Transforming Border Security: Prevention First
Abstract
The events of September 11, 2001 caused the nation's leaders to accelerate existing border programs aimed at prevention. Traditionally, the "prevention" of border violations has involved interdiction (physically impeding any incursion while it is occurring); preemption (through routine screening to intercept illegal shipments, weapons, people, or other illicit cargo); and deterrence (where an action taken means a potential violator does not plan or even attempt an illegal entry). While effective in some cases, none of these strategies -- together or separately -- has evolved into a comprehensive, prevention-oriented approach to border security. The development of a prevention-led border strategy would involve at least four strategic shifts: aligning border security with global strategy, forging a new foreign policy, making progress on cooperation, and changing U.S. reactive approaches. The purpose of this article is to examine several of the primary border security reforms taken since 9/11 to understand and gauge progress toward making prevention the top priority. Not surprisingly, the violation of border controls that made the 9/11 attacks possible caused the nation's leaders to accelerate existing border program reforms. The Presidential Directives served to a large extent to wrench current border projects that had stalled amidst the nation's polarization over immigration policies from previous bureaucratic and political entanglements. Still, few of these rescued border initiatives satisfied the compelling requirements that making prevention a national priority demanded.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA484158
Entities
People
- Robert Bach
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School