US Government: Fence & Defence

The borders between the US and it's neighbouring countries , especially Mexico, can range from comprehensive to non-existent. But where no fence exists, one is faced with crossing vast, and possible hostile wildernesses. It's your choice!

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

- Martin Luther King, Jnr.

"I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice."

- Abraham Lincoln

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Incredible, incredulous and 'inde-fens-ible'!

In places, this is all that stands between Mexico and the US. The Americans have to rely upon, for example, helicopter patrols and radar. The actual physical deterrent is virtually non-existent. Where are the signs telling the observer that the US is on the other side of this fence? If they are there, then how far apart are they? What happens if you cross the border and get caught? What happens if you don't get caught?

Well, it depends where you come from. Mexico may be the obvious answer, but it could also be someone just using Mexico to cross into the US. They could could come from anywhere around the world.

While the US is concerned more about anti-terrorism, it's not just terrorists who will be the problem. Drug-smuggling and general people-trafficking are the other two areas of major concern.

Another way for Mexicans to try to gain entry to the US is via Canada. During my own very brief stay as a 'guest' of the Canadian authorities, I chatted briefly to a young Mexican lady (her name is Paola). She had flown into Canada for a very short stay to, so she claims, for a short holiday.

This raised suspicions amongst Canadian officials. Although she seemed perfectly entitled to be in Canada, the mere suspicion she may try to enter the US via the Canadian border was enough for the authorities to stop her entering the country. There again, perhaps they thought she may just attempt to stay in Canada illegally.

It cannot be emphasised enough that the arbitrary decisions made by immigration officials in the US and it's neighbouring countries can be made mostly upon suspicion. Credentials and real purpose count for little. But back to the issue of border protection ...

For a country so concerned about border protection, it appears to be doing very little in places to prevent illegal entry to the country. In fact, the US appears to be relying more upon the geographical 'hostility' of certain locations (desert, etc.) to discourage attempts to get over the border. Part 2 of this feature will look at numerous locations to see exactly how much of a deterrent exists for potential illegal immigrants. We'll also provide links where useful software can be downloaded to expose vulnerable areas of the border.

Getting caught

If you are Mexican, you'll just be sent back home. With illegal immigration at such high levels, and millions being apprehended and returned on a regular basis, the Mexican authorities are not going to do much to deter these people trying to get back to the US. After all, if the Americans do not have the facilities to imprison illegal immigrants, in an attempt to discourage any further attempts to enter the country, then the Mexicans are certainly not going to be able to handle the problem either. Mexico will actually gain from it's people entering the US, legally or otherwise. If those who cannot earn a living in Mexico remain in their own country, it will put a strain on many of the resources there. Better these people go somewhere else and be someone else's problem.

With no real deterrent to prevent people trying time and time again to enter the US, then it's just a matter of time before someone succeeds. And once one person finds away across the border, more will follow.

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Those who also specialise in trying to get people across the border will also probably pay good money for information on weak spots on the US-Mexican border. The Americans are therefore open to a persistent and vigorous attempt to encroach their territory. The only way to lessen this problem is to throw money at it. But with the Bush administration spending vast sums of money on the wars in the Middle East, the defence of the US will likely depend more upon the level of Patriotism in it's individuals rather than the facilities provided to them to do a more competent job.

I recall a quote from a former work employee who once said of our poorly paid managerial jobs that one only would do the job for the love of it, not the money. I'm not sure how much border guards get paid, but a job such as theirs is not a very rewarding one. Not unless they see it as a sport and actually enjoy the daily routine of chasing after illegal immigrants.

But what if your country of origin is not Mexico? Rules of deportation say that you must be returned to your own country of origin - that is the country that issued your passport. So, and for arguments sake, if you go legally as a tourist to (for example) Canada or Mexico, and are then caught illegally attempting to enter the US, you get sent back to which country you are a citizen of. No more holiday.

Human Rights

It's more than ironic that if you enter the US illegally, you will have to be 'processed' by US authorities and treated as though you are on American soil. But if, like me, you try to enter legally and honestly, then you have to do so via a recognised portal (such as an International Airport) where you have NOT officially entered the country until you have cleared immigration. Ergo, you will be entitled to more human rights as an illegal than those legally attempting to enter the US (see My Story). How perverse is this? Very, it appears!

Criminality

The term 'illegal' can be deceptive. Earlier this year is was ruled that the apprehension of people illegally in the US was merely the responsibility of the US immigration authorities. As such, law enforcement agencies could not get involved unless the immigrant committed a breach of law which the police could process. Merely being in the US was outside the remit of the police.

It raises the thorny issue of local police forces being used to 'supplement' the actions taken by immigration officials when attempting to round-up illegal immigrants. In some States, the police will co-operate with immigration authorities. In other States, they are not even allowed to ask someone if they are illegal. And even where they know a person may be illegally in the country, they cannot do anything about it (except tip-off immigration)! I repeat, in some States the police are not entitled to apprehend or detain illegal immigrants unless they have broken some criminal law. President Bush is attempting to address this issue, but has been met with resistance. Not that those who oppose the police aiding immigration officials are pro-Mexican (or whichever country they come from), but because the involvement of the police moves the problem of illegal immigration into a whole new arena.

Involving the police means that those who are apprehended can now use the full force of US law to try to avoid being deported. Effectively, involving the police in deportation matters can criminalise the victims and this opens a whole new can of worms. The victims can call upon the services of lawyers (possibly at the tax-payers cost) and the full force of the US Constitution to try to avoid being deported on the grounds of criminality. OK, while they may still be able to do this without the police being involved, it at least reduces the cost of deporting someone and keeps the issue one of civil rather than criminal law.

This is why some police forces would prefer not to be entangled with issues of immigration. It's too expensive and diverting resources from other areas of need!

The existing practice of leaving immigration matters purely up to immigration authorities is simpler. Apprehension and processing of illegal immigrants can be done without impinging upon the resources (financial or otherwise) of other agencies. There are going to be many vested interests attempting to ensure it remains this way. But if President Bush does get his way, then the mess he will leave behind for his successor in 2009 will be a nasty one.

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Solution

If large international businesses were to pay foreign workers a decent wage, and provide them with decent basic needs, such as medical and the educational needs of their families, then perhaps not so many foreigners would try to enter the US illegally.

But as long as said businesses exploit cheap 'slave' labour in other countries, purely for the benefits of making larger profits, then nothing will change. It could even be argued that illegal immigrants have EVERY right to be in the US. As I said in a letter to my Member of Parliament in the UK: Is it better that someone should work for a US company in their own country for around $1 A DAY, or go to the US and work for another US company for around $9 AN HOUR? It's a 'no-brainer'.

One of the 'Golden Rules' of life is that one should lead by example. This is importantly more so of those with positions of influence and power. Until the US (and other exploitative Western nations) can pay a fair price for the goods they manufacture abroad, they themselves cannot expect to be treated with respect. What is sauce for the goose, is also sauce for the gander - as we say in the UK.

Now let's take a look at the US-Mexico border ...

The dangers of trying to cross the US-Mexico border illegally ... "rape, beatings, etc." Quote from www.inmotionmagazine.com: "... we have to get control of the human rights problem. We need better training of the agents so they won't abuse the migrants. Several of them have been indicted recently for rape, beatings and so on." NB. Emphasis added (underlining). - Roberto Martinez, director of the U.S. / Mexico Border Program. Also check out the cutting-edge stories about immigration at: www.corpwatch.org.

The internet is rich in information about the US-Mexican border. Articles, images, opinions, etc. It's all there. A simple Google search will bring forth a wealth of useful information about this part of the world. Then there are the satellite images that can be acquired through software such as Google Earth.

But this website thought it would save you a little time and research and provide some information that may be of interest and / or use to the reader. Here goes ...

Software (maps)

First up is an excellent programme currently available from Topofusion.

The trial software is not time limited, but does have some conditions. Some of the saved images will have the software manufacturers name stamped on them. Alternately, you can buy the software and obtain unadulterated images.

What does it do? Well, quite a lot actually. Where satellite software programmes go, Topofusion goes a lot further. Download the free version of the programme and give it a try.

Apart from Google Earth and the version from Microsoft, it's worth considering more direct sources such as NASA. But if you use Topofusion, you may not wish to search any further.

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Images

Some of the barriers dividing Mexico and the US do look a little 'basic'. There appears to be many ways of crossing the border and some so blatant, it's laughable. Below is just a selection ...

[1] Nobody watching? Good! Up and over!

Image: Unknown source

[2] Getting in - not so easy. Getting out - easy. Common feature of border fences are that they point inwards to Mexico. Still not much of a deterrent though.

Image: ourlatinamerica.blogspot.com

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[3] The 'Border region' - named 'Border 2012'. See definition below ...

Under Border 2012, the shaded area shows where there is inter-border co-operation on a range of issues. US States are 'paired-off' with Mexican regions on joint projects. An easy way of crossing the border?

Image: US EPA

[4] Afraid of heights? Try swimming around the border ...

Image: mariposa-yosemite.net

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[5] ... you could just try to walk through (part fence, part ... nothing!) ...

Image: mariposa-yosemite.net

[6] ... or hitch a ride on the train!

Image: mariposa-yosemite.net

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[7] An opportunity in Arizona - allegedly America's most overrun State?

Image: Wikimedia Commons

[8] A more relaxed crossing?

Image: blogs.chron.com

Got any good images or stories? Please send them this way.