Immigration Task Force

Issue Brief: Border Security Assets | 1

ISSUE BRIEF:

Border Security Assets JULY 2013

For most of U.S. history, little to no security existed along the southwest border with

Mexico. This began to change after the United States enacted its first immigration

quotas in the late 19th century. Irregular efforts to patrol the border began in 1904, and

Congress officially established the Border Patrol in 1924. Early efforts focused mainly on

unauthorized Chinese immigration and unlawful liquor smuggling.

Over the following decades, a focus on unauthorized immigration from Mexico led to

substantial increases in the U.S. presence along the southern border. The total number

of border agents has more than doubled since 2002, and the extent of border fencing

has more than quadrupled since 2005. Investments in surveillance technology also

increased substantially in the past decade, including a new network of mobile

surveillance systems and watch towers. Today, the United States maintains an

unprecedented level of investment in border security, particularly along the southwest

border.

Border Patrol agents. The number of agents deployed on the southern border

increased dramatically in the past decade. The Border Patrol had 450 agents when it was

established in 1924, which increased to more than 1,400 by the end of World War II. In

2002, the total number of border patrol agents surpassed 10,000 for the first time. By

2012, the force had more than doubled to 21,394. The Border Security, Economic

Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S.744) would require Customs and

Border Protection (CBP) to increase the number of Border Patrol agents along the

southwest border to 38,405 before unauthorized immigrants move from Registered

Provisional Immigrant (RPI) to Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status.

Issue Brief: Border Security Assets | 2

Figure 1. Border Patrol agents, FY1993-2012 and under S.744

Source: CBP.

Fencing and tactical infrastructure. The Secure Fence Act of 2006 authorized the

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to construct at least 700 miles of fencing along

the southwest border. In September 2007, 155 miles of fence were complete; by

December 2008, 578 miles. Today, 651 miles of barriers are complete including 352

miles of pedestrian fencing. Tactical infrastructure such as stadium lighting also sits

along the fence. S.744 would require the DHS secretary to certify that 700 miles of

pedestrian fence exist before RPI immigrants could adjust to LPR status.

Figure 2. Miles of Southwest Border Fence, 2005–2013 and under

S.744

Sources: AILA (2005), CBP (2007, 7/2008, 11/2008, 2012), GAO (2011), U.S. Senate (2013).

18,516

21,394

38,405

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10

15

20

25

30

35

40

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Southwest Border All Border Regions S.744

135155

335

578

650 651 651

299

352

Under S.744:700

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023

Overall Fencing Vehicle Fencing Pedestrian Fencing Under S.744:

Issue Brief: Border Security Assets | 3

Surveillance systems. Border Patrol’s network of ground-surveillance technology

expanded significantly between 2005 and 2012, including three new types of mobile-

surveillance systems. The Office of Air and Marine manages CBP’s aerial- and marine-

surveillance assets with a staff of about 1,200 agents. Additionally, the 300 National

Guard troops remaining from President Obama’s 2010 deployment focus on aerial

surveillance.

Table 1. Surveillance assets in all border sectors, 2012 and prior

years

Source: CRS (May 2013), CBP (December 2011).

Funding. Large increases in agents, fencing, and surveillance assets were paired with

corresponding increases in funding. Border Patrol’s 2012 budget of $3.5 billion more

than tripled its 2000 budget of $1.1 billion, and it exceeded 1990’s funding level by

more than 13 times.

GROUND-BASED 2012 2005

Unattended ground sensors 13,406 11,200

Remote Video Surveillance Systems (daylight and infrared cameras) 337 269 (2006)

Short & medium truck-mounted Mobile Vehicle Surveillance Systems 198 0

Long range truck-mounted Mobile Surveillance Systems 41 0

Hand-held portable medium range surveillance systems 12 0

Integrated Fixed Towers developed through SBInet 15 0

AERIAL AND MARINE 2012 2011

Aircraft 269

Flight hours 81,045 94,968

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) 10 0 (2006)

Flight hours 5,737 4,406

Marine vehicles 293

Underway hours 47,742 133,374

Issue Brief: Border Security Assets | 4

Figure 3. Border Patrol budget, 1990–2012

Source: CBP.

Operation Streamline. According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), CBP

has in recent years promoted “high-consequence” enforcement for apprehending would-

be crossers at the southwestern border. The strategy attempts “to discourage repeat

entries and disrupt migrant smuggling networks by imposing tougher penalties.” As part

of this strategy, CBP has de-emphasized voluntary removals in favor of formal

deportation and criminal charges. Voluntary removals were 77 percent of enforcement

outcomes in 2005, but just 14 percent in 2012 (Figure 4).

Key to this strategy is Operation Streamline, which aims to prosecute 100 percent of

individuals apprehended in certain border sectors. Streamline began in the Del Rio

Sector in December 2005 and expanded to four others by June 2008. In 2012, 45

percent of immigration-related prosecutions along the southwest border were processed

through the program. Judicial and detention capacity limit Streamline’s ability to meet

its 100 percent prosecution goal. For example, the Tucson Sector can currently handle

only about 70 Streamline prosecutions per day; S.744 authorizes funding for up to 210

prosecutions per day through that sector (§ 1104).

Figure 4. Enforcement outcomes (in thousands), FY2005–2012

Source: CRS (direct reprint).

$263

$1,055

$1,515

$2,278

$3,531

$0

$500

$1,000

$1,500

$2,000

$2,500

$3,000

$3,500

$4,000

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

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Issue Brief: Border Security Assets | 5

Conclusions. Since the last round of comprehensive immigration reform proposals in

the mid-2000s, the United States has substantially increased its investments in border

security. Border agents have nearly doubled, fencing has more than quadrupled,

surveillance technology is more widely deployed, and consequences for would-be

crossers have increased. During that time, unauthorized immigration has fallen while the

Border Patrol’s “effectiveness rate” has increased. However, the recession corresponded

with the decline in unauthorized entries and a rise in effectiveness, making it difficult to

know exactly how effective these investments have been.

In today’s immigration reform debate, stakeholders present a wide range of perspectives

on these border security increases. Some argue that the border is more secure than it

has ever been, while others advocate further investments. Many believe that the border

is overemphasized and that efforts to halt unauthorized immigration should place more

focus on measures such as employment verification and entry/exit tracking. Ultimately,

Congress will determine the adequacy of current border assets, as well as the border’s

role in an overall strategy to control unauthorized immigration.