Border Security

Border Security |

A cost analysis |

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Daniel Myers |

Daniels College of Business

University of Denver

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Border security has been the subject of controversy and debate in recent years. Illegal immigration has created an environment in the United States, in which, individual states have created their own laws dictating how they should handle the illegal immigrant problem within our borders. The state of Arizona, who has lost patience with the federal government, has implemented their own laws on immigration within its borders. There are civilian militia who patrol portions of the nation’s southern border because they do not believe that the Department of Homeland Security is doing its’ job. The current situation in the southern United States has initiated an era of vigilantism that the U.S Border Patrol is combating and individual states are embracing.

The United States Border Patrol is tasked with the security of the nation’s borders, however, their exorbitant budget and increasing manpower, only allows them to maintain effective control of 1,007 miles of the 8,607 miles of United States borders (Napolitano, 2011). Because of the porous security this agency provides, states in the southwestern region of the United States have mobilized National Guard assets and even turned a blind eye to organizations, such as, the Minutemen, who are a private organization constructing their own border fence.

The Federal government states that it cannot currently control border traffic, individual states are attempting to solve their own border issues, and private organizations are taking matters into their own hands. This paper will attempt to outline which of these organizations (if any) can not only provide the best security for our nation’s southern border, but also determine what the most cost effective way to do so is.

The U.S. Border Patrol

In 1915 the United States congress established the U.S. Border Patrol, it’s mission is to secure the...