US Mexico Border Security Policy Essay - 3575 Words

US Mexico Border Security Policy (Research Paper Sample) Content: U.S.-Mexico Border Security PolicyName:Institution: 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 ContentsIntroduction.5Team building process.5Efforts on the Mexican and American side of the border.8Certification of local and federal agents by human rights.8Eliminating the use of racial profiling by border enforcement agencies..9Developing border community program.9Formation of local citizens review committees...9Comprehensive immigration legislations......9Protection of border environment and quality of life.....10Development of non-lethal response techniques and practices..10 Expedite border crossing at the ports of entry.10Promoting an accessible and transparent CBP complaint process11Improving staffing levels and training port personnel11Holding congressional hearings and discussions within border communities11Recognizi ng mutual dependence of communities on both sides of the border....12Reevaluating policies that cause immigration pressure.12Limiting transfer of detainees to remote locations..12Guarantee due process of the law..13Policies and Efforts to aid one another in illegal activities on both sides of the border...13Clearly established guidelines and procedures to guide criminal investigation.....13 Improving oversight of the complaint process...13Replacing safeguard and Hold the Line operations with border community safety and security operations.14Prosecution of border vigilante groups14Compulsory publication and clarification of necessary documents..15Restore discretion to immigration judges.15Creating an immigration hotline15Facilitating accessibility of all immigrants to immigrant courts.16Conclusion16Reference..17Introduction 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 a imed 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 belowTeam 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 bo rder 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 pol icies 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 socie ty. 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...