New Report: Policy on the Edge Share This /

The Center for International Policy's TransBorder Project is pleased to share its new report "Policy on the Edge: Failures of Border Security and New Directions for Border Control." This new International Policy Report discusses the unsettled state of America's post-9/11 border security policy. Author Tom Barry, director of CIP's TransBorder Project, argues that despite massive expenditures and the new commitment to “border security,” the United States' border policy remains unfocused and buffeted by political forces. "In the absence of a sharp strategic focus, the management of the U.S.-Mexico border continues to be the victim of the problems and pressures created by our failed immigration and drug policies," he writes. The report recommends a new policy framework "that charts the way forward through regulatory solutions--for immigration, drugs, gun sales, border management--that are more pragmatic, effective and cost-efficient than current policies." Specific recommendations include:

• Conducting a cost-benefit evaluation of the border security buildup;
• Imposing a moratorium on new border security funding;
• Addressing the failed drug prohibition, gun rights, and immigration policies that drive illegal border crossings;
• Terminating the new rash of federal-local border security programs; and
• Setting forth a new vision of pragmatic immigration reform that is not conditioned on the ambiguous notion of border security.

The press release is below: WASHINGTON, DC – A new report released today by the Center for International Policy reveals the unsettled state of America’s post-9/11 border security policy, highlighting the flaws of the United States’ conflating counterterrorism strategy, the war on drugs and immigration enforcement in our border policy. Written by TransBorder Project director Tom Barry, the timely report, "Policy on the Edge: Failures of Border Security and New Directions for Border Control" (PDF | HTML), examines how despite massive expenditures towards the renewed commitment to “border security” after 9/11, U.S. border policy remains unfocused and buffeted by political forces. In the absence of a sharp strategic focus, the management of the U.S.-Mexico border continues to fall victim to the problems and pressures created by failed immigration and drug policies. “Like the ill-considered invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan and the ‘global war against terrorism,’ the post-9/11 border security buildup has drained our treasury while doing little to increase our security,” says Barry. According to "Policy on the Edge," the border security framework has fostered alarmist politics about border threats and wasteful spending. "Absent necessary strategic reflection and reform," writes Barry, "the rush to achieve border security has bred dangerous insecurities about immigration and about the integrity of our border, while giving new life to the flagging war on drugs at home and abroad." Barry concludes, "Bankrupt and without strategic direction, it is time to rein in the border security bandwagon and to establish new regulatory frameworks for U.S. border policy." The report recommends a new policy framework that charts the way forward through regulatory solutions—for immigration, drugs, gun sales, border management—that are more pragmatic, effective and cost-efficient than current policies. The report recommends discarding the border security framework for border policy and advocates:

• Cost-benefit evaluation of the border security buildup;
• Moratorium on new border security funding;
• Address the failed drug prohibition, gun rights and immigration policies that drive illegal border crossings;
• Terminate the new rash of federal-local border security programs; and
• Set forth a new vision of pragmatic immigration reform that is not conditioned on the ambiguous notion of border security.