US Mexico Border Security Policy (Research Paper Sample)

U.S.-Mexico Border Security Policy
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Abstract
The research paper is about the U.S.-Mexico border policy. The research paper clearly defines the meaning of border policy and goes ahead to discuss the border plan involving the two countries in depth. To understand how the border policy was formulated the research paper analyzes the team building process on both sides of the border. The research papers give an analysis of the roles of various stakeholders in team building process. The research paper explains how human rights activists contributed in team building process and how their contributions led to the formulation of border policy.
The research paper goes ahead to explain the policies and efforts pursued by both sides of the border in implementing the border policy. Some of the policies pursued are similar for both parties for instance efforts to come up with comprehensive immigration legislations are pursued by both Mexico and the United States of America. The research paper also explains the policies pursued by both countries to deal with illegal activities on both sides of the border. Such policies are aimed at reducing illegal activities at the border to raise security levels at the border.
Table of Contents
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………….5
Team building process………………………………………………………………….5
Efforts on the Mexican and American side of the border…………………………….8
Certification of local and federal agents by human rights…………………….8
Eliminating the use of racial profiling by border enforcement agencies……..9
Developing border community program……………………………………….9
Formation of local citizens’ review committees………………………………...9
Comprehensive immigration legislations……………………………………......9
Protection of border environment and quality of life……………………….....10
Development of non-lethal response techniques and practices………………..10
Expedite border crossing at the ports of entry………………………………….10
Promoting an accessible and transparent CBP complaint process……………11
Improving staffing levels and training port personnel…………………………11
Holding congressional hearings and discussions within border communities…11
Recognizing mutual dependence of communities on both sides of the border....12
Reevaluating policies that cause immigration pressure………………………….12
Limiting transfer of detainees to remote locations………………………………..12
Guarantee due process of the law…………………………………………………..13
Policies and Efforts to aid one another in illegal activities on both sides of the border...13
Clearly established guidelines and procedures to guide criminal investigation.....13
Improving oversight of the complaint process……………………………………...13
Replacing ‘safeguard’ and ‘Hold the Line’ operations with border community safety and security operations……………………………………………………………….14
Prosecution of border vigilante groups………………………………………………14
Compulsory publication and clarification of necessary documents………………..15
Restore discretion to immigration judges…………………………………………….15
Creating an immigration hotline………………………………………………………15
Facilitating accessibility of all immigrants to immigrant courts…………………….16
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………16
Reference………………………………………………………………………………………..17
Introduction
Border policy refers to rules and regulations that govern the movement of people and goods across the borders from one country to another. Such laws are usually aimed at preventing any form of illegal activities and maintaining security at the border. This research paper focuses on the boundary policy between United States of America and Mexico. The U.S.-Mexico border is highly guarded with U.S. military forces dominating the border. Furthermore, the border is highly fenced on the U.S. side despite the fact that the two countries enjoy the cordial relationship and are not at war (Walser & Zuckerman, 2013). There are team building processes on both sides of the border that have led to the establishment of the boundary policy between the two countries. Furthermore, each country has taken initiatives on its side to ensure that the boundary plan succeeds as discussed below
Team building process
Team building has enabled the communities living along the U.S.-Mexico border to be part of the solution to the security challenges between the two countries. In 2005 during the summer period, the border network for human rights in collaboration with the border action network initiated a consultation process within the boundary communities in Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico. That helped in putting border policies and practices at the center of discussions. After dialogue between communities at the border, the communities were concerned particularly about the form and content of U.S. border policies and process through the involvement of the Administration, institutions based in Washington and the Congress (Walser & Zuckerman, 2013). The communities felt that these bodies were not interested in their perceptions, voices, and opinions.
The consultation process that brought together the border communities identified the need for efficient and responsible border enforcement policies in integrating national and community security. The efficiency would also foster economic development and enhance respect for constitutional and human rights (Walser & Zuckerman, 2013). Border residents believed that establishing better border and immigration policies required rights protection and effective national security to be in place.
In 2006, Latin America working group with the full support of border network for human rights and border action network translated community consultations results to about forty policy recommendations. The recommendations were to address matters of fencing, border operations, military role at the border, misconduct law, security for the community, detention and deportation (Matthews, 2015). These recommendations resulting from the team building process were known as an optional guideline for border enforcement policies and practices.
Later on, a distribution of the guidelines was made to each of the elected local officials, faith, business, law enforcement and other relevant community leaders. The discussion held between these leaders noted that border enforcement policies were a hindrance to the interdependence between the communities living at the boundary and hence frustrated all sectors in the society. In 2006 during the summer period these two groups organized a conference that attracted several institutions and individuals with the aim of creating the border and immigration task force involving United States of America and Mexico (Matthews, 2015). The task force comprised of the elected officials at the local level, members representing community organizations, lawyers, academicians, clergymen, and community and business leaders representing counties and cities along the border.
The task force was mainly tasked with the duty of bringing together expertise, insight and opinions of different sectors forming the border society. Furthermore, the task force was supposed to make a presentation concerning policy recommendations and testimonies about the ongoing immigration reform debate. The tas...