ipl-logo

Texas Border Patrol

1552 Words7 Pages

TEXAS/MEXICO BORDER: GEOGRAPHY/ISSUES/CHALLENGES
The Mexican border with the State of Texas is a large, rugged and sparsely populated area covering approximately 1,254 miles of the total 1,900 miles of American border territory with Mexico. The river that makes the natural border along the Western and Southwestern part of the state, the Rio Grande, is one of the major means of illegal entry for individuals wishing to enter the United States. The varying patterns of the Rio Grande are responsible for areas measuring less than 75 yards in width, making aquatic entry an enticing and relatively simple solution. Texas has a notoriously porous border and has been exploited for this reason for decades, the agents of the United States Customs and …show more content…

soil. The formation of the Special Operations (SOG) a coupling of 2 elite CBP units: BORTAC (Border Patrol Tactical Unit) is a rapidly deployable, high risk incident response team, utilizing specialized tactics and skill sets. TAC is unique in its global response and joint training capabilities and operations on both foreign and domestic soil. Deployed as a support element for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and implementing tactics learned from their counterparts from the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). TAC responsibilities include, high risk warrant service, intelligence gathering, reconnaissance and surveillance, expansion of BP capacity with foreign law enforcement, airmobile operations, maritime interdiction and the use of precision marksman and observers (Sniper/Spotter) teams. Operators also implement a sharing of their specialized skills to BP field agents in an effort to force multiply. The 2nd unit comprising SOG is the Search Trauma and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR), who provide CBP and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with solutions to uncommon and dangerous situations, in addition to Search and Rescue and advanced medical response capabilities. SOG IV (Intelligence Unit) and Mobile Response Teams (MRT) are SOG designated assets equipped to deliver real-time, …show more content…

Approximately 20 Predator B’s in use by the CBP. WASP-2.5 foot wingspan makes the unit single-operator capable, can be carried in backpack and deployed deep within rugged terrain. Utilized by Texas DPS(SOG) in sparsely populated areas along Texas/ Mexico border.
PROS: Full range of advanced surveillance and intelligence (i.e. high powered zoom lens, night vision, see-through technology ‘dust, clouds, buildings and foliage’, video analytics and vise distribution. Becoming increasingly more affordable, making the probability of mass production likely. Longer flight time capabilities for the smaller WASP and RAVEN drone models. Decreased maintenance time and man-power needs.
CONS: Supreme Court ruling that the 4th Amendment “ Does not categorically prohibit the government from carrying out warrantless, aerial surveillance of private property”. Leading to concerns over pervasive surveillance, and police and federal “fishing expeditions” in abuse of these tools.
Predator B-$3,000 an hour to operate and has a 1hour per flight time to 1 hour of maintenance

Show More
Related

  • Accomplishments Of Sergeant Corey Jasmin In The Navy

    898 Words  | 4 Pages

    Due to his ability to quickly adapt to the environment, Sergeant Jasmin was immediately identified by the partnered Target Office of Primary Interest (TOPI) as an extremely capable analyst and was entrusted with mission development that is normally reserved for more seasoned National Security Agency (NSA) analysts. His initial development work in the target area not only supported the TOPI's overall mission, but it also helped carve out the CMT's specific mission. Due to Sergeant Jasmin's efforts, the assigned mission area received due attention, which enabled forward deployed units to prosecute High-Value Individuals

    Read More

  • Posse Comitatus Act Analysis

    177 Words  | 1 Pages

    The armed forces have rendered critical support to state and local (SL) government dating back to the establishment of the nation. Post-9/11, the federal government has taken measures to foster a unity of effort while also encouraging interoperability among all levels of government and the private sector. As a state resource, the Army and Air National Guard (AANG) are under the command and control (C2) of their respective Governors and Adjutant General. Since its inception, the AANGs primary function has been to provide direct, and timely support in response to natural and man-made disasters. Historically, pieces of legislation such as the Posse Comitatus Act (1878) have affected the Department of Defense (DoD) limitations and scope during

    Read More

  • Joint Terrorism Task Force And DHS Fusion Centers Analysis

    1139 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Joint Terrorism Task Forces provide training on counterterrorism tactics and techniques to law enforcement agencies across the country. This is a huge benefit for everybody because this makes agencies across the board more capable and efficient to handle a variety of terrorist

    Read More

  • The Weaver Family And The Siege At Ruby Ridge

    2452 Words  | 10 Pages

    Two Marshals were able to make their way down the mountain and contact the local Sheriff’s office and the Marshals Headquarters in Washington DC for assistance. The local Sheriff SWAT team was activated and fearing for lives of the trapped Marshals, the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) was activated. The USMS does not have authority to investigate to investigate “Assaults on Federal Officers” (AFOs) and the FBI has jurisdiction in these types of events. Eventually, law enforcement from the Boundary County Sheriff’s office, Idaho State Police and National Guard, US Border Patrol and Marshal’s Service and the FBI were en route to Ruby Ridge. The siege at Ruby Ridge began with hundreds of law enforcement officials surrounding the Weaver cabin with the family secluded

    Read More

  • The Death Of Josseline: Immigration Stories From The Arizona Borderlands By Margaret Regan

    1138 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Death of Josseline The book I chose to write a narrative about is called The Death of Josseline: Immigration Stories from the Arizona Borderlands written by Margaret Regan. This book humanizes migrating families and individuals while giving us insight on an issue that Arizona has been expressively dealing with: the movement of undocumented migrants that cross into Arizona, a state who’s anti-immigrant laws are the most stringent in the nation. The border is signified as different things to different people, which can be a very different place to individuals depending on the discourse and lenses shown as focal points.

    Read More

  • USA Patriot Act Case Study

    419 Words  | 2 Pages

    US NEWS informs us, “Drones in Seattle and Miami are equipped with video cameras capable of taking daytime and nighttime video, as are drones used by the Texas Department of Public Safety.” In 1989 Supreme Court decision ruled that police may use helicopters to peer into semiprivate areas including the backyard of a house without first obtaining a warrant. The Congressional Research Service furthermore states “The legal issues discussed in this report will likely remain unresolved until the civilian use of drones becomes more widespread”. The fourth amendment prohibits any search and seizures without a warrant.

    Read More

  • Manifest Destiny's Westward Expansion In The United States

    542 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the years of 1807-1910, there was a lot of tension and confusion within the United States. The major factor that prompted the U.S. expansion was they wanted to expand and make their borders known. An agreement called the Missouri Compromise was passed by Congress in 1820.This compromise admitted the states in pairs, one slaveholding and one free. Then in 1857 the Supreme Court ruled that Congress had no right to prohibit slavery in the territories.

    Read More

  • Domestic Militarized Drones Research Paper

    869 Words  | 4 Pages

    Domestic militarized drones have the potential to be disastrous for the civil liberties of American citizens. Many Americans agree with this, as stated in Evan Slinger’s article on Christian Science Monitor, “.... domestic drone surveillance might erode civil liberties, and degrade the political fabric of the United States. To some extent the American public knows this is the case and is invested in moving forward carefully.” America’s citizens have already witnessed first-hand how there are parts of our government that have overstepped their boundaries by engaging in surveillance of the domestic population. America needs to cut back on their monitoring of citizens because with the current Status Quo, American citizens have no privacy

    Read More

  • Border Patrol Dbq

    1762 Words  | 8 Pages

    Also, the bill would bolster border security a little further, by adding 20,000 Border Patrol agents. It required completing 700 new miles of new fence along the United States-Mexico line and using $3.2 billion in additional security technology. Texas had taken a more aggressive approach. “The Texas legislature, with the support of state leaders, has dedicated substantial funding over the last several years, and the Department of Public Safety has dedicated a significant amount of resources, technology, equipment and personnel for border security,” Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw stated in an email interview. The staff for the state legislative board had estimated a total spending on the border security of about $452 million from 2008-2013.

    Read More

  • Foreigners In Their Native Land Chapter 1 Summary

    1170 Words  | 5 Pages

    After years of battle for independence against Spain, Mexico gained territorial expansion but was left with a struggling economy and a sparsely populated region. The United States was in a position to take advantage of Mexico during this time, after a large period of economic growth. In Chapter 7 “Foreigners in Their Native Land: A War Against Mexico” by Ronald Takaki, in his book, A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America, retells the events that took place during the illegal immigration of the United States into Mexican territory, the acquisition of Mexico’s land, and the discrimination experienced by Mexican-Americans after the war. The Mexican American War was driven by the idea of “Manifest Destiny”, which is the

    Read More

  • Persuasive Speech: Changing To A Four-Day School

    495 Words  | 2 Pages

    Today I’ll be addressing the argument between changing to a four-day school week from a five-day school week. In my own hoenest opinion I would rather change and have a four day school week. This is because I believe I do better in school when we have that extra day off. I am well rested and feel less stressed because I have more than enough time to get my work done. But I know that there are some cons to having a four day school week.

    Read More

  • The Behavior Analysis Unit (BAU)

    882 Words  | 4 Pages

    There are four units they all handle different types of crimes. Unit one handles the high priority cases that put more than a few people in danger.

    Read More

  • Drones Pros Cons

    469 Words  | 2 Pages

    An article reports that, “Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and their affiliates often operate in distant and unforgiving locations where it would be extremely dangerous for the United States to deploy teams of special forces to track and capture terrorists,” (Source J). For this matter, it is known that drones can maximize the ability to complete the mission in rural areas where harsh weather conditions and/or mountainous land is encountered. Augmenting the security of military personnel is a great advantage drones give forth in the acceptance of drone management in warfare. Although there are claims that drones are safer, many reports have been made pointing out that drones still cause more negative consequences than positive.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Surveillance And Privacy

    1295 Words  | 6 Pages

    The domestic use of drones by the government has increased over the years. Unfortunately drone surveillance use remain unregulated due to slim privacy and civil liberty restrictions at federal level. With the advancement of surveillance technologies, drones will be used to track our every move violating our privacy. New drone systems such as the ARGUS-IS (Autonomous Real-time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance Imaging System) are being equipped with five-megapixel smartphone camera sensors. Yiannis Antoniades, an engineer who developed ARGUS-IS, stated “You can see individuals crossing the street.

    Read More

  • Military Drones Essay

    1595 Words  | 7 Pages

    Qaddafi and Anwar are just two examples that drones have helped for the better of the U.S. In August 2009 Taliban leader Baltullah Mehsud’s death was announced, a missile shot from an unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) was responsible.   Six years later, the U.S. Air Force is saying that the unmanned combat missions have increased by 600%.   To protect human lives, Cummings said, “I would rather send a bunch of robots to do a mine-sweeping mission, possibly with human oversight several miles away” (Tucker,

    Read More

More about Texas Border Patrol

Open Document