Despite a Flood of Federal Resources, Border Security Still an Issue
Very good article on the progress of our national response to one of America’s greatest security threats, 6,000 miles of largely undefended borders.
~~John Cronin~~
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,407524,00.html
SEATTLE — For years America’s northern and southern borders — 5,938 miles of dense forest and open land — were fair game for drug dealers and illegal immigrants looking to sneak into the U.S. That was before September 11, 2001.
After the 9/11 terror attacks, securing America’s borders became a national priority, says Jay Ahern, deputy commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“There was an absolute shift in thinking about the border, from drug interdiction, alien interdiction, criminal interdiction at our borders to one of national security,” Ahern said.
In the last seven years there has been a huge expenditure of money and resources to prevent an attack on America from the north or south.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was formed and, under it, Border Patrol was flooded with new resources.
By the end of this year, the number of agents patrolling the border is expected to be 18,000, double what it was eight years ago. About 338 miles of fence have been built in the south, and more is planned.
The Border Patrol has 267 aircraft — the largest non-military air force in the world — and four unmanned Predator B aircraft to watch the border.
And now all cargo is screened before it gets to the U.S., and shipments deemed high-risk are checked upon entry.
According to federal immigration statistics, fewer people are trying to cross into the U.S. and arrests of illegals dropped 20 percent last year and 8 percent in 2006.
Despite the improvements, critics say the U.S. is not close to securing the border, and not close to being safe.
“It would be so easy to come in here,” said Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minuteman Project, a group of volunteers who patrol the Canadian and Mexican borders. “There is literally no protection. There are some border patrol agents, but at night, I could assure you I could go into Mexico and return to the United States carrying a suitcase nuke.”
August 20th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
First - Thanks for helping to keep this issue alive. Seems that ever since Mitt dropped out of the race (after Tom Tancredo also) the issue has sputtered out. We need guys like John riminding us what’s going on!
Second - in the Fox report it says the Border Patrol has the largest non-military Air Force in the world. Mmmm, not quite. Last I checked, the volunteer Civil Air Patrol (http://www.cap.gov) has over 500 aircraft. They are well known for their search & rescue efforts, but they also perform border patrol, homeland security, disaster relief, and other missions while also running a youth cadet program. Although you could say they are still US Air Force since they are the USAF Auxiliary, but they’re only an “Air Force” assett part-time.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
It seems like the issues that are important to Americans change with the tide. I think a lot of it has to do with the media and how the issues facing our country our covered.
One thing that is disturbing me about JM is he is big into the climate change issue aka Global Warming. They are ready to spend lots of money on this and I think the money could be better spent.
JM is not talking about illegal immigration and once in office he will be talking amnesty.