America and the Immigration Goliath

Abstract Ronald Reagan once stated that, A nation that cannot secure its borders is not a nation. It goes without saying that border security and immigration policy are issues of national importance. Scouring the internet, it is plain to see that masses of citizens have copious amounts of plans to deal with the growing immigration epidemic. Some call for a massive deportation while others advocate for free borders, causing the ethical and economically practical to clash in a storm of opinions. (Thesis) The College of ISTs course SRA 111 presents a visual representation for the nations current and future policies concerning immigration and border control. The purpose of this document is to use the security cube to describe the United States future, past, and present immigration initiatives. This living document shall be updated as new information is released and immigration policy evolves over time. I. Goals (improve this title) II. A National Focus: A History of Immigration in America III. Immigration Control Tools a. Policies b. Technology c. Proposed Laws and Enforcement Measures IV. Conclusion

Security is defined as the freedom or protection from harm or difficulty for asset. In the case of immigration, the assets being homeland security, the safety of U.S. Richards 1

citizens, American jobs, public funds, the U.S. economy, and the organization of federal databases. Hazards generate the harm or difficulty, but several questions are raised concerning what the hazards are in border security. Are illegal immigrants hazards, or is deporting them more hazardous to our economy? The security cube introduced in the course SRA 111 is a remarkable representation of how the United States government handles securing the nations borders. As presented in image one, the security cube has three focus levels: national, enterprise, and personal. For the purpose of this paper, emphasis will be put on the national focus level, since immigration and border control policies are issues of national importance. Control tools on a national level require critical thinking, analysis, managing bias, and creating laws. These techniques combined with policies and technologies such as databases, networks, and processes make up Americas approach to securing the U.S-Mexico border. The controls tools are used to strive for the three goals of confidentiality, integrity, and availability: goals that are reached through the Obama administrations new blueprint for immigration reform.

Figure 1 Richards 2

I. The CIA Triad

The CIA triangle, more popularly referred to as the CIA triad by information scientists, is a security model centered on InfoSec. While the CIA triangle was originally designed to describe IT security, its fundamental principles can be applied to achieve effective immigration policy. In the realm of information security, confidentiality implies that the information is only seen by parties authorized to access the data. It combines privacy and classification. When applied to immigration policy, the confidentiality of the information stored in national databases is paramount to secure the trust of the American public. Integrity of information ensures that the data is complete and uncorrupted. It is safe from modification or deletion, and reaches its destination securely. There must be an overall integrity of the immigration system, something that does not currently exist. Documents containing confidential information about those immigrating into the U.S. legally should reach their intended destinations without flaw or theft. Availability allows the information to be accessed by those with clearance whenever necessary. Perhaps the most controversial tie between the CIA triad and immigration is the availability of legal entry into the United States. Those who pass criminal background checks should be allowed access into the country, while those who fail should not be able to step on U.S. soil. The SRA cube adds another goal to the CIA triad; sovereignty. Sovereignty is defined as authority over a geographic area to guarantee the best interest of citizens. It is based off of the principles of territorial integrity, border security, state supremacy, and a supreme lawmaking authority. Clearly, this goal relates directly to immigration policy and border

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control, and is the goal most strived for in immigration policy and border control technology. Every policy, new piece of technology, and law strives toward supreme sovereignty. According to Principles of Information Security, all cases of unethical and illegal behavior have one of three primary causes: ignorance, accident, or intent. Ignorance implies that the criminal had no knowledge of the law or ethical standard that prohibits criminal behavior. While ignorance is not an excuse for breaking the law, it is for policies and ethics. Hence, education in the form of training and distribution of an organizations policies and laws can prevent such acts. Accidents are difficult to prevent, such as involuntary manslaughter. Policies and programs may be implemented to reduce risk, however the risk of accidental criminal behavior will never be nonexistent. The worst of these causes, intent, is easier to categorize and control, but impossible to completely prevent. Here is where technical controls and ethical laws should be created, followed by vigorous consequences if these controls fail. Still, laws will only deter criminal activity if three conditions are present; the potential criminal fears the penalty, a high probability of capture exists, as well as a high probability of the penalty actually being administered (442).

II. A National Focus: A History of Immigration in America

In order to understand how immigration relates to security on a national level, it is crucial to analyze the history of immigration policy and the evolution of border control in the United States. At Americas beginning there were no laws concerning entrance into the country, hence illegal immigration did not exist. This changed rapidly

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with the addition of US territories, massive transatlantic migrations, and terrorist attacks. Since the birth of the country, where immigration was concerned focus was put on letting as many innocents in as needed, while still keeping dangerous individuals out. The first recorded laws concerning immigration were the 1798 Alien and Sedition Acts which called for deportation of dangerous aliens. While these newly created laws excluded some, in 1855 immigrant women were granted citizenship upon marrying a citizen, a practice still in place today in order to keep loved ones together, one of the countrys more humane initiatives. However in 1875 the government determined that prostitutes and convicts were legally not allowed into the country, and by 1903 anarchists, epileptics, polygamists, and beggars were excluded as well1. The United States mission to expand its assets through colonization had the unintended consequence of setting the stage for immigration from these colonies. Colonization creates cultural ties, and glorifies the US through films, radio and television shows that exemplify the wealth and glory of the United States. 1848 brought about the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which expanded the U.S border after the U.S.Mexican War and allowed Mexicans to declare US or Mexican citizenship, a decision that could forever change the course of their descendants lives. Later, in 1898 America took Puerto Rico, Guam, the Philippines, and Hawaii as territories. Although residents of these areas were not granted citizenship, they were considered nationals. This all changed in 1917 when Puerto Ricans were granted citizenship, and years later in 1959 when Hawaii became an official state.

Aviva Chomsky, They Take Our Jobs! and 20 other myths about immigration (Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 2007) p. 89.

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Still, colonization was not the only cause of mass migration into the country. After a steady flow of transatlantic migration into the developing country around 1891, the Bureau of Immigration was opened under the Treasury Department to enforce federal immigration law, opening Ellis Island a year after its creation. After some time, it was decided that the Bureau of Immigration should become the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization under the Department of Labor in 1906 since work was the main driving force behind immigration at the time. This same year brought the first implementation of inspecting the Mexican border, although officials were searching for individuals of Chinese descendent, who were not allowed to enter the country, trying to come into the country through Mexico. At this time, the Mexican-American border was open, and many American citizens migrated into Mexico. This is only one of the many examples of how much immigration control differed greatly in the past. Between 1880 and World War I, only whites were allowed to immigrate, but they did not need identification and there were no caps on the number of people allowed to come in. This lack of control resulted in 25 million Europeans entering the United States without a need for passports or visas. A mere 1% of potential immigrants were turned away because they were criminals, prostitutes, diseased, or anarchists. However a shift occurred with the 1918 Passport Act, which required immigrants to have identification. In continuation, the 1924 Quota Law began to cap off the number of people who could enter the country, even with whites being the only race allowed entry. Unlike today, Mexicans were considered white; though they were still thought to be second rate citizens. The 1924 Quota law officially closed the border

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creating border control, deportation, and illegal immigration. As a result, millions of Mexicans were deported in 19302. After the 1924 quota law, the government began to crack down on immigration. The 1940 Alien Registration Act/Smith Act allotted penalties such as deportation for immigrants who participated in illegal activities. It also required all immigrants to provide fingerprinting and registration for the first time in US history. The government recognized that a large majority of those immigrating into the United States were simply looking for work, so the 1942 Bracero Program was established. This program provided a legal way for Mexican workers to come into the country with temporary visa. However, members of the program were treated like indentured servants, causing the government to decide it was a violation of peoples rights in the 1960s. In the North East, a similar program was made for Puerto Ricans called Operation Bootstrap which allowed Puerto Ricans to work in farms and fields3. Hence, there is no doubting that immigration was crucial to the work force in the 1900s. The CIA was even allowed a quota of 100 people to bring in aliens who would be beneficial to the national mission at its creation. However, in 1953 Operation Wetback deported over one million undocumented Mexican workers, causing the numbers entering the Bracero program to increase from 200,000 a year to 450,000 a year. This was a shocking operation, considering that the year before the government had been focusing more on immigration reform by creating the Immigration and Nationality Act. An act which barred race from affecting immigration or citizenship, created the H-2 workers program, and prohibited communists, anarchists, and homosexuals from entering the country. The government
2 3

Ibid., p. 95. Terri E. Givens, Gary P. Freeman, and David L. Leal, Immigration Policy and Security: U.S., European, and Commonwealth Perspectives (New York, NY: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, 2009) p.17

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even continued its reform with the 1965 Heart-Cellar Act quota system which allowed 20,000 per country in the Eastern Hemisphere and instilled a 150,000 ceiling for the Western hemisphere including Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. This changed in 1976 to 20,000 per country in the West as well, with preference given to those with family members already in the US. The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act allowed an even larger portion of migrants to become legal, allowing immigrants to increase their levels of education and income. Things were looking up for immigrants, until 1981 where those who were not local permanent residents were denied access to federal aid programs and the INS raided workplaces, arresting 5,000 undocumented workers through Operation Jobs. After this, the government once again tried to reform immigration law through the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) which allowed undocumented immigrants who could prove they had been in the country since 1982 to apply for citizenship and forced employers to prove the legality of their workers. Around 1.7 million people applied for citizenship through IRCA, one third of which were naturalized by 2001. In 1994, Clinton approved Operation Gate Keeper which enforced border control as we know it today by installing fencing and stadium lights and pushing migration towards Arizona. The same year, NAFTA increased trade between US and Mexico, making it easier for drug cartels to smuggle illegal substances into the country. This, and the new focus on border control, caused the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act that increased funding for border control, created harsher penalties for unlawful entry, and facilitated deportation. Under Clintons presidency, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was established and hired Immigration

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and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, immigration officers who were both poorly trained and poorly paid4. The increase in border security caused a growth in smuggling of drugs, firearms, and persons from an individual effort to smuggling rings. Drug trafficking especially is now a major problem due to the drug wars occurring in Mexico. Criminals use trains, points of entry, sophisticated underground tunnels, and unmanned submarines to meet the demand for illegal drugs, funds, and firearms across the border in the United States5. Illegal smuggling was a growing issue, but one that George W. Bush was willing to overlook in relation to immigration before 9/11. Prior to the attack, President Bush was making negotiations with the Mexican president concerning immigration policies between the two countries. However, immigration becoming an issue of national security after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. American concern shifted to border security, terrorism, and crime which heightened what had been almost nonexistent tensions between the US and Mexico. In 2003, The Department of Homeland Security replaced the INS through the Homeland Security Act, creating the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) under the DHS. Many worried about this transition since the DHS has a vulnerability to being hijacked by private interests because the department oversees issues that are largely privatized. On the other hand, the DHS has the countrys best interests in mind, focusing on National Security and the safety of each and every American citizen. Bushs second Homeland Security Presidential Directive was combating terrorism through
4

Bill Ong Hing, Deporting Our Souls Values, Morality, and Immigration Policy (New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2006) p.24. 5 Brian Bow, and Arturo Santa-Cruz, The State and Security in Mexico: Transformation and Crisis in Regional Perspective (New York, NY: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, 2013) p.135.

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immigration policies which began process of bureaucratically intermingling immigration and security6. In a senate hearing, Representative F. James Sensenbrenner stated, The simple fact is that if the 9/11 terrorist had not been able to enter the United States and operate freely in our country, they would not have been able to murder our loved ones. This is only one among thousands of similar statements made by the American people, their government officials, and media. As long as American citizens continue to fear immigrants, they will continue to hate them. With hatred clouding their minds, laws that would benefit both parties will not pass. People should fear the illegal entry of drugs and firearms from across the border, not innocent people trying to live a better life. The fear that is created by the media stressing the issue has pressed the government to increase physical security along the border. The problem is, increased U.S. border enforcement spurs Mexicans want to migrate illegally. Since the risks are higher, entire families crossover at a time. Statistically, 4,000 additional US border patrol agents will result in an extra 300,000 Mexican migrants per year7. It is clear to see that immigration has steadily increased as anti-immigrant policies have become harsher. In addition, higher border enforcement causes a lower probability of immigrants returning home. All in all, it leads to more immigrants inside the U.S. as a whole. Koulish states that, The war on terror has become a permanent fixture in American politics and culture, and is assimilated into every policy proposal that appears
6

Robert Koulish, Immigration and American Democracy: Subverting the Rule of Law (New York, NY: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, 2010) p.79. 7 Florian K. Kaufmann, Mexican Labor Migrants and U.S. Immigration Policies (El Paso, TX: LFB Scholarly Publishing, 2011) p.125.
7

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even tangentially related to protecting Americans from terrorists8. After it was found that the terrorists that orchestrated 9/11 had obtained drivers licenses, the government put its foot down where immigration was concerned. Drivers license restrictions such as the REAL ID Act made each applicant prove his or her legal status and denied these rights to illegal immigrants. REAL ID had very little impact on National Security but the cost is huge. As airport security increased, the 2002 Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) required all baggage screeners to be US citizens, officially linking US citizenship to national security, and resulting in thousands of immigrants losing their jobs. Similarly, in response to Operation Tarmac Latino immigrant janitors, food service workers, and mechanics lost airport jobs9. However, all acts regarding National Security are dwarfed by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act. The PATRIOT Act Title IV Section 410 authorized Attorney General to certify and detain non-citizens if reasonable grounds existed to believe they were engaging in terrorist activity or endangering national security10 . The CLEAR Act followed suit, allowing state and local police to enforce federal immigration laws. These officers do not have training or understanding of complex immigration laws, resulting in them often having to question anyone who looks or sounds foreign. Some police reject this because they know there will be a loss of

8 9

Op. cit., Koulish, p.82. Ibid., p.86. 10 Ibid., p.69.

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community trust which leads to less safe neighborhoods, a detrimental outcome for the Latino community and the U.S. in general11. Although issues of national security are closely tied to immigration, legal citizens are just as likely as immigrants to be criminals. Members of terrorist groups like AlQaeda are most likely to come into the country legally. For example, the terrorists in the 9/11 attacks were legal citizens who entered the country under their own names, all coming in with nonimmigrant visas. Biometric data wasnt even collected from them since ten out of twelve of the terrorists came from the wealthy country of Saudi Arabia. Still, Latinos dreaming for a better life are paying the price12. Racial stereotyping has been a major concern among immigration officers. Although several laws have been passed against race barring a person from becoming a citizen, no such law has been passed concerning racial profiling. In 2007, a Baltimore ICE unit said to be pursuing high risk criminal aliens went to a 7/11 where day laborers were known to wait for work and arrested all Latinos on the residence, regardless of their legal status13 . Many similar instances staged by local or state police occur frequently, where the workers are not turned over to ICE, nor placed in mandatory deportation. Latinos on the premises are arrested and put in jail even if they have IDs because many police often charge day laborers with obstruction of traffic. This is mainly due to the fact that in Baltimore, Maryland and Riverside, California, in violation of federal rules, law enforcement are given quotas with a penalty of receiving horrible hours, so they target places known to have day workers.

11 12

Ibid., p.49. Op. cit., Bill Ong Hing, p.155. 13 Ibid.,p.66

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Living in a country where races stenotype many Hispanics as immigrants, the assimilation that is almost necessary for proper immigration is nearly impossible. Although many races have been discriminated against based off of immigration patterns, Hispanics respond differently to racism. Hispanics end up adopting a Black mentality because unlike Jews, Italians, and Polish, no amount of assimilation can ever make Hispanics White. A large majority have to lose American dream because higher education level is equal to a greater distance in white versus nonwhite income. Puerto Ricans are the most assimilated, since they have been citizens since 1917 and usually speak English as a primary language. Mexicans have longest history in USA of any immigrant, especially considering that parts of the US used to be Mexican territory before the Mexican-American War. Still, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans have the highest poverty rates out of all the Hispanic groups that immigrate to the United States 14. Now, immigration and border control are some of the countrys top priorities. With over 11 million undocumented individuals living in the US today, concerns of national security, and drug cartels successfully smuggling thousands of tons of drugs into the country each year, border control is not something that can simply be ignored. Family members are given first priority to citizenship, and still over 48,000 children cross the border each year trying to find their mothers15. Those coming into the United States as undocumented workers only wishing to provide for their families are abused and stripped of basic human rights by their employers. More and more policies, technologies, and immigration staff are created, and still these atrocities continue and

14 15

Op. cit., Chomsky, p. 68 Op.cit., Bow, Santa-Cruz, p.65

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unlawful entry into the country still occurs. The government has to stand up and do something, however the question remains: What do we do now?

III. Immigration Control Tools

a. Policies
The history of how America has dealt with immigration and border control through law exemplifies how policies are used as a control tool on a national level. Immigration and border security policies are centered on protecting the American public against illegal entry of persons, drugs, and firearms. Despite this beneficial objective, these policies are riddled with error upon error. It makes one question the actual motive of these policies, since they do not seem to accomplish the goal of securing borders while still promoting legal migration into the United States. There are five criteria that correspond to successful immigration policies 16. The first principle, economic efficiency is just what it seems. The policies should be able to maintain the economic benefits of immigration as well as benefit the American economy as a whole. These policies must also be distributional, where the policy can be implemented in all levels of the government and that can affect all persons who are connected to the issue such as undocumented workers. Since public finances must be used, costs and use of public resources should be balanced. This will also be beneficial to the morale of the country, since immigrants use of public funds is known as one of the main issues of illegal immigration. Immigrants must be able to assimilate into American culture. These policies should promote national identity, social cohesion, and equality by upholding American culture as well as migrants human rights labor, and appropriate
16

Op. cit., Kaufmann, p.139

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housing. National security is also continually on the minds of the American Public. Border security policies should minimize the threat of terrorist acts sue to unregistered aliens and uncontrolled borders. However, not every person entering the country should be considered a threat. The goal of earned legalization would be to lower the stock of undocumented immigrants. It would result in higher migration rates, albeit legal migration. With increasing workers coming legally into the U.S., there would be a growth in labor supply making it less flexible. Costs of production would rise with higher wages mandated by minimum wage. With the ability to work anywhere in the country, there would be a diaspora within the country. This could improve socioeconomic integration based off of geographic location as well as immigrants would no longer be cursed to remain in the lower class. A policy that enhances border enforcement would plan to reduce current and future immigration rates by stopping immigration at its source. However, fear of entrapment would cause immigrants to come whole families at a time in order to cross safely. More border crossings will result in more deaths at the southwest border. The flexibility of the labor supply will decrease, causing migrants wages to fall providing them with worse working conditions and housing. Geographic regions would become crowded with people taking work wherever they can get it. The scope of the project would be enormous, with unspeakably high costs to implement. Many citizens call for a mass eviction of those who entered the country illegally. The fact is, deporting 11 million people would have detrimental effects. The unimaginable amount of labor shortages would result in lost competition. Tax income from 11 million people will be lost. There will be a rise in violence and smuggling from Richards 15

re-entry. Families with illegal parents and legal children would be split apart. In the end, those who left would reenter, rendering the initiative costly and useless. A Guest Worker program would make migration rates constant. It would cause an increase in legal migration rates. Migrants wages would rise, causing prices to rise exponentially. It would be economically beneficial, allowing higher tax income. The visa fees would be used to finance program, hence the program would pay for itself. There would be a significant decrease in smuggling, since so many will be able to cross the border legally. While this seems like the most beneficial choice, there is a vulnerability of visa overstaying, and the program leaves room for very little social integration.

b. Technology
Koulish describes risk management technologies as objects designed to create, control, and contain fear of immigration since the tragedy of 9/1117. This can cause some confusion, because it seems logical that the main purpose of such technologies would be to maintain the security of American borders by preventing illegal entry of persons, drugs, and firearms into the country. Instead, the United States ends up banning immigrants from society, rather than the actual country. The government uses surveillance, biometrics, RFIDS, databases to ensure the general populace that something is being done, and to succeed in controlling immigration at a minimal level. This keeps the migration flow under control, but fails to address the actual problem. With the growth of the digital age, one of an individuals main assets is their virtual identity. National databases hold these modifiable representations of individuals

17

Op. cit.,Koulish, p.79.

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that have been captured. Depending of the nature of the virtual identity, one can get entitlements and benefits. The first National database used with immigration after 9/11 was the now obsolete National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS). It required all citizen men 16 and over from 25 predominantly Muslim countries to register with the government at local immigration offices for fingerprinting, photographing, and questioning. Later it was considered unsuccessful as a counterterrorism rule that worked off of stereotypes. However it ushered in a new era of biometric anti-immigrant control technology18. The next widely used national database to be implemented was based very closely off of NSEERS. US-VISIT verifies the identity of people as they come into and leave the country. Its official purpose is to enhance national security and ensure the integrity of the immigration system. Like NSEERS, data is collected through finger scans and digital photographs taken on arrival for verification. Government agencies work together by connecting to US-VISIT in order to push information across the intelligence community. One of the biggest issues with US-VISIT then concerns personal privacy. An abundance of security and privacy controls are needed to protect against unauthorized access, use, or retention of the data collected. These controls are especially needed for government agencies where containing public trust is a huge asset. However, since data is stored throughout federal, state, and local governments, controlling access is difficult. Nonetheless, it continues to be beneficial because from the 25 million people who have submitted data, US-VISIT picks out those who are security risks based off of previous histories stored in separate data banks. While there is no evidence it has caught
18

Ibid., p 83.

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a wanted terrorist, 590 persons were denied admission for crimes and violations of immigration policies. While categorizing those entering the country is an integral part of databases, it is also crucial to monitor individuals already inside the country. Real ID (95) stores personal information DMZ databases, and allows them to be accessed at a federal level. This system isolates undocumented residents because documentation must be showed to get a drivers license or identification card. Undocumented residents are unable to board an airplane, enter a federal building, or even open a bank account without these forms of identification. This presents the fatal flaw of REAL ID: it cannot monitor those who came into the country illegally. E-verify is an electronic verification system in all fifty states that tracks data collected when an employee fills out an I-9.The database was built off 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) which made it illegal for employers to knowingly employ unauthorized workers. Hence in the immigration realm it is used to verify that a worker is legal, and to deport them if they are not. The problem is that currently, registering employees in the system is not mandatory and the system itself has many errors. The Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) links the public and private sectors to share the information stored in the above databases. Originally designed by ManTech international, the network has over 40,000 users and promotes information sharing across the intelligence community. Surveillance While databases and networks are beneficially in tracking those who enter the country legally, the best way to secure borders is through physical security. Bushs Richards 18

Secure Border Initiative set out to do just that, pouring over eight billion dollars into border security19. After its implementation, it was determined to be a waste of taxpayer money and is the most ridiculed part of U.S. immigration. A similar situation was born in Boeings Virtual Fence, also known as SBInet. Its mission was to gain operational control of the border and technological advantage in the virtual war against aliens and terrorists at the U.S.-Mexico Border. This virtual border fence was composed of cameras, radars, and other sensors strung on towers and linked to operation centers. Combining law enforcement and surveillance systems, fusing together man and technology, its 1,800 radar towers along the border and cameras that can spot people from up to 14 km away transmit images to border agents and a central office. Perhaps the most well-known aspect of Boeings virtual fence is the unmanned aerial drones that can be launched from the back of border control trucks. Boeing was given $2.5 billion contract with the DHS to create this technological wonder on Sept. 20, 2006.However, even with this large sum, there were huge cost overruns, delays, and Boeing even mislead the SBU about its purpose. The communication system didnt work because the images and data could not go to communications center and then back to border agents working on the field. The data collection systems were a failure because radars were activated by rain and other environmental issues as well as by wild animals. Lee Maril writes on the Homeland Security Newswire that the system cannot even distinguish the differences between a human and a cow, which often wasted the time of ICE agents. Eventually, it was decided that a physical fence would be built in its place. However, despite the fact it was faulty, the project is still going on today under the Obama administration.
19

Op. cit.,Givens, Freeman, Leal, p.19.

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According to a cnet article by Daniel Terdiman, mobile video surveillance systems are the technology used most frequently across the border. These are composed of video cameras on top of vans that change location, therefore providing a larger visual scope. It uses laser range finder and radar systems, mostly installed along the Arizona border, to collect data. In addition to these, underground sensors buried throughout the border trigger alerts if movement is sensed between tens of meters. These radars have a similar problem to Boeings virtual fence, that they cannot distinguish what is moving, simply that something is indeed moving. In case people get past the cameras, sensors and agents, checkpoints are set up along the border. These act as a second wave of protection against pickups or drugs hidden along the road. These checkpoints also serve as a place to check if vehicles are carrying illegal substances, firearms, or persons. Agents use noninvasive technology so that they dont have to strip a car to search it. Border agents use a backscatter van which monitors whether organic material is in the car and determines if there are stowaways or drugs. The technology already in place can be both useful and inefficient. Currently, there is a heavy focus on enhancing this technology in order to better secure the nations borders. Still, Databases used to categorize those entering the country as well as those working in it have greatly improved the way the country deals with immigration. Aerial drones are the beginning of a new era of innovative border control technology, and Boeing is still working on perfecting its virtual fence.

c. Proposed Laws and Enforcement Measures

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Obama has made border security and immigration control one of his top priorities. His main goal is to welcome those who will spur the American economy through innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as reuniting families with loved ones both in and outside of the country while maintaining availability,integrity, confidentiality, and sovereignty . He hopes to see a complete immigration reform sometime in the near future, and has encouraged Republicans and Democrats to come to a consensus on the issue. So far, he has signed multiple acts such as the DREAM act and the Southwest Border Security Bill which have improved the immigration system immensely. Obama signed Southwest Border Security Bill which allotted $600 million to enhance border protection and law enforcement along the U.S.-Mexico border. $394 million was allotted to the Department of Homeland Security. The $394 million was broken down as follows: $244 million to hire and maintain border control agents and custom and border protection officers $32 million for two new unmanned aerial detection systems $14 million for communications to support law enforcement $80 million for new ICE agents $8 million to train law enforcement staff In addition, the Department of Justice was given $196 million in order to increase presence of federal law enforcement in areas of high criminal activity. The money paid for ATF Gunrunner teams, five FBI Hybrid Task Forces, DEA agents, attorneys, 30 prosecutors, and numerous immigration judges. The Department of

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Justice also supported Mexican law enforcement with ballistic analysis, DNA analysis, information sharing, and technology assistance in order to enhance cross-border investigations, especially those surrounding drug gangs. Another major program that Obama put in place, that may have given him the extra edge in the 2012 election, was the DREAM Act . This allows immigrants who entered the country before they were 16 years old, and who wish to pursue higher education, to become U.S. citizens. In order to gain citizenship, an applicant must: have entered the country before they were 16 years old lived in the U.S. for at least five years have graduated from a high school in the united States or obtained a GED have no criminal record be of good moral character either served in the U.S. military for two years or attended a college for at least two years Although these criteria seem simple, it is predicted that only 38% of applicants will complete the lengthy process. First, if the applicant meets all the requirements, he or she will receive a six year conditional status. After this, the applicant goes through the second process which includes more background and criminal checks; if they dont pass or meet the requirements they are subject to deportation. This serves as another way to get criminals who are a threat to national security out of the country. Many are concerned about the effects the process will have on state and federal taxes, since it is assumed public funds will be used to fund it. However, The costs of having the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services process the DREAM Act applications

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will be covered almost entirely by application fees, a very affordable $645 per applicant. Also, DREAM Act students are not eligible for federal grants, with no exceptions. They will, however, be eligible for loans that have to be paid back and federal work study. As previously mentioned, the detention system used for deportees is unorganized, inhumane, and much in need of standards. Creating a more humane detention system is certainly in Obamas to-do list. He plans to enhance security while making the health and security of detainees a main priority by providing standards for the companies overseeing the process. A technological innovation, the Online Detainee Locator System is a public, internet-based tool designed to assist family members, attorneys, and others interested in locating people in Department of Homeland Security custody. In this way, family members will not simply vanish without a word, creating a much more humane system. Obama is reforming immigration on every and all sides, putting a strong emphasis on helping those in need. For example, T and U visas are available to victims of crimes and their family members who aid federal, state and/or local law enforcement in criminal investigations. This was designed to capture smugglers for sex trafficking and labor trafficking as well as companies that abuse undocumented workers, and this goal was accomplished. There isnt even a fee to apply. Since the programs creation, 5,000 T visas are approved a year for victims of trafficking and domestic violence, and 10,000 U visas have been issued for those taken advantage of by their employers. This process helps catch those who are wrongdoers, and help those who were force into the country against their will, or were not given basic human rights. In the case of working for workers rights, training videos have been developed by the DHS to help inform employees of their rights and responsibilities of turning in Richards 23

abusive employers. The DHS also provides a hotline for e-verify misuse. Leo Gerard comments on the issue in the Huffington Post: They lure undocumented workers in, and then abuse them with impunity. This endangers all workers because the low-wage, hazardous conditions undocumented workers endure can become the standard. This is especially true in bad economic times. More border security is fine. But to ensure safe, family-supporting jobs remain the norm, America must hold employers accountable for baiting immigrants. Leo found that joining a union and suing abusive employers was the best stand against the abuse of undocumented workers. However, he also hopes that Obamas immigration plan will crack down on employers taking advantage of undocumented workers Obama also focused on border security and relation with the Mexican government. He doubled personnel assigned to the border to over 20,000 agents, created security task forces with more ICE agents (with approximately ICE agents at the border), and tripled number of ICE intelligence analysts focused on cartel violence along Southwest Border. He has urged these officers to educate themselves on the views and concerns of those living in border towns in order to increase morale and understanding. For the first time in American history, agents began screening 100% of Southbound rail shipments for illegal weapons, drugs, and cash. Under his supervision, 150 operational aerial assets (aka drones) have been created for the sole purpose of border security. Over $80 million has been spent in border security fencing, infrastructure, and technology. A large majority of these costs were for replacement and repair, the maintenance level of the system development life cycle.

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The effects of these combined efforts are amazing to say the least. Border agents have seized over $103 million in illegal currency, 1.7 million kg of drugs, and 1,400 firearms. That is 47 million more dollars, 450,000 more kg of drugs, and 300 more firearms than in 2009. In total, there was a 75% increase in currency, 34% increase in drugs, and 64% increase in weapons confiscated by the U.S. government. Not to mention, deportation of aliens with criminal records increased more than 70% since 2008. Even more, there are approximately 36% less people crossing the border illegally. While this decrease may stem from the economic slump the United States is currently enduring, it could also be correlated to increased border security and ability to enter the United States through legal means. Nevertheless, the Obama Administration does not want to stop there. Their new immigration plan is divided into four areas of concentration: 1 Strengthening border security

2 Cracking down on employers hiring undocumented workers 3 Providing a legal path to citizenship for the 11 million unregistered persons currently living in the United States 4 Streamlining the legal immigration system He believes that the issue can be solved by the government, American businesses, and those living in the United States illegally. Obama stresses that the government needs to come together and set an example for the American people concerning immigration. First, he addresses the need for border security. He believes the government should invest in technology assets along Richards 25

border such as surveillance technology programs which could bring border security into the next millennium. In order to keep up the physical security along the border, border relief acts such as the Border Law Enforcement Relief Act of 2005 should be passed. There also needs to be a crackdown on the misuse of passports and visas to commit fraud, and an increase in penalties for crossing the border illegally in general. In order to truly stunt illegal immigration rates, the current immigration process needs to be modified. He stresses putting more of an importance on civil rights and liberties. This can be accomplished by exempting immediate family members from annual caps, streaming the system, and continuing to pass targeted legislation such as the DREAM Act. Obama believes that to improve economic competitiveness, the government needs to encourage foreign students studying in the U.S. to stay there, even going to the extent of stapling green cards on STEM diplomas. Those already in the U.S. can be reached more efficiently by American businesses. Obama mainly focuses on proving the legality of workers, and not hiring or mistreating undocumented workers. He calls for a mandatory use of e-verify, as well as the establishment of a standard process for when e-verify does not authorize a workers legal status. Obama states that the best way to deal with this situation is to allow workers to keep working until federal government confirms or denies their status, since e-verify is prone to error. To improve these errors, Obama speaks of the possibility of using a biometric identifier for employment verification in the future. Improving coordination with the DHS and SSA, would limit these areas as well as verification time. Obama also asks the SSA to make social security cards fraud resistant or wear resistant.

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Even if companies make these practices more de jure than de facto, Obama urges employers to promote anti discrimination and treat undocumented workers fairly. Obama also does something not many dare to do, ask those living in the U.S. illegally to cooperate with the government. He wants to require illegal immigrants to register and submit to security checks for verification of eligibility for citizenship. This would include submitting fingerprints for criminal and national security background checks. If they fail they cannot continue the process, however if they have nothing to hide they will be eligible for citizenship. After eight years, they will be allowed to become legal permanent residents, and after five more years can become citizens if they continue to not be involved in criminal activity. Obama only asks that they pay registration fees and a series of fines to recover the public funds they have used during their stay. They will also be required to learn English to enhance citizenship and assimilation into American society. Individuals outside the country who enter the country legally will receive their visas first, but Obama is offering undocumented residents a fresh start.

IV. Conclusion
The security cube introduced in the course SRA 111 is a remarkable representation of how the United States government handles securing the nations borders. With a national focus level, all three types of control tools strive to achieve the four goals listed on the cubes third and final side, with an emphasis on sovereignty. Americas history shows that policies and programs alone were not enough to stop millions from entering the country illegally, or allowing innocents to enter the country

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legally. Policies, programs, and technology are intertwined in Obamas proposal for an updated immigration system. He calls for the creation of impregnable borders while speeding up the current immigration processes, and granting non-criminal undocumented residents citizenship. In this way, homeland security will be maximized, and the United States assets secured.

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