Border Security
Karina Ordonez discusses border security issues that relate to homeland security, specifically the Arizona/Sedona portion of the U.S. / Mexico border. Although it is only a small portion of the actual border, it is currently the most porous part of the border. Therefore, as strategies are implemented to deal with border security, they are going to have to deal with this border. Despite that fact, Ordonez cautions against focusing solely on the border when discussing the border and border security. She makes the point that the border is generally a transition area; people pass through border areas to other areas to find jobs in the interior of the country. Therefore, immigration reform that focuses solely on border security does not address the reason that many people are illegally immigrating to the United States, which is farm work in the interior states. In order to fix the issue illegal immigration,…...

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References

Oliver, W. (2006). Homeland security for policing (1st ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/

Prentice Hall.

Ordonez, K. (2012, August 12). Borders and immigration. Retrieved September 5, 2013 from YouTube website:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1QfMXZ7ED4

Bode Secuity
Effective Ways to Measue the Efficacy of Bode Patols

Accoding to the Depatment of Homeland Secuity (DHS): "potecting ou bodes fom the illegal movement of weapons, dugs, contaband, and people, while pomoting lawful enty and exit, is essential to homeland secuity, economic pospeity, and national soveeignty… Though inceases in Bode Patol staffing; constuction of new infastuctue and fencing; use of advanced technology -- including sensos, ada, and aeial assets -- investments to modenize the pots of enty; and stonge patneships and infomation shaing, we ae ceating a safe, moe secue, and moe efficient bode envionment" (Bode secuity oveview, 2013, DHS). Howeve, some outside analysts have called into question the DHS claim that it has made substantive impovements to limiting access to the nation's bodes to authoized pesons alone. Thee emains consideable debate as to how best to measue the efficacy of bode secuity.

This pape will examine diffeent dimensions of measuing…...

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references, down from 18% 20 years ago. Family reunification should remain a cornerstone of immigration but needs to give way substantially to a more skills-oriented policy" (Kotkin 2012:1). A number of regions, including the Mid-Atlantic States and the West, despite high unemployment in many areas, have consistent employment deficits in technological professions, reflecting a 'skills gap' that must be addressed (Kotkin 2012:1). This idea, however, is often politically unpalatable to those who are advocates for current undocumented workers as well as those who are concerned that an influx of immigrants (highly-educated or not) raises potential security concerns.

Yet despite the political polarization of these various sides of the immigration issue, there is a certain amount of consensus in regards to specific policies. There is some agreement in Congress that unfettered immigration and a completely porous border are unwise, and an acknowledgement that immigration in some form can prove beneficial to the U.S. But how to honor these objectives in a cost-effective fashion remains an open question, as does the 'type' of immigrant the U.S. should allow to remain within its borders, legally. Does the U.S. seek new immigrants outside of those who have current undocumented status, or does the U.S. honor migrants who have made a substantive contribution to the U.S. (paying taxes in the case of some) despite their undocumented status?

Of course, in this controversy, there are those who suggest that focusing on border security is less effective than focusing on employer behavior. A number of states, including Arizona, have enacted legislation to penalize employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. "The goal on both the state and federal level is to punish egregious cases and convince farmers, restaurant owners, clothing manufacturers, meatpackers and other employees - employers to change their behavior" (Conan 2011). Rather than concentrating agents at the border, it is argued that a more effective strategy is to focus on employers -- if employers have a disincentive to hire illegal workers and the work dries up, than the numbers of illegal immigrants will naturally decrease.

Research design

The immigration debate is further complicated by the fact that actual figures about illegal immigration are highly contentious. According to an independent report by the bipartisan Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the current methodology of assessing the success of current DHS policy is problematic because "the number of apprehensions is not self-explanatory…It could mean people are being deterred from crossing, but it could also mean a lot of other things. When you think about it, it could even mean Border Patrol is doing a worse job because they're catching fewer people" (Brown 2013). Another possible hypothesis is that decreased numbers of apprehensions are due to the softening of the U.S. economy and the dearth of attractive jobs for illegal migrants -- there was a notable influx of returnees immediately after the credit crisis of 2008.

Increased border security would keep this youngster at home where he belongs, and would also help do away with the smugglers (coyotes) who prey on the immigrants and charge them exorbitant sums to lead them across desolate deserts undetected.
Along with increased border security, it makes good sense to strengthen the Customs Department and streamline the immigration process for legal immigrants who choose to follow the rules when they enter the country. This would allow more productive citizens to enter the country, while increased security would stem the unchecked flow of illegal immigrants into the country. The main purpose of increased security at the borders should be to stop illegal and threatening activity, not to simply turn away illegal immigrants. Increased security should ensure that drug and terrorist activity is severely limited, and that Americans are safer in their country, rather than more vulnerable to terrorist activity and attack.

Finally, in…...

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References

Coleman, Michael. "The Economics of Security - the Price of Preparedness." World and I June 2002: 20.

Editors. "Border Fence Project." BorderFenceProject.com. 2007. 28 April 2007.  http://www.borderfenceproject.com/ 

Harman, Danna. "South of the Border: Fence is no Deterrent." Christian Science Monitor. 2006. 28 April 2007.  http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0329/p01s03-woam.html 

Nevins, Joseph. Operation Gatekeeper: The Rise of the "Illegal Alien" and the Making of the U.S.-Mexico Boundary. New York: Routledge, 2002.

Improvements in Border Security
Since the events of September 11, 2001 border security has been an increasingly contentious issue in United States politics and in everyday life. While most everyone in the country agreed that something must be done to stem the tide of illegal immigrants pouring into the U.S. seemingly unabated, there was some disagreement about the nature of the changes that needed to be implemented. While border security has vastly improved in terms of number of guards patrolling the region and the intensity with which they scrutinize border, the overall results have been mixed, with illegal immigration continuing to be a problem that confounds the authorities. The tightening of the border has also complicated the dealings of average, law-abiding citizens on both sides. The restrictions and regulations surrounding border security have complicated travel abroad for U.S. citizens while also, at times, impeding business dealings that straddle both sides of…...

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References

Ahern, J.P. (2009). Secure borders, safe travel, legal trade. U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Retrieved from:

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/about/mission/strategic_plan_09_14.ctt/strategic_plan_09_14.pdf

US Department of Homeland Security. (2011). Border patrol overview. Retrieved from:

Border agents will be allowed to make arrests on city streets, by Gregory Alan Gross, San Diego Union Tribune, August 16, 2003.
An order that angered many San Diego-Based Border Patrol agents and caused a firestorm of public outcry from conservatives, anti-immigration activists, and "law-and-order" advocates, has been rescinded by higher-ups in Washington, D.C. It is now legal again for the 1,600 Border Patrol agents who work for the San Diego office to stop and question suspected illegal immigrants on city streets - in San Diego and in outlying suburban neighborhoods. On August 8, San Diego Border Patrol Sector Chief William T. Veal issued a memo which ordered the agents to cease their policy of stopping suspected illegal immigrants on the streets. The order stated that agents were barred from "any interior enforcement or city patrol operations in or near residential areas or places of employment." Why?

On August 2, a Mexican…...

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References

Gross, Gregory Alan. "Border Agents will be Allowed to make Arrests on City

Streets." www.SignonSandiego.com:The San Diego Union-Tribune (2003).

Lipsky, Michael. Street-Level Bureaucracy: Dilemmas of the Individual in Public

Services. New York: Russell Sage Foundation,1980.

Accordingly, the Lower Rio Grande Valley National ildlife Refuge, the former Sabal Palms Audubon Sanctuary, and the Nature Conservancy's Southmost Preserve would all be subjected to direct environmental auditing. Comparative figures measuring current findings against archived findings will provide a quantifiable understanding of the impact being levied by the wall in these specific areas. The sanctuaries have been selected for a number of reasons, specifically owing to the claim that these have been directly impacted by the construction of the Border all and based on the assumption that these sanctuaries will already possess a significant set of archived data on environmental features such air, soil and water quality, wildlife migration habits and the environmental safety of human habitation.
It is thus that the proposed study here seeks to support the claim that the border wall constructed in the LRGV is a both a poor response to the immigration crisis and…...

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Works Cited:

Daily KOS. (2010). Walling off the Nature Conservancy. m.dailykos.com.

Mattei, E. (2009). Borderline: When it Comes to the Texas/Mexico Wall, No One's Sitting on the Fence. A Nation Divided. Online at  http://blogs.swarthmore.edu/borderwall/?tag=rio-grande-valley 

No Border Wall (NBW). (2010). Texas Politicians Ignoring the Danger That the Border Wall Poses to South Texas Levees. No Texas Border Wall. Online at

Security and Co-Operation in Europe
The topics before the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) are: Combating Human Trafficking; Supporting Post-Conflict Stabilization and Institution- Building in Kyrgyzstan; and Energy Supply as a Factor of Instability. Greece is dedicated to assisting the OCSE to combat human trafficking, to supporting OCSE initiatives to stabilize and build democratic institutions in Kyrgyzstan, and I. Combating Human Trafficking

As a committed member of the United Nations and the European Union, Greece supports the objectives outlined by both organizations to combat human trafficking. . Accordingly in an effort to combat human trafficking, Greece has increased its efforts to disrupt major human smuggling rings and arrest the individuals involved, and coordinated these efforts with similar efforts by both the European Union and the United Nations. The delegation from Greece signals that its enforcement has been stepped up, which is reflected in the increased number of cases.…...

Economic entities can be influenced by the area they are located in, with the entities positioned in the vicinity of economic blocks like NAFTA or the European Union being advantaged and thus more likely to engage in trade. People in North America and those in Western Europe are advantaged because of their position, meaning that the trade business they get involved in is normally more intense in comparison to the trade performed by economic entities that reside further away from economic blocks.
Security has always been a crucial matter when it came to freight transportation. However, this topic has not been given special attention until the 9/11 events, which marked the beginning of great changes in transportation policies. It previously seemed perfectly normal to check freights for illegal substances, undocumented immigrants, and piracy. Even with that, the World Trade Center events brought forward a new set of security concerns. The…...

Improving the United States Custom and Border Protection Agency
Alden, E. W. (2012). Immigration and Border Control. Cato Journal, 32(1), 37-46

Like Polner, in Coordinated Border Management: From Theory to Practice, the author of this particular article identifies the need to ensure that border security benefits the economy of the country. In so doing, he seeks ways of making "border security compatible with a sensible immigration system that strengthens the U.S. economy rather than weakens it." Unlike the other authors listed in tis text, Winter also gives a brief history of U.S. border patrol. This article will come in handy as I seek to highlight the consequences of the border security enforcement approaches in place currently. The article also outlines the various strategies that could be utilized in seeking to further enhance the flexibility as well as effectiveness of border security in the future. Its relevance cannot, therefore, be overstated.

Bullock, J.A., Haddow,…...

Port Security The CBP (Customs and Border Protection) is a unit in the homeland security department and is the agency responsible for regulating, monitoring and facilitating flow of products at the points of entry. CBP policy formulation is done is such a way as to ensure that there is smooth movement of cargo through the border line. CBP enforces the customs and trade rules which are put in place with a view of protecting businesses and customers in the U.S. and collect revenue. CBP also enforces security laws for imports formulated with an objective of preventing illegal drugs, mass destruction weapons and contraband commodities from accessing the U.S.A. The U.S. congress is charged with the duty of defining and authorising the functions of international trade within CBP, allocation of funds for conducting program CBP oversight. The current laws authorising facilitation of trade and enforcing CBP functions are centred on a balance…...

"
One of the largest issues between the two nations is the issue of truck passage. In the past trucks carrying goods or cargo had enjoyed a cursory glance as they crossed into the other nation however, after the World Trade Towers came down border agents on both sides of the border began to investigate trucks with much more scrutiny than ever before.

Historic allies, Canada and the United States agreed following 9-11 to a plan for a "secure and smart border" both U.S. And Canadian officials said would protect against terrorist attacks while facilitating this vital stream of trade. Seventy percent of the trade with Canada is truck-borne, with a truck crossing the border every three seconds in a stream of 200,000 vehicles each day (Canada, 2002).

The essence of that agreement was that the United States and Canada would devise ways to identify regular, unthreatening traffic in people and cargo and…...

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References

Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Accessed 10-22-06)

 http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/charter/index.html#circulation 

Danna, Anthony and Oscar H. Gandy 2002 All that glitters is not gold: Digging beneath the surface of data mining. Journal of Business Ethics 40: 373-386.

Ericson, Richard V. And Kevin Haggerty 1997 Policing the Risk Society. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

Corrections
Principal Directorates of Department of Homeland Security

Border and Transportation Security

The largest component of the Department of Homeland Security is the Directorate of Border and Transportation Security (BTS). This division is responsible for maintaining the security of the nation's borders and transportation systems. BTS employees about 58% of DHS's total employees, has nearly half of its operating budget, and includes what was formerly TSA, Customs, the border security functions of INS, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and FLETC. Just like the other directorates of DHS, it is managed by an undersecretary of homeland security (United States Department of Homeland Security, 2012).

This department brought together several agencies from such departments as the Treasury Department, the Department of Justice, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Agriculture. The mission of this directorate is to secure the borders and transportation systems of the United States and to enforce immigration laws. This…...

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References

About the Directorate for Management. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/editorial_0096.shtm

About the Science and Technology Directorate. (2011). Retrieved from States Department of Border and Transportation Security. (2010). Retrieved from  http://homelandsecurity.uslegal.com/department-of-homeland-security/components -http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/editorial_0530.shtmUnited

of-the-department-of-homeland-security/border-and-transportation-security/

Department of Homeland Security. (2012). Retrieved from  http://www.gov.com/agency/dhs/

Regarding Border ecurity, "the Department of Homeland ecurity prevents and investigates illegal movements across our borders, including the smuggling of people, drugs, cash, and weapons" (DH.gov. Border ecurity. 2012. PP. 1). Customs, Coast Guard, and Immigration (IN) are working departments in this area.

Preparedness, Response, Recovery refers to "providing a coordinated, comprehensive federal response and mounting a swift and effective recovery effort" (DH.gov. Preparedness. Response. Recovery. 2012. PP. 1). FEMA is the direct provider of government action and coordination in this realm.

On Immigration, "the Department is responsible for providing immigration-related services and benefits such as naturalization and work authorization" (DH.gov. Immigration. 2012. PP. 1). IN is the primary vehicle in this context however, cross-over with Border ecurity functions are common.

Lastly, DH engages in cyber security "keeping our federal civilian networks secure, and secure the cyberspace and critical infrastructure on which we all depend" (DH.gov. Cyber ecurity. 2012. PP. 1 ). This…...

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Succinctly, no! The encompassing mission of the DHS is so broad as to incorporate far too many active departments, agencies directorates, and components for the structure to effectively work. The flow chart itself is complex in its reporting and layered approach. The unification which is necessary to protect the U.S. from threats is not possible under the auspices of a broad tent approach to control and information dissemination. As an example, a recent report indicated "86 reported attacks on computer systems in the U.S. that control infrastructure, factories, and databases between October 2011 and February 2012" (Schmidt, M. March 13, 2012. PP. 1); yet no one Federal agency "has the authority to compel businesses that run the nation's infrastructure to improve their security" (Schmidt, M. March 13, 2012. PP. 1). If the DHS were to assume control of this task, the assumption would be that economies of scale in resources and scope would allow for greater efficacy. The counter is that the nimbleness and coordination necessary to prevent such hacking is anathema under a monolithic structure. Decentralization would be a more logical method of countering the multiple risks to homeland security.

2. Are there any federal, state, and/or local agencies present in DHS that do not belong? If so, explain why / if not, explain why. Be detailed.

The best example, and most obvious is FEMA, the

At the same time, officials report an uptick in corruption-related investigations. Since October 2004, 136 Customs and Border Protection employees have been indicted on or convicted of corruption-related charges." (Becker, p. 1)
And on a broader institutional level, there is significant evidence that DHS, constructed to respond to threats of terrorism, has been used to justify the use of military and federal resources for preventing immigration along our shared border with Mexico. According to Sols (2010), "Through Sept. 7 this fiscal year, 176,736 criminal immigrants have been removed from the U.S. By Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That surpasses the total for all of last year, when 136,343 were removed." (Sols, p. 1) These figures suggest that Homeland Security's focus is highly susceptible to the political pressures of the time as opposed to the prevention of potentially catastrophic terrorist attacks.

Beyond this, because DHS is so generally unaccountable, it possesses an undue…...

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Works Cited:

Becker, a. (2012). Homeland Security Office Accused of Faking Reports on Internal Investigations. Huffington Post.

Cordes, J.J.; Yezer, a.; Young, G.; Foreman, M.C. & Kirschner, C. (2006). Estimating Economic Impacts of Homeland Security Measures. George Washington Institute of Public Policy.

Martinez, C. (2008). Homeland Security's new border-crossing rules prompt concern over economic impact. The Monitor.

Sols, D. (2010). Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano: Focus is on criminal immigrants. Dallas News.

Integrated agreements will assist in targeting the maximum federal funding at the greatest risk counties, cities and states where through the addition of more funds, security of citizens will be increased (U.S. Congress 2010). U.S. Department of Homeland Security should uphold on what it considers being right. It should be firm on actions vital to the country's ability to respond to such issues. It should issue a mandate on funding for the activities, interoperable communications and should not ignore its own requirements. As a result, local and state governments will succeed in achieving interoperable communications (Studeman, 2002).
The DHS must ensure that localities and states attain a certain degree of appropriate interoperable communications. Activities and actions should be given proper funding. In addition, Department of Homeland Security should allow local and state governments to be flexible and make decisions on how they intend to achieve the standard. The DHS enterprise…...

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References

Pincus, W. (2007). An Admonition on Intelligence. New York: ProQuest

US Congress (2010). Congressional Record, V. 153, Pt. 1, January 4, 2007 to January 17, 2007.

New York: Government Printing Office

Studeman, M. (2002). Strengthening the Shield: U.S. Homeland Security Intelligence. Kingston:

While the idea of border security is always innately political, it is even more so right now. Combined with immigration policy, border security helps shape what our country looks like. More importantly, immigration policy helps shape the future electorate, which some people believe will have a dramatic impact on the country’s political future. So, the first thing you should consider is how deeply you want to delve into politics, motivations, and partisan differences. If you do, then you could choose a niche thesis statement focusing on those issues. In addition, you....

Topic 1: Capital Punishment

Opposing Viewpoints:

Proponents: Argue that capital punishment is a just and effective deterrent to crime, while also providing closure to victims' families.
Opponents: Question the morality of state-sanctioned killing, its potential for wrongful convictions, and its disproportionate impact on marginalized communities.

Topic 2: Universal Basic Income

Opposing Viewpoints:

Supporters: Advocate for a universal basic income as a guaranteed safety net that would reduce poverty, stimulate economic growth, and foster innovation.
Critics: Express concerns about the cost, the potential for disincentivizing work, and the inflationary impact on prices.

Topic 3: Abortion Rights

Opposing Viewpoints:

Pro-choice advocates: Argue for the right of women....

Sure! Here are some potential essay topics that could be explored using the Toulmin argument framework:

1. The effectiveness of gun control legislation in reducing crime rates.
2. The impact of social media on mental health and well-being.
3. The importance of implementing sustainable practices in combating climate change.
4. The ethical implications of genetic engineering and designer babies.
5. The debate over the legalization of recreational marijuana.
6. The necessity of implementing stricter regulations on technology companies to protect user privacy.
7. The effectiveness of affirmative action policies in promoting diversity and equality in the workforce.
8. The role of government intervention in regulating the food and....

1. The impact of immigration policies on border communities
2. Border security vs. human rights: finding a balance in immigration enforcement
3. The economic benefits and challenges of immigration at the border
4. The role of border states in shaping national immigration policy
5. The humanitarian crisis at the US-Mexico border and the need for reform
6. The history of immigration and border control in the United States
7. The cultural and social implications of immigration on border towns
8. The role of border security in preventing human trafficking and drug smuggling
9. The effects of immigration on cross-border trade and commerce
10. The role of immigration in shaping....