Measuring the Effectiveness of Border Security Between Ports-of-Entry by Henry H. Willis Joel B. Predd Paul K. Davis & Wayne P. Brown

Author:Henry H. Willis, Joel B. Predd, Paul K. Davis & Wayne P. Brown [Willis, Henry H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8330-5077-9
Publisher: RAND Corporation
Published: 2010-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

4.3.2 Contributions of Border Interdiction, Deterrence, and Networked Intelligence

There are three main outcomes of border security that contribute to preventing illegal migration, and they reflect fundamental border-security capabilities of interdiction, deterrence, and networked intelligence. In many ways, the outcomes mirror the drug-control outcomes, but some important differences arise that require careful consideration.

The first outcome is to intercept migrants transiting illegally across the border.5 Migrants intercepted while transiting illegally (1) return to their source country voluntarily, (2) return to their source country involuntarily after court proceedings or coordination with their source country, or (3) disappear into the resident population while they wait without detention for a court appearance or removal. Migrants who return to their source country, under whatever circumstances, might or might not attempt illegal migration again. These different ways an interdiction might resolve distinguish illegal migration from drug smuggling.

The second outcome is to increase the risks and costs of migrating illegally. Logically, there are three ways migrants might alter their behavior as a result of increased risks and costs: (1) they are deterred from immigrating to the United States altogether, (2) they choose legal means of migrating to the United States, or (3) they adopt riskier or costlier ways of migrating illegally. The possibility of driving illegal migrants to choose legal migration alternatives further distinguishes illegal migration from drug control and terrorism. Massey (2005) describes evidence that, in fact, many Mexican migrants chose riskier and costlier alternatives as a result of increases in border enforcement due to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Operation Blockade, and Operation Gatekeeper.

The final outcome is to contribute intelligence relevant to other U.S. government agencies or to state and local governments. Whether or not DHS interdicts any migrants or increases the risks or costs of illegal migration, border-security functions provide an awareness of illegal cross-border flows that may be useful to the state and local governments where the migrants reside or to other federal agencies. For example, the understanding of trends in illegal flows may affect how federal resources are allocated to support public services at the state and local levels.

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