Immigration Policy Case Study

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Pages: 2

Is current immigration policy seriously treated as a national security issue? How was it treated prior to 9/11?
Currently immigration policy is becoming a more seriously treated issue. With this border threat becoming more of an issue both the United States and Mexico sides of the border have taken steps in order to treat this as a national security issue. More aggressive laws, larger budget allocations, man power growths for agencies, and use of more technology or force multipliers used now in the enforcement of protecting the border. The border prior to 9/11 was not ever really controlled. “The popular political call to “regain control” masks the fact that there actually never was a time when the border was effectively controlled.” (Andreas, 2009).

What does open, but closed borders mean?
The “open, but closed borders” refers to having the borders actually open economically for legal flow of materials and person, but closed for illegal goods and contraband. Also, with the build up of the borders and more policing of the good economic flow it will in turn help to reduce the flow of illegal contraband and migrants.

What does Customs border authority entail?
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Code authorizes customs officials to conduct searches for unlawfully imported materials. This provision specifically confers upon those customs officials who are authorized to board and search sea vessels the additional power to search “any vehicle, beast, or person” where they suspect they will discover goods subject to U.S. duties or goods whose importation is outlawed by the United States.” (2009). Essentially, agents can reasonably search for aliens and contraband where they might think they can be smuggled in to the United States based off their authority. If they have “reasonable cause to suspect” agents can also search trunks and/or envelops, for