Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Case Study Example

Position paper: Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement The innovative policies related to border security, immigration and customs play an important role in safeguarding a nation from internal/external aggressions. Within the scenario of national security, the primary responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in U.S. is to protect the civilians from internal/external aggressions and natural/manmade disasters. But some former departments proved to be ineffective to deal with the security problems in the modern world. So, the dissolution of the former Immigration and Naturalization and Customs Service was an important step to cope up with innovative challenges related to national security. Thesis statement: The termination of U.S. Immigration and Naturalization and Customs Service and the creation of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is based on well thought plan because the same resulted in the co-ordination of different agencies and effective implementation of policies related to border security, immigration, and customs in U.S. The dissolution of U.S. Immigration and Naturalization and Customs Service Generally, the safety of civilians is interconnected with the efficiency of special departments formulated to protect a nation from internal/external aggressions and natural/manmade disasters. Besides, outdated security strategies cannot save a nation from internal/external aggressions. Earlier, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in U.S. played an important role in safeguarding the civilians from internal/external aggressions. John Powell opined that, “From 1933 to 2003, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was the agency of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for reinforcing immigration laws, administering immigration benefits, and, in conjunction with the Department of State, admitting and resettling refugees” (140). During 1990s, influence of communism among the world nations began to decline and cross-border terrorism became an imminent threat to world nations. Within this context, the U.S. government came to realize the fact that outdated policies related to border security, immigration and customs cannot safeguard civilian security. One can see that the INS, create in the year 1933, aimed to regulate the influx of immigrants to the U.S. Within the context of immigration policies, the Immigration Act of 1891 can be considered as an important step to regulate immigration to the U.S. But the INS provided ample importance to naturalization of the immigrants, and less importance to border security. After the disintegration of communism in 1990s, cross-border terrorism became an important problem which threatened the existence of world nations. Besides, the 9/11 terrorist attack forced the U.S. government to dissolve the INS in 2003 and to form separate wings to deal with citizenship and immigration (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), customs and border protection (Customs and Border Protection) and enforcement of policies related to immigration and customs (Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)) under the DHS. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Within the context of border security, immigration policies/enforcement of polices related to customs enforcement, and the creation of CBP and ICE are most important. One can see that the formation of DHS in 2000s can be considered as an important step to deal with the problems related to terrorism. On the other side, the INS was generally considered as an outdated agency because the same proved to be ineffective to deal with cross-border terrorism and related issues in the society. The primary duty of CBP was to deal with the individuals who are trying to enter the U.S. by illegal methods. The CBP’s duty is extended to the prevention of terrorists who try to enter the U.S. soil. One can see that terrorists adopt illegal methods to enter a nation. So the responsibility vested on CBP is high. Besides, law enforcement is another duty vested on the CBP authorities. The ICE is the other branch which deals with law enforcement. In the U.S., all the criminal investigations related to border security is vested on ICE. One can see that public safety is interconnected with the efficiency of the agencies dealing with border security. So, ICE’s responsibility is high because effective implementation of laws related to immigration/customs is important. The creation of CBP and ICE under DHS: well thought plan or serious policy flaw The dissolution of the Immigration and Naturalization and Customs Service is based on well thought plan by the U.S. authorities because this agency proved to be ineffective to handle cross-border terrorism and related issues. On the other side, the creation of CBP and ICE under DHS proves to be effective. One can see that the CBP plays the most important role in protecting the U.S. borders. The strict measures adopted by CBP officials in implementing the policies related to border security is helpful to reduce drug trafficking, cross-border terrorism, and human trafficking. John S. Dempsey stated that, “In 2009, the DHS reported that on a typical day in 2008 at U.S. ports of entry CBP officers inspected more than 1.09 million travelers, including 331,000 vehicles; processed more than 70,000 truck, rail, and sea containers; seized more than 7,621 pounds of illegal narcotics; and inspected more than 4,400 agricultural items and pests” (388). One can see that international co-operation is essential to combat terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism and related issues. Within this context, the CBP officials provide ample importance to international co-operation and partnership in dealing with terrorism. Larry J. Siegel made clear that, “CBP also partners with other countries through its Container Security Initiative and the Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism program” (211). So, one can easily identify the fact that the CBP is able to reduce drug trafficking, cross-border terrorism, and human trafficking. On the other side, prevention of illegal immigration by implementing strict rules and regulations related to immigration is one of the responsibilities of the ICE in U.S. Howard Abadinsky stated that, “The primary role of the immigration enforcement arm of ICE is to prevent illegal entry into the United States and to apprehend those who have entered illegally” (393). In addition, the Immigration and Nationality Act Section 287(g) is helpful for the ICE authorities to co-ordinate their investigations on illegal immigration. Besides, the ICE authorities provide training facilities to different agencies in U.S. This is important because co-ordination and co-operation among law enforcement agencies is important for the smooth functioning of ICE as an agency responsible to implement laws related to immigration and customs. According to Julia Preston, “The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency announced on Wednesday that it had arrested 2,901 immigrants who have criminal records, highlighting the Obama administration’s policy of focusing on such people while putting less emphasis on deporting illegal immigrants who pose no demonstrated threat to public safety” (A11). From a different angle of view, the ICE authorities are aware of the problems related to illegal immigration and are responsible to take apt measures. So, the effectiveness of CBP and the ICE proves that the creation of these agencies can be considered as the end result of well thought plan, not serious policy flaw. Summing, immigration and naturalizations are the key elements behind the diversity that can be seen in the American society. Besides, immigration is interconnected with the history of the U.S. as a federation of states. Still, illegal immigration hinders the growth and development of the society as a whole. The different agencies within the Department of Homeland Security are authorized to hinder illegal immigration and cross-border terrorism. Within this scenario, the innovative measures adopted by the CBP and ICE are noteworthy because these agencies play the most important role in hindering illegal immigration and cross-border terrorism. So, the responsibility shouldered by these agencies is high and the dissolution of U.S. Immigration and Naturalization and Customs Service can be considered as the end result of well thought plan by the U.S. authorities. Works Cited Abadinsky, Howard. Organized Crime. Belmont: Cengage Learning, 2009. Print. Dempsey, John S. Introduction to Private Security. Belmont: Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Preston, Julia. “Immigration Agency Arrests 3,168 in Six-Day Sweep Across U.S.” New York Times 3 Apr. 2012: A11. Print. Powell, John. Encyclopedia of North American Immigration. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2009. Print. Siegel, Larry J. Introduction to Criminal Justice. Belmont: Cengage Learning, 2009. Print. Read More