The Use of Body Cameras in Border Patrol Essay

Border Patrol protects the United States from potential terrorist activities, smuggling, trafficking, and illegal migration along the border. The operations and resource built base that has been conducted over the last twenty years has enabled U.S. Border Patrol to focus on the development and implementation of various Strategic Plans based on identifying high risk areas as well as targeted responses to meet such threats. This proposal is meant to serve as a means of examining Border Patrol policy, past implementation, and ways to develop better practices, better outcomes through identifying what has worked in the past and what is needed in the present.

Border Patrol is an intelligence-driven, risk-based, law enforcement organization and is part of a much bigger change within the United State Government's approach to homeland and border security. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, such a tragedy has spurred a fundamental rethinking concerning cross-border movements, and border security. Thanks to the actions of CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection as well as other agencies, the Southwest Border remains more secure than in past instances. Collaboration, new strategies, and sound practices will continue to ensure progress in securing the nation's borders.

Summary

This is a proposal aimed at identifying Border Patrol policy, Border Patrol effectiveness, and past developments that have led to successful protection of American borders. The proposal includes an introduction discussing the origins of CBP, a problem statement/contemporary issue, a literature review with eight academic sources, and discussions of objectives, resources, and budget for potential additions to the development and implementation of Border Patrol strategies.

Introduction

CBP otherwise known as Customs and Border Protection is the biggest federal law enforcement agency existing within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The agency is charged with the regulation and facilitation of international trade, the enforcement of U.S. regulations (including immigration, trade, and customs) and collection of import duties. With a workforce of over 45,600 sword federal officers and agents, its headquarters resides in Washington, D.C. The main purpose of CBP is to apprehend individuals trying to illegally enter the United States and also prevent terrorist weapons and terrorists from crossing the United States border.

When individuals cross the borders, they often smuggle people, weapons, illegal drugs and other types of contraband. It is up to the CBP to enforce rules and regulations intended to safeguard Americans from diseases, harmful pests, criminals, and intellectual property theft. Aside from the 46,000 sworn officials and agents, there are 12,000 additional employees working as aircraft pilots, agriculture specialists, trade specialists, canine enforcement agents and officers, and mission support staff. The enforcement powers of the CBP are varied and include authority to search and confiscate inbound and outbound shipments, arrest those presenting false information to a customs officer, and detain suspected criminals or illegal migrants.

Due to the CBP being so critically important to the protection of the United States and its borders, CBP receives an over 13.5 billion dollar budget. Some of this budget can go towards development of a new program that will make it a requirement for Border Patrol agents to wear a body camera in order to have their actions against illegal immigrants in particular, supervised. Another important aspect would applying past data of successful strategy developments and implementation and making them standard practice to increase effectiveness of CBP enforcement.

Problem Statement/Contemporary Issue in Criminal Justice

Border Patrol agents have encountered illegal migrants and have acted at times violently towards such peoples. Sometimes shootings of illegals have not been reported among other potentially criminal activities. A Body camera will allow adequate supervision of activities by the Border Patrol. In addition, practices must be standardized and based on effective past instances of implementation and strategy development. This will allow for better use of funding and higher rates of successful protection of the American borders.

Literature Review/Related Research

Violence and higher levels of stringent enforcement has created a rebound effect, reducing overall effectiveness of border patrol. As a 2014 article suggests, when a state or states enact measures that allow for more violence during border patrol service, it spreads to other states. "Noteworthy is how the adoption of more stringent interior enforcement seems to result in a "herding" or "ganging-up" effect, whereby the incidence of verbal and physical abuse rises with the number of states enacting such measures" (Amuedo-Dorantes & Pozo, 2014, p. 2255). Additionally, estimates from data collected suggest through such tactics deportees are more likely to reply that they have jeopardized their lives so they could cross into the United States as a result of due to enhanced border enforcement. Such desperation not only creates higher levels of criminal activity in countries like Mexico, where people hire border crossing specialists, but also increase the chances of illegal immigrants going through any length to cross the border.

If Border Patrol agents are equipped with body cameras, there will be less incidents of violence.

Greenburg suggests to tier Border Patrol agents to again reduce violent apprehensions and also allow for better control of the border. "The primary purpose for tier two auxiliary members would be to improve the effectiveness of the Border Patrol by increasing the number of agents along the border beyond the congressionally restricted number of 18,000 Border Patrol agents" (Greenberg, 2014, p. 164). Other suggestions included a training program for tier one BPA members with a minimum of twelve hours monthly to maintain proficiency in auxiliary member functional areas. Tier two auxiliary members would serve as elite members and would also be fully trained in order to serve as support for Border Patrol agents within each aspect of standard border security operations. The additional training and support can very well provide the kind of protection and support border areas need without sacrificing human rights.

Research also highlights areas where Border Patrol agents encounter the most drug trafficking and alien crossings. "Tucson Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, the busiest sector for alien and drug trafficking along the Southwest land border with Mexico" (Levine & Waters, 2012, p. 1281). By using research that provides information on areas of heavy traffic, border patrol can increase personnel in certain regions, while pulling back in others. This is a cost efficient method that will allow any excess funds to go into body camera purchases.

The United States government has rejected the idea of including body cameras on Border Patrol agents and officials. However, research highlights the increase in number of illegal migrant deaths caused by severe enforcement of border policy. "Evidence suggests that border crossings have become more hazardous since the 'Prevention through Deterrence' policy went into effect in 1995, resulting in an increase in illegal migrant deaths along the southwest border" (Haddal, 2011, p. 26). While it is important to keep illegal immigrants from crossing the border, it is also important to avoid unnecessary deaths due to increased violence. Violent and severe approaches to border patrol have little effect on border crossings. Illegal immigrants will still attempt to cross the border, regardless of how severe enforcement is along territory lines.

Checkpoints in key areas can do more than violent enforcement of border policy. "The Border Patrol finalized three placement decisions for new permanent checkpoints in the last 3 years in accordance with its Design Guide and policy documents (Stanna, 2010, p. 40). The checkpoints in the chapter are all within the state of Texas. They were placed on U.S. Route 83, U.S. Route 62/180, and I-35. These checkpoints were placed in these key areas in order to maximize operational effectiveness as well as reduce any potential adverse impact on the surrounding communities and the public.

Checkpoints according to guidelines, must be placed in areas that offer good visibility of the adjacent region. Furthermore, checkpoints are selected based on proximity to residences, schools and hospitals, businesses, or other kinds of inhabited locations. If checkpoints are placed in areas that have seen increased traffic, this will provide Border Patrol agents with better target areas that will allow for an increase in deterring and preventing illegal crossings or criminal activities. Along with established checkpoints, checkpoint operations programs can also assist in effective conducting of border patrol processes. "Border Patrol Checkpoint Operations is a program that conducts traffic checks at certain points between POEs along the border, located within about one hundred miles of the border" (Shaw-Taylor, 2012, p. 5).

These activities assist in reducing smuggling and involve using VACIS or Vehicle and Cargo Inspection system, a nonintrusive inspection mechanism. If there are concealed explosive and weapons, canine enforcement teams come in and use their specialized and highly trained detector dogs in order to identify such concealed items. In emergencies, these dogs can also perform rescue missions. In terms of identifying potentially useful data, the U.S. government enacted the Automated Targeting System to examine the bill of manifest and lading data. This system helps screen any incoming threats.

Research-based practices allow for the creation of effective strategies. "Some Border Patrol stations and land management agencies have coordinated their responsibilities through use of the…