Here is the tragic 9/11 Anniversary. If you are wondering about- What we learned in these days after that? What should we do in the future? Then you are on the right post.
Twenty-two years ago, on September 11, 2001, the United States was attacked by a group of terrorists who hijacked four commercial airplanes and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people and injured thousands more. They also changed the course of U.S. history and foreign policy, launching a global war on terror that continues to this day.
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9/11 Anniversary: Lessons we learned
One of the lessons learned from 9/11 was the importance of securing the U.S. borders from potential threats. The 9/11 Commission Report, released in 2004, found that several of the hijackers had entered the country legally but overstayed their visas or violated other immigration laws. The report recommended strengthening border security and immigration enforcement, as well as improving intelligence sharing and cooperation among federal agencies and foreign partners.
Since then, the U.S. government has taken various measures to enhance border security, especially along the southern border with Mexico. These include building physical barriers, deploying more personnel and technology, expanding screening and vetting programs, and increasing cooperation with Mexico and other countries in the region. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), these efforts have resulted in a significant reduction in illegal crossings and apprehensions at the southwest border over the past two decades.
However, border security remains a contentious and complex issue in U.S. politics and policy. The challenges posed by irregular migration, human trafficking, drug smuggling, and transnational crime are constantly evolving and require adaptive and comprehensive responses. Moreover, border security must be balanced with other interests and values, such as facilitating trade and travel, respecting human rights and due process, and fostering good relations with neighboring countries.
The Current Border Crisis and Its Implications for National Security
The Biden administration is currently facing a major crisis at the southern border, as a surge of migrants from Central America and other regions has overwhelmed the capacity of U.S. authorities to process and accommodate them. According to DHS, more than 1.3 million migrants were encountered at the southwest border in fiscal year 2021 (October 2020 to August 2021), a 317% increase from the same period in fiscal year 2020. The majority of these migrants are families and unaccompanied children who are seeking asylum or humanitarian protection in the United States.
The causes of this migration wave are multifaceted and include poverty, violence, corruption, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic in the countries of origin, as well as misinformation, smugglers’ networks, and policy changes in the United States. The Biden administration has reversed some of the Trump administration’s restrictive policies on immigration and asylum, such as the “Remain in Mexico” program that forced asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their court hearings and has pledged to create a more humane and orderly system for processing migrants at the border.
However, the administration has also faced criticism from both sides of the political spectrum for its handling of the border situation. Some argue that the administration has been too lenient and has encouraged more migration by sending mixed signals and relaxing enforcement measures. Others contend that the administration has not done enough to protect the rights and welfare of migrants, especially children, who are often held in overcrowded and unsanitary facilities or expelled under a public health order known as Title 42.
Beyond the humanitarian and political dimensions of the border crisis, there are also national security implications that need to be considered. While most migrants are fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries and pose no threat to the United States, there is always a possibility that some individuals with malicious intentions could exploit the chaotic situation at the border to enter the country undetected. This could include terrorists, criminals, or foreign agents who seek to harm U.S. interests or citizens.
For example, in April 2021, two men from Yemen who were on the FBI’s terrorism watch list were arrested by Border Patrol agents near a port of entry in California. In June 2021, four people from Iran who were on a U.S. sanctions list for supporting terrorism were apprehended by Border Patrol agents in Texas⁵. These incidents illustrate the potential vulnerability of the southern border to infiltration by individuals with links to terrorist groups or hostile regimes.
Moreover, some U.S. officials have expressed concern about the possibility that terrorist groups such as al Qaeda or ISIS could exploit the instability and violence in Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal to reestablish their presence and capabilities in the region and plot attacks against Western targets. This could increase the risk of terrorist infiltration through other routes besides the southern border, such as through Europe or Canada.
The Need for a Holistic Approach to Border Security
In light of these challenges, it is imperative that the United States adopt a holistic approach to border security that addresses both the root causes and the symptoms of the migration phenomenon. This means not only strengthening the physical and technological infrastructure at the border, but also enhancing the legal and institutional framework for managing migration flows, providing humanitarian assistance and protection to vulnerable migrants, and cooperating with regional and international partners to address the drivers of displacement and instability in the source countries.
Some of the steps that the Biden administration has taken or proposed to take in this direction include:
- Reinstating the Central American Minors (CAM) program, which allows certain children from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras who have parents or legal guardians in the United States to apply for refugee status or parole from their home countries.
- Expanding the use of alternatives to detention, such as case management and electronic monitoring, for migrants who do not pose a flight or security risk and are awaiting their immigration proceedings.
- Creating a dedicated docket for asylum cases, which aims to expedite the adjudication of claims from families who arrived at the border after May 28, 2021.
- Establishing a new interagency task force to reunite families who were separated at the border under the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy.
- Allocating $4 billion over four years to support economic development, governance reform, and security assistance in Central America, as part of a comprehensive strategy to address the root causes of migration.
- Engaging with Mexico and other countries in the region to enhance cooperation on migration management, border security, and humanitarian assistance, as well as to combat human smuggling and trafficking networks.
These measures are intended to create a more effective and humane system for managing migration at the southern border, while also addressing the underlying factors that drive people to leave their homes and seek refuge in the United States. However, they also face significant challenges and limitations, such as:
- Legal and political obstacles, such as lawsuits, injunctions, congressional opposition, or public opinion, that could delay or derail the implementation of some policies or programs.
- Operational and logistical difficulties, such as lack of resources, personnel, infrastructure, or coordination among various agencies and stakeholders involved in border security and migration management.
- External and unpredictable factors, such as natural disasters, pandemics, or geopolitical events, that could affect the conditions in the source or transit countries or trigger new waves of migration.
- Unintended or adverse consequences, such as creating incentives or disincentives for migration, displacing migrants to other routes or destinations, or undermining human rights or due process standards.
Therefore, it is important that the U.S. government monitor and evaluate the impact and effectiveness of its border security and migration policies on an ongoing basis, and make adjustments as needed to ensure that they are consistent with U.S. national security interests and values.
FAQs on 9/11 anniversary
Here are some most asked questions on the internet on this 9/11 anniversary:
What is the main argument of the article?
The main argument of the article is that the 9/11 anniversary reminds us of the need for vigilance and preparedness against potential threats to our homeland security, and that the southern border is one of the areas where we need to enhance our capabilities and cooperation to prevent terrorist infiltration and other risks. However, the article also argues that border security is not only about building walls or fences, but also about building bridges and partnerships with our neighbors and allies to address the complex and dynamic challenges posed by irregular migration.
How has 9/11 shaped the U.S.-Mexico border security?
9/11 has shaped the U.S.-Mexico border security in various ways, such as:
– Strengthening the physical and technological infrastructure at the border, such as building barriers, deploying more personnel and technology, expanding screening and vetting programs, and increasing cooperation with Mexico and other countries in the region.
– Creating a new federal agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which merged the U.S. Customs Service, the Border Patrol, and other agencies under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2003.
– Reversing some of the restrictive policies on immigration and asylum implemented by the Trump administration, such as the “Remain in Mexico” program, and pledging to create a more humane and orderly system for processing migrants at the border by the Biden administration.
What are some of the current challenges and opportunities for border security?
Some of the current challenges and opportunities for border security are:
– Managing a major crisis at the southern border, as a surge of migrants from Central America and other regions has overwhelmed the capacity of U.S. authorities to process and accommodate them.
– Addressing the root causes of migration, such as poverty, violence, corruption, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic in the source countries, by allocating $4 billion over four years to support economic development, governance reform, and security assistance in Central America.
– Preventing terrorist infiltration through other routes besides the southern border, such as through Europe or Canada, especially in light of the possibility that terrorist groups such as al Qaeda or ISIS could exploit the instability and violence in Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal.
What are some of the alternatives to detention for migrants who do not pose a flight or security risk?
On this 9/11 anniversary, some of the alternatives to detention for migrants who do not pose a flight or security risk are:
– Case management, which involves assigning a case worker to monitor and assist migrants with their immigration proceedings, legal representation, and social services.
– Electronic monitoring, which involves using ankle bracelets, smartphone apps, or biometric devices to track the location and compliance of migrants.
– Community-based programs, which involve partnering with non-governmental organizations or faith-based groups to provide housing, counseling, and support to migrants.
What are the benefits and drawbacks of these alternatives to detention?
Some of the benefits and drawbacks of these alternatives to detention are:
– Benefits:
– They are more humane and respectful of the rights and dignity of migrants, especially children, who may suffer from trauma, abuse, or neglect in detention facilities.
– They are more cost-effective and efficient than detention, as they reduce the burden on the U.S. government and taxpayers to maintain and operate detention facilities.
– They are more conducive to integration and social cohesion, as they allow migrants to live in the community, access education and health care, and contribute to the economy and society.
– Drawbacks:
– They may not be effective in deterring or preventing future migration, as some migrants may perceive them as an incentive or reward for crossing the border illegally.
– They may not be reliable in ensuring compliance and appearance, as some migrants may abscond or fail to show up for their immigration hearings or removal orders.
– They may face legal and political challenges, such as lawsuits, injunctions, congressional opposition, or public backlash, that could limit their implementation or expansion.
What is Title 42 and how does it affect migrants at the border?
Title 42 is a public health order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in March 2020 that authorizes the U.S. government to expel migrants who cross the border illegally or without proper documentation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The order applies to migrants from any country, regardless of their nationality, origin, or asylum status. According to DHS, more than 940,000 migrants have been expelled under Title 42 since March 2020.
The effects of Title 42 on migrants at the border are:
– It exposes them to greater risks and dangers, as they may be returned to unsafe or violent conditions in Mexico or their home countries, or attempt to cross the border again through more remote or perilous routes.
– It denies them access to due process and protection, as they are not given a chance to apply for asylum or humanitarian relief in the United States, or to challenge their expulsion in court.
– It contradicts international law and human rights norms, as it violates the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning refugees or asylum seekers to a country where they face persecution or harm.
Conclusion
The 9/11 anniversary reminds us of the need for vigilance and preparedness against potential threats to our homeland security. The southern border is one of the areas where we need to enhance our capabilities and cooperation to prevent terrorist infiltration and other risks. However, border security is not only about building walls or fences. It is also about building bridges and partnerships with our neighbors and allies to address the complex and dynamic challenges posed by irregular migration. By adopting a holistic approach that balances security with humanity, we can create a safer and more prosperous future for ourselves and our region.
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