Trump Has Put America’s Security First at the Mexico Border Opinion
In recent time border security has put forth to be the most controversial and talked about issue in American politics. The south border with Mexico in particular has become a symbol of national security issues, immigration policy debates and economic issues. Trump border security at the Mexico border in made border security a issue of his admin’s platform which he set out to do was to make America safer by physically securing the border and going after illegal immigration. This piece reports that in fact what Trump did do was to improve the security of the U.S. at the Mexico border.
A Return to Border Security Issues
When in 2017 Donald Trump took the presidency the issue of border security was present but did not receive the attention his administration would give it. Trump’s talk focused on the issue’s urgency which he presented as a matter of securing the border against illegal immigration, drug trafficking and human smuggling. His administration put forward greater resources to border enforcement agencies like the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The US will not put up with open borders which threaten national security
One of the most public and symbolic actions by Trump was the building out and expansion of physical borders at the U.S.-Mexico border. The administration put forth a aggressive push for the construction of new fences and repair of old ones. By early 2021 we saw hundreds of miles of new and replacement barriers go in which in turn improved border agent’s ability to detect and stop illegal crossings.
Physical barriers though not perfect do play a key role in reducing and funnelling unauthorized crossings into areas which law enforcement can better handle. Also these barriers put in a psychological dissuasion for human traffickers and cartels which in the past used to take advantage of gaps and weak spots in the border’s physical structure. By going in to secure the border with physical infrastructure we sent out a strong message that illegal entry would be difficult and risk filled.
Advanced Technology and Surveillance
In terms of what was put in place beyond the physical barriers, the Trump admin put a great deal of money into high tech border monitoring. We saw the use of drones, motion sensors, infrared cameras, and radar which really helped out in those remote and rough border regions. What we got was a very advanced system which allowed border patrol to not only detect but also react to illegal action at an unprecedented scale.
Technology which was integrated with boots on the ground created a tiered defense system. This which is a many pronged approach made it hard for smugglers and unauthorized migrants to go by undetected. Border agents had better tools to collect info and to work in a coordinated way which in turn reduced incidents of illegal crossings and related crimes like drug trafficking or human smuggling that affect American communities.
Fighting Drug Trafficking and Cartel Violence
The south is a key point of entry for people and drugs which include opioids, methamphetamines and fentanyl that have hit U.S. communities hard. Cartels take advantage of loose border security to bring in illegal goods which in turn fuel crime, overdose related deaths, and economic decline in many areas.
Trump’s border strategies which sought out to interrupt these illicit activities via increased interdiction which in turn we saw the admin put forth a harder line which had drug cartels and smugglers on the defensive which in turn made it hard for them to operate. While the issue is still very much a work in progress the admin did see success in reducing the amount of illegal drugs which made their way in and thus protected American lives and public safety.
Impact of Illegal Immigration and Crime Rates
During Trump’s time in office we saw a reduction in illegal border crossings and at times in apprehensions which in turn proved the admin’s policies’ success. Although many variables play into migration patterns what we did see was a combination of increased enforcement, the construction of physical barriers and tough deportation policies which we took to be that administration’s deterrent to would be migrants trying to enter unauthorized.
Also we saw that which which improved border security reduced what we were seeing in terms of crime related to illegal immigration in border towns like assaults, theft, and sexual violence. What we had was safer borders which in turn made for safer communities for American residents near the border but also for the nation as a whole which in turn saw a less taxed local law enforcement and social services.
Issues and Problems with Border Security Measures
Despite that which is good in terms of security, Trump’s border policies did not go unchallenged. The administration was put under great fire for family separation, humanitairan issues, and the immigration courts’ back log. Also reported was that while security did see growth, the approach put forward by the administration was often at a cost of compassion and created unneccessary suffering.
These issues present that border security which is very important must be put in balance with humane treatment and comprehensive immigration reform. Also we see that the focus on closing security gaps was key which in the past loose policies have enabled chaos and abuse. The Trump administration went to put national security first at a time of growing threats which they accepted would bring some controversy but they deemed that for greater safety it was a trade off.
Trump’s legacy in border security policy which
Across the political spectrum Trump’s effort proved out the value of secure borders in terms of national sovereignty and public safety. His admin set new models in enforcement, technology use, and infrastructure investment which will be used as a base by future legislators. Now the debate should be on fine tuning these issues to make them not only effective and sustainable but also which respect human rights.
Border security is at the core of America’s immigration and national security policies. During Trump’s time in office we saw that which works is a robust border enforcement that uses modern technology and infrastructure which in turn reduces illegal entry and increases safety. As we move forward what is needed is a balanced approach which at the same time secures the border and addresses the roots of migration through diplomacy and economic development.
Some related articles
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Border Wall System
- The White House Archives – Immigration and Border Security (Trump Administration)
- Pew Research – The Border Wall, Immigration, and Public Opinion
- Congressional Research Service – Border Security and Immigration Enforcement
- Brookings Institution – Evaluating Trump’s Immigration and Border Policies
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