Immigration Checkpoints Along the U.S. - Mexico Border
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 When
driving across the U.S. - Mexico border, one
will undoubtedly encounter an immigration checkpoint. Driving from the United
States to get into Mexico is relatively easy, but leaving Mexico and returning
to the United States proves to be much more difficult. When driving into Mexico one is usually waived
through by a Mexican official and it is easy to simply drive into the country
without being stopped. However, in some instances, one’s car may
randomly be selected for a search and pulled to the side. However, getting back to the U.S. is a longer
process that may mean waiting in lines for hours and enduring more scrutiny by
border
patrol officials. One is required to stop and will most likely have to provide
legal documentation to confirm one’s identity and citizenship status. The American border patrol agent
will usually interrogate the driver as to where they came from, where they are
going, and if they are carrying any contraband. It is also highly likely that the
border patrol agents will question the driver (and their passengers) about their
legal status. Border patrol officers may search vehicles for contraband.
In addition, it is a common sight to see a border patrol officer walking down
the lines of cars heading to the U.S. with a “drug dog," sniffing
vehicles for any contraband like drugs or explosives. While the majority of
checkpoints are permanent, there are some that are temporary and are moved around
about every two weeks. It is highly likely that individuals will encounter more
than one checkpoint as they travel north of the border.
Individuals also have the option of walking to the U.S. from Mexico, instead of driving through the U.S.-Mexico
border. However, the officials are just as strict and the process is
equally time-consuming.
Thousands of drivers and pedestrians go through this experience on a daily basis
at the U.S.-Mexico border for the purpose of border security. For residents in
neighboring cities, living near any of the 34 checkpoints (temporary or
permanent) has become a nightmare. For example, residents of the communities
surrounding Nogales and Tucson, Arizona are voicing their opposition to the construction of a $30 million
permanent checkpoint approved by Congress last year, on a nearby Interstate. Throughout the years, a
temporary checkpoint has been rotated throughout the Interstate on a weekly
basis. The U.S. Border Patrol, which is under the Department of Homeland Security, sees the permanent checkpoint as being a
necessity for improved security. They maintain that the checkpoints are vital to
security and cite the millions of dollars of drugs
that have been confiscated at checkpoints and the number of arrests that have
been made. The residents argue that a permanent checkpoint will make the
communities more dangerous. Residents of towns close to checkpoints complain
about having to deal with increased
smugglers, drug dealers, and crimes. Since 9/11 millions of dollars have been
invested in the border with Mexico to add Border Patrol agents, barriers and for
other improvements. The FBI agents working at the U.S. Mexico border have also
stepped up their efforts to catch corrupt Border Patrol officers.
The U.S.-Mexico border as opposed to the U.S.-Canada border tends to get more
attention and government funds. Whereas the U.S.-Mexico border has many physical
barriers like fences and increased vigilance, the Canadian border lacks many of
these barriers. There are less Border Patrol agents and checkpoints in Canada
but the same policies apply to both borders. In many regions of the U.S.-Canada
border, individuals have little trouble getting to the U.S. They can swim, boat,
jog or walk and have sometimes entered through national parks. Some believe the
U.S.-Canada border is not given enough attention especially when it comes to
terrorists. Canada is known for a liberal immigration and asylum system. On an
annual basis Canada receives anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 refugee
applications. It has been reported that greater than half of the
refugee
applications get approval. While Canadian immigration checks applicants against
databases, there are some refugees who are unable to present documentation to
confirm their identity or present fraudulent documents. This is of great concern
to many because terrorists may be capitalizing on the system and setting up
terrorist networks near the U.S.-Canada border. Some Canadian refugees have
included ethnic group militia members from Hezbolla, Algeria’s Armed Islamic
Group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and Babbar Khalsa. Many groups have
raised funds in Canada and some have gone on to commit terrorist attacks.
Nonetheless, both the Mexican and Canadian borders face different challenges
often relating to terrain and budgets. However, they
simultaneously face the same challenges relating to immigrants, smugglers, drug dealers and
terrorists. Because both the northern and southern borders serve as a gateway to the
U.S., analysts claim they are of equal importance and deserve equal attention.
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