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US Border Security

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Institution

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Introduction

The level of insecurity between the borders and within the United States is attributed to

the upsurge of illegal activities such narcotic drug trafficking, physical border attacks, and

human trafficking. The spread of the implications alludes from the spillover effects of violence

witnessed between organizations carrying out such illegal. Several Drug Trafficking

Organizations have been set up in the US to help in the execution and distribution of illicit drugs

to the vast region of 230 cities (Andreas, 2003 pp.98). Ideally, illegal businesses lack the legal

defense mechanism hence disputes are always solved through threats of violence. Scientific

scholars also argued that excessive consumption of harmful drugs like marijuana causes the

unconscious use of memory leading to violence (Van 2007). America has been the victim

circumstance due to high demand for heroin and cocaine by its citizens. Also, the geographical

location between Columbia (leading producer of Cocaine) and Mexico (supplier of the heroine)

sets it as the central business area Kotrla, 2010 pp.188). This essay will focus on the major

security threats affecting the nation, how these risks affect the gathering of evidence and the

efforts applied by the counterintelligence unit to curb the upsurge of the activities.

Narcotic Drug Trafficking

According to Central Intelligence Agency report 2012, illicit drug trafficking has shifted

the US border security focus. The United States is at risk of spillover violence witnessed in

Mexico between the government and the drug kingpin like Pablo Escobar. With regards to the

Congressional Research Service report, it is relevant to note that the key DTOs from Mexico

have build connections within the state which when given a chance can do miserable activities to

paralyze the government (Kotrla, 2010 pp.185).

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Despite the general denial of increased drug consumption and transportation within the

region, sources indicate that there are 22.1 million users of illicit drugs in the state at the age 12

and above. The statistics purport that more than 30 percent of youths consume marijuana, heroin,

and cocaine. Empirically, this is such a large generation that if not monitored with turns the

whole nation into security quagmire both internally and cross-border (Andreas, 2003 pp.80). It is

my view that narcotic drug trafficking is given special treatment precedence to other security

threats such as human trafficking and terrorism. This is because drug lords can use the proceeds

to hire and fund terrorist group to disturb the security organs of the nations thus making their

business smooth.

How Human Trafficking Affects the Gathering of Intelligence And Combats

Threats

Human trafficking is a global issue affecting countries across the world. Traced back

from the Abraham Lincoln’s reign, he asserted that neither involuntary servitude nor smuggling

of people should be tolerated. The estimates show that approximately 600000 to 800000 get

trafficked across borders (Finklea, 2013 pp. 7). According to John Torres, Director State Bureau

of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, human smuggling composes of greater national

security as smuggling pipelines act as avenues for entry to undocumented, illegal and undetected

persons into the country who eventually carry out terror activities. The latter escape legal contact

by passing through porous borders thus eliminating suffice evident to incriminate them.

Terrorism

Terror actions have been in the eye of the state as the key cause of public insecurity. Most

terror suspects are illegal immigrants who do not have an identity. The American Dream was

pointing to Mexico as the primary provider of dangerous people while the routes include Cuba

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and Havana where people pass with false documents into the country. Furthermore, the groups

meet the Al Qaeda and Pakistan nationals who offer training to sabotage the country (Coleman,

2007 pp. 65). Failure to verify and filter the immigrants places the country into insecure position

without knowledge.

How Counterintelligence help in Combating Threats

In the recent past security threats have been blamed on the armed soldiers. With the new

era of the collective, offensive and defensive intelligence experts can sense, track and propose

events as they are organized by the opponents. Although the process needs intensive training,

counterintelligence help the investigator understand how criminal activities are planned and

executed. Secondly, they provide sufficient evidence for the prosecution of the culprits in a court

of law (Van, 2007).

Types of Intelligence

Human intelligence (HUMINT)

HUMINT is the oldest of the intelligence tactics that depends on human sources.

HUMINT takes various forms such as overt (open) intelligence, clandestine and sensitive

activities that explore support and supervise sources like conference hearings, unclassified

journals. The limitations include the sponsor of the must be protected from disclosure. In the

case of identification your reputation will be compromised hence exposing you to insecurity. It is

commonly performed by trained soldiers or diplomatic personnel (Rollins, 2010).

Signal Intelligence (SIGINT)

SIGINT comprises of all signals intercepted from one or all media communication

channels such as Communication intelligence, different instrumentation signals, for example,

voice records, facsimile messages and fiber optics. The signs identify the location, detect weapon

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type like missiles. However, they have high fuel consumption. Misinterpretation of the prototype

might cause severe damages.

Conclusion

Indeed, it is the time to change the way of thinking towards the security of our nation.

Globalization has brought serious threats and opportunities that require intelligence to unearth

and respond. The traditional thought of soldier defense of border works hand in hand with

various disciplines like data units to detect, prepare and protect the country (Rollins, 2010). Most

illegal activities like human and drug trafficking have been linked with the development of

threats of violence. The federal government should collaborate with other nations to stop these

illegal businesses cutting from the cause.

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References

Andreas, P. (2003). Redrawing the line: Borders and security in the twenty-first century.

International security, 28(2), 78-111. Available via the Trident Online Library.

Coleman, M. (2007). Immigration geopolitics beyond the Mexico–US border. Antipode, 39(1),

54-76. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8330.2007.00506.x/full.

Retrieved on 4/5/2017

Finklea, K.M. (2013). Southwest border violence: Issues in identifying and measuring

spillover violence. Congressional Research Service. Retrieved

from http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R41075.pdf [Read pages 1-12].

Kotrla, K. (2010). Domestic minor sex trafficking in the United States. Social work, 55(2), 181-

187.

Memorandum of understanding between the United States' Human Smuggling and

Trafficking Center and The Royal Canadian Mounted Police on the

dissemination and exchange of information (2012). DHS. Retrieved

from http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/opa/mou-hstc-rcmp-exchange-of-

information.pdf

Rollins, J. (2010). International terrorism and transnational crime: Security threats, US policy,

and considerations for Congress. DIANE Publishing.

Van Cleave, M.K. (2007). Counterintelligence and national strategy. Washington, D.C.: National

Defense University https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-

publications/csi-studies/studies/vol51no2/strategic-counterintelligence.html. Retrieved on

04/05/2017

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