Discussion Post 1
1) Is current immigration policy seriously treated as a national security issue? How was it treated prior to September 11th?
2) Was lax border enforcement the only factor that caused the September 11, 2001, attack?
3) What does open, but closed borders mean?
After reading the assigned material, I have come to some pretty harsh realizations concerning immigration policy and how it relates to national security both pre and post 9/11. Up until taking this course, I paid only a passing interest to border security. I had some rather broad opinions on its impact on the border states, the enforcement agencies responsible for patrolling the borders, and the porous nature of the seemingly impossibility of accomplishing this task along 2,000 miles of mostly rough terrain.
I feel that national security is treated seriously by current immigration policies, but is severely hamstrung by politics and a mind boggling bureaucracy. After reading the Time article “Who left the door open”, it is clear the agents responsible for patrolling the border are convinced border security, or the lack of, greatly threatens America’s interests. While the majority of illegal immigrants crossing the border seem to be harmless in a violent criminal capacity, we cannot ignore the fact that those wishing to cause us great harm have an absurdly easy passageway into the country. Why is this?
When contemplating this question, I think of the security at airports. I think of the times I have traveled by air after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. I recall the long lines, the three to four ID checks required prior to entering the air terminal, the total search of person and property and it makes sense. Terrorists used large aircraft as WMD…this is where the threat can be mitigated. The differences of pre and post 9/11 airport security are obvious to everyone. Every person boarding a plane must be documented, searched, and enormous amounts of resources are applied to
2) Was lax border enforcement the only factor that caused the September 11, 2001, attack?
3) What does open, but closed borders mean?
After reading the assigned material, I have come to some pretty harsh realizations concerning immigration policy and how it relates to national security both pre and post 9/11. Up until taking this course, I paid only a passing interest to border security. I had some rather broad opinions on its impact on the border states, the enforcement agencies responsible for patrolling the borders, and the porous nature of the seemingly impossibility of accomplishing this task along 2,000 miles of mostly rough terrain.
I feel that national security is treated seriously by current immigration policies, but is severely hamstrung by politics and a mind boggling bureaucracy. After reading the Time article “Who left the door open”, it is clear the agents responsible for patrolling the border are convinced border security, or the lack of, greatly threatens America’s interests. While the majority of illegal immigrants crossing the border seem to be harmless in a violent criminal capacity, we cannot ignore the fact that those wishing to cause us great harm have an absurdly easy passageway into the country. Why is this?
When contemplating this question, I think of the security at airports. I think of the times I have traveled by air after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. I recall the long lines, the three to four ID checks required prior to entering the air terminal, the total search of person and property and it makes sense. Terrorists used large aircraft as WMD…this is where the threat can be mitigated. The differences of pre and post 9/11 airport security are obvious to everyone. Every person boarding a plane must be documented, searched, and enormous amounts of resources are applied to