants In the early 1900s, the border was further scrutinized as from entering the United States and to force attempted other nationalities began taking advantage of the area for crossing to more remote terrain where Border Patrol illegal crossing. However, Mexicans were not the focus agents would have a tactical advantage (Guerette, p. 246). of these restrictions. According to President Theodore The border patrol partially succeeded in their goal, but Roosevelt, the border was “closed to all but citizens and it resulted in an unexpected consequence. Because of bona fide residents of Mexico” (p. 7). This attitude stood the increased difficulty in crossing, immigrants were in stark contrast to the rhetoric and policies of today to- forced to take more dangerous routes in remote desert ward our Mexican neighbors. locations. This caused the migrant death toll to increase The next period was the Customs Era, which was dramatically. In response, the Border Patrol, under the influenced by three important events. First, the Mexi- Immigration and Naturalization Service created the Bor- can Revolution required more U.S. security and forts be der Safety Initiative (BSI) in June of 1998 (p. 246). While placed along the border (p. 9). Secondly, the anti-immi- the program has had some success, the overall death toll gration sentiment expanded to include Mexicans, who reflected little change (p. 260). were now seen as “foreigners.” This helps to explain the In order to comprehend the problem of the border, continued closing of the border (p. 10). The Bisbee De- one must recognize the factors that bring Mexicans to portation of 1917 exemplifies this attitude. Twelve hun- America illegally. Additionally one must understand the dred striking mine workers, the majority of whom were attitudes of Americans and Mexicans. Every day along the Mexicans, were rounded up and deported across the bor- Mexican side of the border, buses carry loads of Hispanic der (Truett, p. 174). As part of the increased restrictions workers to within walking distance of U.S. soil. The in- on the border, the U.S. Congress established the Border tention is obvious: To cross and find work in the United Patrol in 1924 as part of the immigration service (Lovalo, States (Maril, 2004, p. 133). Payan reaffirms this notion: 2008, p. 20). The end of World War II was the third force “Mexican migration both to Northern Mexico and to the that influenced the Customs Era and continued the trend United States is almost entirely motivated by economics” of increased separation and enforcement along the bor- (p. 61). In the first years of U.S. existence, the nation’s sur- der (Payan, p. 11). According to Payan, “This drove a vival depended on the waves of immigrants that came in wedge between the two countries, driving home the search of economic opportunity. The situation was mu- economic disparities that have marked the border to this tually beneficial (Jackson Lee, 2006, p.
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