Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Secure Border Initiative Components and Technologies Utilized

Secure Border Initiative Components and Technologies Utilized Introduction As the world’s biggest economy and a land full of opportunities, the United States of America has been the dream destination for many people who seek economic empowerment. Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Secure Border Initiative: Components and Technologies Utilized specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As a result of this, the US is home to millions of illegal immigrants with thousands more continuing to seek ways to enter the country. The US-Mexico border has been the biggest conduit for illegal immigrants with an estimated 6million of the 13 million illegal aliens in the US, being Mexican (Suarez-Orozco Paez, 2008). While the US border policies were fairly lenient in pre 9-11 America, the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US induced fundamental changes in U.S. border enforcement policy and from then, the Southern border is scrutinized as a potential point of entry for terrorists. Concern s about illegal immigration have resulted in the budget and manpower allocated to the United States Border Patrol (USBP) more than tripling in the last decade (Nunez-Neto Vina, 2005). The main focus has been the detection, deterrence and apprehension of aliens as they attempt to cross the border into the US. The need to invest in more military proven technology to protect the US border became necessary and hence the inception of the Secure Border Initiative. The Secure Border Initiative is based on the premise that the key to controlling the immigration problem that currently plagues the US is to close off all non-ports of entry points. This paper will set out to discuss the Secure Border Initiative (SBI) program, the technologies that this program utilizes and what the SBI program entails. The paper will also discuss the significance of SBI and the future of this program which promises to provide the ultimate solution to the US border problem. Secure Border Initiative (SBI) prog ram The primary challenge in securing the US borders is the sheer magnitude of the international borders. Between ports of entry, there is about 500miles of border that has to be managed and controlled. While this in itself is a daunting task, the fact that the border stretches over a wide range of terrain, climate and remoteness further complicates the issue for Border Patrol agents who seek to detect illegal incursions (Andreas, 2009). Advertising Looking for research paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Technology that purports to give Border Patrol agents an advantage in the face of these challenges has traditionally been sought and utilized. Surveillance asserts have been utilized with changes being made to improve efficiency and effectiveness. The first major program implemented with the goal of securing a section of the US border was the Integrated Surveillance Information System. This program was later renamed Americas Shield Initiative (ASI). ASI integrated RVS camera systems, sensors, and a multi-faceted network which was capable of detecting illegal entries. While ASI was a major advancement from ISIS, it still lacked the capacity to facilitate effective border protection and hence the need for a more capable program, the SBI. In November 2005, the Department of Homeland Security announced the launch of the Secure Border Initiative. This was to be a multibillion dollar program spanning for multiple years that was aimed at securing the US borders against illegal immigrants. The SBInet is the name given to the physical and virtual border fence which is meant to boast an integrated system of personnel, infrastructure, technology and rapid response units to secure the entire US land borders. The rationale behind the implementation of SBInet is that while increasing the number of agents at the border is a good step in the curbing of illegal immigration, the se agents must be armed with the technology required to make their efforts effective. The prime contract for SBInet development was awarded in 2006 to Boeing Company. As the prime contractor, Boeing has an extensive involvement with the program and is responsible for acquiring and deploying the necessary technology for the SBInet program. Stana (2009) reveals that the CBP contract with Boeing is performance based and the primary contractor has to fulfill a set of requirements for the project. SBInet capabilities are deployed in blocks which are defined as phases of an effort to design, develop and integrate, test, and deploy a technology system of hardware, software and communication (Stana, 2009, p.7). Each block may span a number of states and subsequent blocks build on the successes of the previously implemented blocks.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Secure Border Initiative: Components and Technologies Utilized specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More What the SBI Program Entails As a result of its broad mission, SBI assumes control over a huge part of the immigration control apparatus. The SBI program has a three-pillar approach to tackling the boarder security problem. These three components of the SBI as articulated by the DHS are controlling the border, building a robust interior enforcement program, and establishing a Temporary Worker Program (Haddal, 2010, p.9). To achieve the goal of effective control of the borders, SBInet was created. SBInet provides U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with the resources and capabilities that are needed to achieve a comprehensive operational awareness of the border (Kirk Teufel, 2007). SBInet has resulted in the comprehensive and systemic upgrading of legacy technologies that were used to control the border. Next generation detection systems and Commercial off-the-shelf technology are used to enhance border security. Haddal (2010, p.8) h ails the Secure Border Initiative as the most important technology used by the Border Patrol. The second goal of SBI program which is to build a robust interior enforcement program comes from the acknowledgment that border security entails the enforcement of immigration laws within the countrys borders. This ensures the integrity of the legal immigration system and provides the means through which to detect and intercept threats that may exist to the US. As part of this effort, the SBI has implemented self-compliance programs that provide a partnership between the government and businesses. This is from the realization that Illegal immigrants in the country end up working for employers in the US. To strengthen interior enforcement Employers are required to comply with legal hiring requirements so as to detect unauthorized workers who may turn out to be illegal immigrants (Andreas, 2009). Through the Criminal Alien Program, the DHS is removing incarcerated criminal aliens from US s oil and returning them to their country of origin. The third goal which is to establish a Temporary Worker Program is yet to be realized. The temporary-worker program was envisioned as a program that would allow non-US citizens to access jobs for a limited period of time under the sponsorship of U.S. employers. Advertising Looking for research paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This program would serve the dual purpose of giving U.S. workers priority over guest workers while at the same time managing the illegal immigrant issue in the US by enabling undocumented immigrants to obtain work legally. The goal of the SBInet is to have operational control in both the Northern and Southern borders within a defined timeline. The SBI was initially proposed to focus on the Southwest land border between the official channels of entry so as to cover the paths that illegal immigrants might use. This bias given to the Southwest Border region is based on the fact that in the past decade, 97% of all apprehensions on illegal immigrants have been made along the Southwest Border (Haddal, 2010). A strategy employed by Border Patrol under the SBI is to increase the number of agents deployed in traditional urban routes. This in effect forces the illegal border traffic to reroute to less populated and geographically harsher regions which gives the Boarder Patrol agents tactica l advantages as they have more time to move in and arrest the illegal aliens before they cross over (Haddal, 2010). While this strategy has been effective in pushing unauthorized migration from population centers to more remote regions, the policy has resulted in an increase in the number of fatalities along the border. As illegal immigrants attempt to cross over the Arizona Desert with limited water supplies, fatalities occur due to the inhospitable conditions of the desert. SBI also aims to prevent illegal entries through deterrence measures. In the past, arresting illegal immigrants was used as the main method to curb illegal entry. The need for more effective methods to secure the Southwest Border was identified following a 1993 study commissioned by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. This study indicated that the particular border was being overrun with up to 6,000 illegal immigrants making attempts to enter the US every night (Nunez-Neto, 2005). From this study, it was recommended that focus be changed from arresting illegal immigrants to preventing their entry. SBI provides Border Patrol with the resources to deter immigrants from making it to the US side of the border. Technologies Used SBInet acts as the platform through which an array of surveillance technologies are acquired, developed, integrated, and deployed appropriately. SBInet program makes use of C3I technologies which are; command, control, communications and intelligence (Stana, 2009). The C3I technologies include software and hardware capabilities that provided a Common Operational Picture (COP) which is a uniform presentation of activities within specific areas along the borders (Stana, 2009, p.6). As such, the sensors, radars and cameras gather information along the border and this information is transmitted to the COP terminals which are contained within command centers. This provides the CBP agents with situational awareness since they can view data from the available rada rs and sensors that detect and track movement along the border lines. Efficiency is improved since operators can control cameras to zoom in on areas of interest and identify and classify the illegal entries. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are another technology utilized by SBInet. UAVs have revolutionized airborne sensor by providing a means of carrying out long surveillance flights in a reliable manner. Worch (2007) reveals that UAVs have been valuable in border patrol missions by tracking and enhancing the eventual capture of border crossing intruders. The SBI program also includes the deploying of reinforced fencing along the southwest border. This project was commissioned under the Secure Fence Act of 2006 which required the DHS to engage in construction of at least 700 miles of reinforced fencing. These fences would be erected in regions where they are most practical and effective and provide for the installation of additional physical barriers. These physical barriers include ; roads, lighting, and cameras that give Border Patrol agents operational control on the US-Mexican borders. A novel technology utilized by SBInet is the Mobile Surveillance System (MSS) which is a Patrol truck equipped with radar, sensors and cameras. The MSS has a range of 10miles radius giving Border Patrol agents an edge over illegal immigrants. MSSs increase the operational capabilities of the Border Patrol therefore making them more efficient. Using their superior technological capabilities, MSS radar helps agents detect movement and the cameras lock in on the area of interest (Paul, 2010). The Border Patrol agents are able to tell how many people are involved in the border breach attempt and what they are carrying. Deployment of Border Patrol agents to contain the situation then follows. Stana (2009) reveals that MSSs enhance tactical decision making by agents regarding the appropriate response to apprehend an entry. New SBInet technology also includes high resolution video cameras that provide continuous monitoring of the border. Kirk and Teufel (2007) reveal that when an agent receives an alert from a triggered sensor, the video surveillance allows a Common Operational Picture (COP) operator to zoom in and identify the cause of the disturbance. This is significant since it enables the Border Patrol agents to isolate significant events from accidental triggers such as those caused by animals. Discussion While the protection of a border between nations is ideally the role of nations on both sides of the border, immigration control has been largely restricted to the U.S. side of the border (Andreas, 2009). The SBI program has been effective in reducing the number of illegal immigrants by closing off traditional transit rotes as well as increasing the number of apprehensions. Through the increased surveillance capabilities that SBInet projects brings in, Border patrol agents are better equipped to apprehend and remove aliens from US soil. Despite its s uccesses, the SBInet Technology program has failed to meet the initial expectations. While the program was initially envisioned to be a comprehensive solution that would be deployed to the entire Southwest Border by the end of this year, the program has failed to deliver on its promise (Koulish, 2009). The comprehensive virtual fence across the entire Southwest border that was to be delivered by SBInet has been downgraded to limited pilot capabilities on several Southwest border sections. Until SBInet is fully implemented, Border patrol agents will be forced to rely on legacy equipment such as cameras mounted on towers (Stana, 2009). Nevertheless, implementation of SBI is still ongoing and setbacks are seen as temporal in nature as implementation of SBInet capabilities across the entire southwest borders continues. Conclusion This paper will set out to discuss the Secure Border Initiative program, its components of the program and the technologies utilized. It has been noted that SBI was necessitated by the escalation of the immigration problem on the US-Mexico borderline as well as the risk of terrorists entering into the US through the routes used by illegal immigrants. The SBI has equipped Border Patrol agents with the technology necessary to better monitor the border and hence increasing their efficiency. This paper has demonstrate that the Secure Border Initiative is successful in that it is making it harder for illegal immigrants to move into the US by closing off the easier routes. However, it has been noted that the implementation of the SBInet has not been flawless and there have been delays as well as failures to meet expectations by the program. Nevertheless, the potential of the SBI has made policy makes continue to support the program implementation albeit in a phased manner. From this paper, it is evident that while the Virtual Fence which the SBI envisioned has not been fully realized, the completed blocks demonstrated the effectiveness of S BI in border protection. References Andreas, P. (2009). Border Games; Policing the U.S.-Mexico Divide, Second Edition. Cornell University Press. Haddal, C.C. (2010). Border Security: The Role of the U.S. Border Patrol. Congressional Research Service. Kirk, E. Teufel, H. (2007). Privacy impact assessment for the SBInet Program. Congressional Research Service. Koulish, R. (2009). Immigration and American democracy: subverting the rule of law. Taylor Francis. Nunez-Neto, B. (2005). Border Security: The Role of the U.S. Border Patrol. Congressional Research Service. Nunez-Neto, B. Vina, R. S. (2005). Border Security: Fences along the U.S. International Border. Congressional Research Service. Paul, M. (2010). â€Å"Sensors and robots aim to bolster border security†. New Scientist, 02624079, Vol. 205, Issue 2742 Stana, R.M. (2009). Secure Border Initiative fence construction costs. USA: GAO. Suarez-Orozco, M. Paez, M. (2008). Latinos: Remaking America. University of California Press. Worch, P.R. (2007). Technologies for Border Security. Military Technology –Miltech 2.

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Requisitos para Dreamers para sacar permiso para viajar

Requisitos para Dreamers para sacar permiso para viajar Los Dreamers, es decir, los muchachos indocumentados que llegaron a Estados Unidos siendo nià ±os, y que tienen DACA aprobado podà ­an  obtener un permiso para viajar fuera de los Estados Unidos y regresar si cumplà ­an una serie de requisitos.   Todo ha cambiado con las declaraciones del fiscal general Jeff Sessions con fecha del 5 de septiembre de 2017. Por otro lado, la orden judicial del juez William Alsup que reinstaura parcialmente DACA con fecha de 9 de enero de 2018, no protege a los jà ³venes que salen de Estados Unidos y posteriormente desean regresar. Por lo tanto en este aspecto en concreto no se modifica lo decido por gobierno en Septiembre de 2017. Asà ­, en primer lugar si un Dreamer habà ­a solicitado un permiso para viajar mediante el formulario I-131 y la solicitud tiene fecha de aprobacià ³n del 5 de septiembre o anterior, podà ­a viajar y en principio no deberà ­a haber problema. Sin embargo, como es un asunto delicado con consecuencias posibles muy graves, es una buena idea asesorarse con una organizacià ³n de apoyo a Dreamers o con un abogado y, en caso de duda, no viajar. Incluso se recomienda hablar con un abogado que està © presente en el aeropuerto el dà ­a del regreso, por si hubiera algà ºn problema. En segundo lugar si no ha pedido el permiso para viajar, no hacerlo despuà ©s de esa fecha, ya que no ser tramitado. En tercer lugar si se pidià ³ el permiso para viajar antes de esa fecha y se est pendiente de una respuesta hay que saber que el USCIS no aprobar el permiso, pero regresar el dinero pagado en concepto de cuota. Demanda de los estados en contra de decisià ³n de Trump de finalizar DACA 15  estados y el Distrito de Columbia   han sumado sus esfuerzos para presentar una demanda en contra del gobierno federal por la decisià ³n de Trump de finalizar el programa DACA. La demanda, que ha sido presentada en el Distrito Este del estado de Nueva York, est liderada por el fiscal general de ese estado y la de Massachusetts. Adems, se han unido los de Carolina del Norte, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Nuevo Mà ©xico, Oregà ³n, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington y el Distrito de Columbia. Los estados argumentan que la decisià ³n de Trump de finalizar DACA viola en dos ocasiones la Ley de Procedimiento Administrativo. Adems, violarà ­a la proteccià ³n otorgadas por la Constitucià ³n al  debido proceso. Finalmente, tambià ©n serà ­a contraria a la Constitucià ³n porque violarà ­a el derecho a la igualdad ante la ley. En este punto se argumenta que la decisià ³n de Trump tiene por objeto perjudicar a un grupo de personas por razones de su origen, ya que cuatro de cada cinco muchachos beneficiados por DACA son mexicanos o centroamericanos. Se espera ahora una batalla legal. Todo lo que sigue a continuacià ³n ya tiene solo un valor histà ³rico porque como se ha explicado, ya no se puede aplicar. La Accià ³n Diferida (DACA) como requisito  esencial para el permiso de viajar Los Dreamers  sà ³lo pueden solicitar el permiso para viajar si tienen ya en mano aprobada la Accià ³n Diferida, que se conoce en inglà ©s por las siglas de DACA. DACA es una medida adoptada por el Presidente Barack Obama el 15 de junio de 2012 que permite a los Dreamers que cumplen con ciertos requisitos de edad, residencia, estudios e historial aplicar por una semi- legalizacià ³n. En la prctica supone que el Dreamer al que se le concede la Accià ³n Diferida no puede ser deportado. Adems, pueden obtener una licencia de manejar sin restricciones, un Nà ºmero del Seguro Social, abrir una cuenta de banco y, en determinados casos, aplicar por un permiso de trabajo. Una vez que tienen DACA aprobado pueden solicitar,  previo pago de un arancel,  un permiso para viajar fuera de los Estados Unidos, que se conoce por su nombre en inglà ©s de  advance parole. Nunca pedir el permiso para viajar sin tener DACA aprobado ni tampoco si se est pendiente de su renovacià ³n. Quà © es este advance parole y quà © requisitos  aplican para los Dreamers El advance parole un permiso para  viajar fuera de Estados Unidos y, lo ms importante, regresar. Es una autorizacià ³n que tambià ©n aplica a otro tipo de migrantes, pero a cada categorà ­a les aplica distintos requisitos. No confundirse en este punto al llenar la peticià ³n. Se solicita rellenando el formulario I-131, que se conoce en inglà ©s por el nombre de Application for Travel Document.   Para los   Dreamers es necesario que el permiso para viajar se pida para un viaje en concreto. Excepto si se sabe con antelacià ³n que se necesita realizar varios viajes, por ejemplo, a varios seminarios. En este caso y si se sabe la fecha de cada uno, solicitar todos esos viajes en la misma aplicacià ³n al llenar el formulario I-131, explicando las razones de cada uno de esos viajes. Adems  no se puede viajar por cualquier razà ³n,  sino por una que encaje en alguna de las siguientes: Por cuestià ³n humanitaria, por ejemplo, para visitar a un familiar cercano enfermo.Razones educativas, como un semestre en el exteriorPor trabajo, como visitar clientes, un congreso, un seminario, etc. Es decir, no se puede viajar por vacaciones. Cuando se aplica enviar, adems del pago, la documentacià ³n que se pide. Tener en cuenta que si DACA fue aprobado por el Servicio de Inmigracià ³n y Ciudadanà ­a (USCIS) se necesita adjuntar una copia del documento que se conoce como I-797 Notice of Action, que es la carta en la que se notifica la aprobacià ³n de la Accià ³n Diferida. Por el contrario  si fue ICE quien concedià ³ la accià ³n diferida, se tiene que enviar la notificacià ³n de esta agencia en la que asà ­ consta. Documentos para el viaje de salida desde  Estados Unidos Hay dos posibles situaciones: Si un Dreamer viaja a su propio paà ­s, necesita el pasaporte de su paà ­s que debe ser vlido por al menos otros seis meses. Adems, necesita llevar el permiso de viaje aprobado.Por el contrario, si viaja a un tercer paà ­s, deber adems asegurarse de si necesita solicitar visa antes de viajar a ese paà ­s. Por ejemplo, para viajar a paà ­ses como Italia, Espaà ±a, Francia o Alemania, los cubanos y bolivianos necesitan visa Schengen. Si se viaja a Mà ©xico, un destino muy comà ºn desde los Estados Unidos, un buen nà ºmero de paà ­ses necesitan la visa, como por ejemplo Repà ºblica Dominicana, Guatemala, El Salvador o Cuba. Consultar siempre antes de viajar con la pgina web de la embajada del paà ­s que se desea visitar. Por supuesto no se necesita un permiso de viaje advance parole para dentro de los Estados Unidos, incluidos los estados de Hawaii y Alaska y el avià ³n. Y tambià ©n se puede ir sin problemas a los miembros de la Commonwealth de los Estados Unidos, como Puerto Rico, Guam, Samoa o Islas Và ­rgenes Americanas. Cà ³mo es el regreso a Estados Unidos para Dreamers con permiso para viajar Se puede ingresar por avià ³n, barco o por una frontera terrestre. Hay que esperar un control migratorio por parte de un agente de la CBP y otro aduanero, que pueden ser muy rpidos. Estos son los documentos necesarios: Pasaporte sin expirar con una validez mà ­nima de seis mesesEl premiso de viaje aprobado Adems  se recomienda llevar: Permiso de trabajo, si se tieneLicencia de manejar, si se tieneCopia del documento en el que USCIS aprobà ³ la peticià ³n de DACATodos los documentos que sirvan para probar la razà ³n del viaje al extranjero (invitacià ³n a Congresos, documentos mà ©dicos de situacià ³n de un familiar muy cercano, transcripciones de estudios, etc). Y por supuesto no est dems tener siempre a mano el telà ©fono de un abogado migratorio de confianza. Adems, por precaucià ³n dejar siempre una copia en casa en los Estados Unidos de todos esos documentos. En caso de robo, extravà ­o o problemas migratorios siempre est bien tener una copia donde aparecen datos como los nà ºmeros que lo identifican, fechas de aprobacià ³n, expiracià ³n, etc. El oficial migratorio har como mà ­nimo una pregunta. Cabe esperar que se refiera a la razà ³n del viaje, tiempo que se permanecià ³ fuera de los Estados Unidos, quà © se hace aquà ­, etc. Este es un listado de preguntas comunes a cualquier persona que llega  a un control migratorio  de los Estados Unidos.   Despuà ©s se pasar por un control aduanero. Quà © hay que tener en cuenta para no tener problemas con  permiso para viajar Estos son los consejos que se deben seguir: 1. Absolutamente sà ³lo permanecer fuera de los Estados Unidos dentro de las fechas aprobadas en el permiso para viajar. Por ejemplo, si se viaja a un congreso que finaliza un dà ­a en concreto, solicitar un par de dà ­as ms para el caso sorpresas de à ºltima hora que impidan viajar. Asà ­ siempre se tendrà ­an unos dà ­as de margen para bregar con imprevistos. 2. Planificar con tiempo. Chequear cundo expira el DACA que se tiene actualmente, ya que no se puede pedir un permiso de viajar si DACA est pendiente de ser renovado. Pedir el permiso para viajar al menos 90 dà ­as antes del viaje. 3. Si se llega por mar o aire, el oficial migratorio siempre estampar el pasaporte, quedando asà ­ constancia de la fecha de regreso a los Estados Unidos y, por lo tanto, de que se cumplià ³ con las fechas aprobadas en el permiso de viaje. En el caso de llegar por una frontera terrestre, es muy importante asegurarse de que tambià ©n sellan el pasaporte. Si no lo hacen, solicitar que asà ­ se realice. Asà ­ se evitan potenciales problemas en el futuro. 4. No viajar fuera de los Estados Unidos jams sin este permiso, ya que se dar por terminado DACA y pueden impedir el regreso. Pero,  ¿es conveniente viajar fuera de Estados Unidos? Hay bastante unanimidad entre los abogados y expertos en este tema para opinar que los Dreamers que han acumulado ms de 180 dà ­as (seis meses) de presencia ilegal en Estados Unidos sà ³lo deberà ­an aplicar tras consultar con un experto y entender quà © puede ir mal. La razà ³n es que puede suceder que aunque el advance parole les sea concedido puede que cuando intentan regresar a Estados Unidos y lleguen al control de inmigracià ³n se encuentren con la realidad de que se les aplica la norma conocida como castigo de los tres y diez aà ±os. Y todos los dà ­as se ven casos en las aduanas en los que inmigrantes con un advance parole en la mano se encuentran con la desagradable sorpresa de que no se les permite entrar a Estados Unidos, alterndose asà ­ de un modo significativo sus vidas. Quà © se recomienda hacer en estos casos En primer lugar resaltar que hay otros casos en los que estar sin estatus no equivale necesariamente a acumular dà ­a de presencia ilegal. Por ejemplo, la acumulacià ³n de dà ­as calificados como presencia ilegal no ocurre cuando el inmigrante es menor de edad. Pero una vez que se han cumplido los 18 aà ±os de edad, sà ­ que se acumula el tiempo. En estos casos es muy recomendable contactar con un abogado bueno experto en inmigracià ³n, y, a poder ser, en el tema de la accià ³n diferida. Y en una cita analizar con detenimiento cules son los riesgos, quà © puede pasar y las circunstancias del caso de cada uno. Y desde luego siempre asesorarse con un abogado en casos experiencias de arrestos, deportaciones previas, posibilidad de tener una orden de deportacià ³n pendiente o estar en el medio de un proceso de este tipo. Informacià ³n de interà ©s para Dreamers que desean viajar a otro paà ­s La US-Mexico Foundation est convocando anualmente programas, como Dreamers without Borders, para viajar a Mà ©xico a mexicanos con DACA que nunca han estado en su paà ­s desde que ingresaron a los Estados Unidos siendo nià ±os.   Finalmente  los interesados en las experiencias de otros Dreamers con advance parole, se puede consultar la pgina de Facebook Traveling Abroad with DACA. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.