What are the yearly costs (in all its forms) of illegal immigration?

Required Reading:
No required readings for forum 1.
The student will read and respond to the instructor’s prompt in a new thread (minimum of 200 words) on the class’s Discussion Forum (Board). The student will then post replies to at least two other students’ threads. The replies need to be at least 100 words minimum. Each discussion requires the usage of appropriate professional etiquette. Each forum must be completed by the end of the modules indicated in the course syllabus. Students should use the specified readings along with any other academic sources they may wish to use. References will be used and cited in normal APA formatting. Be sure to include word count on each posting.
The student should research each prompt using textbooks, reference material provided in the course, and their own research. Be sure to answer each question fully. What does the research say and what do you think, and why? Original post will need references and it is encouraged to try and include references in responses when possible. Read all postings and be sure to read my postings to everyone.
Discussion Board #3 Readings – Grappling with Border Security and Immigration Issues
What are the yearly costs (in all its forms) of illegal immigration? How secure are our borders? What does the rule of law mean and what does it have to do with border society and immigration? Is it important to secure our borders and if so why or why not? What would you propose to better secure our borders?
Required Reading:
Use at least three readings offered and add one more reference that you find yourself. Do the same for each mini paper and forum. The reference you add to each forum and mini paper needs to come from a scholarly – referred Journal article. The best place to find these is from the VCU online Library- databases.
Smart Borders, Virtual Borders or No Borders: Homeland Security and Security Choices the US and Canada
https://scholar.smu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1216&context=lbra
The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program: A Roadmap for Reform
https://www.heritage.org/sites/default/files/2017-07/BG3212.pdf
The Promise and Peril of Cities and Immigration Policy
https://harvardlpr.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2013/09/Su.pdf
Enforcing Immigration Law: The Role of State, Tribal and Local Law Enforcement
http://www.markwynn.com/trafficking/enforcing-immigration-law-the-role-of-state-tribal-and-local-le-2004.pdf
The State of the right of Asylum in International Law
https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1342&context=djcil
Supplemental/Optional Reading:
US Customs ICE
https://www.ice.gov/
Confronting the problem of illegal Mexican migration to the U.S.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-190/html/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-99-190.htm
Police and Immigration: How Chiefs Are Leading their Communities through the Challenges
https://www.carnegie.org/media/filer_public/db/14/db14f2a4-3187-44d1-b4fa-b4b539ffce2c/ccny_grantee_2011_police.pdf
Border Security: Barriers along the U.S. International Border
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/RL33659.pdf
Extreme Vetting Requires a Broader Visa Waiver Program
https://www.heritage.org/sites/default/files/2017-08/IB4755.pdf
Overview of U.S. Immigration Law
https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/how-united-states-immigration-system-works
These are the two students he will reply to:

Corrie
a minute ago
Student 1
The yearly costs of immigration are a little hazy. In 2018, President Donald Trump claimed that illegal immigration cost the United States around 200 million dollars. Lots of researches stated that this is untrue. I was able to find that in 2017, a study was done by the Federation for American Immigration Reform that said it cost 116 billion annually and it is rising each year (IRLI, 2017).
Those who secure our borders are Customs and Border Patrol which is a branch of the Department of Homeland Security. CBP has over 60 thousand employees and most work exclusively at ports of entry (Cheatham et al., 2021). On the other hand, we have the transportation security administration (TSA), which guards and protects traveling in the United States.
The rule of law means that everyone is subject to the laws and legal principles and that they apply to everyone equally. No one is above the law here in the United States. Even people who want to immigrate here and live here are subject to those same laws. I believe that it is an extreme priority that we protect and secure our borders. We have the right to be able to vet and validate that the people who come to the United States bring no harm or crime to our country. To make our borders more secure, it has been a very big struggle for the United States to handle because of the great divide of opinions in how we should maintain our borders. One way to make our borders more secure it seems as though we need to properly staff all ports of entry as well as modernize their technology and communication systems. This will help with coordination between officers and agencies.
Cheatham, A., Felter, C., & Laub, Z. (2021). How the U.S. Patrols Its Borders. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/how-us-patrols-its-borders
IRLI. (2017, September 27). New FAIR Study: Illegal Immigration Costs $116 Billion Annually. IRLI. https://www.irli.org/new-fair-study-illegal-immigration-costs-116-billion-annually/?gclid=CjwKCAjww-CGBhALEiwAQzWxOg8Jk_2W8bSC5h0ug7QAh_bj3q6Y1KMWBIbsS-1ogTvmhqk9QSTPWxoCpyYQAvD_BwE
Student 2:
The cost for illegal immigration varies greatly depending on the state and whether it is directly on the border to not. However this cost falls upon the taxpayers, according to Attorney General Paxton from Texas states, “If we use the minimum estimated costs for services Texas provides to unlawfully present and undocumented aliens, taxpayers are shelling out an estimated $855 million every year” (AG). This cost is very significant and this is very roughly similar to the price payed by other states.
Our borders are very secure, we have multiple checkpoints where officers are in charge of checking documents and ensuring the safety of others. The officers and organizations in charge of watching all bordered whether on land or sea cannot completely escape immigration. In order to discharge its duties, the United States Border Patrol (USBP) deploys personnel, technology, and tactical infrastructure such as vehicle barriers and fencing. Fencing is erected on the border to impede the illegal entry of unauthorized aliens, while vehicle barriers are designed to impede the entry of vehicles but do not impede the entry of individuals (Haddal et al, p.1). Although the borders are not 100% secure, these organizations are working to find ways to improve the situation for all borders.

Corrie
a minute ago

The rule of law states that no one is above the law, not even the government. This plays a significant role when considering who is granted what as an immigrant and how long they are allowed to stay. There are several ways to obtain “permission” to live in the United States legally whether it’s through Asylum, Temporary Protected States (TPS), permanent residency or citizenship (this can be the most difficult). These statuses can only be achieved through a long process, a significant amount of paper work along with the proof that is required for each. This “permission” can definitely take some time to process so officers or governmental officials to not have empathy for their situations which can result in deportations.
Personally, I believe that the immigration system could be improved in many aspects. As an International student, my people are being locked in cages on the border and nothing is being done to improve their situation and children are constantly being separated form their families. It is completely understandable why organization are working to make sure our borders are safe, especially after the terrorist attack of 9/11. However, closed borders, rejections, push-offs, and the like are not solutions that the world community should tolerate… Second, closed borders, rejections, and push-offs should not be tolerated because they are not a humane answer to a call for refuge (Boed, p.13). Immigrants that come to the United States illegally tend to be feeling from violence and other very hard living situations, it should be in our nature to extend a helping hand. We can still maintain security however we should allow immigrants to come to the United States under certain conditions in order to prioritize safety. They come to this country with nothing but they are more than willing to work I order to obtain the American Dream and the government could definitely implement policies to help them rather than simply kick them out for being “aliens”.
References
“AG Paxton: Illegal Immigration Costs Texas Taxpayers Over $850 Million Each Year.” Texas Attorney General, 31 Mar. 2021, www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/ag-paxton-illegal-immigration-costs-texas-taxpayers-over-850-million-each-year.
Boed, Roman. “THE STATE OF THE RIGHT OF ASYLUM IN INTERNATIONAL LAW.” Articles, 1994.
Haddal, Chad C., et al. “Border Security: Barriers Along the U.S. International Border.” Congressional Research Service, 16 Mar. 2009.
Discussion Board #4 Readings -Discuss FISA? What is it? Good, bad, or indifferent?
Required Reading:
Use at least three readings offered and add one more reference that you find yourself. Do the same for each mini paper and forum. The reference you add to each forum and mini paper needs to come from a scholarly – referred Journal article. The best place to find these in form the VCU online Library- databases.
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: Before and after the USA Patriot Act – Legal Digest https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Foreign+Intelligence+Surveillance+Act%3A+before+and+after+the+USA…-a0105477700
Liberty and Security: A Balanced Approach
https://scholarship.law.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1025&context=jlpa
Where Liberty Lies: Civil Society and Individual Rights After 9/11
https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2129&context=facpub
Rights, Liberties, and Security: Recalibrating the Balance after September 11

Rights, Liberties, and Security: Recalibrating the Balance after September 11

Ample Safeguards of Civil Liberties Warrant FISA Section 702’s Reauthorization by Congress
https://www.heritage.org/the-constitution/commentary/ample-safeguards-civil-liberties-warrant-fisa-section-702s
Forgetting Lessons of 9/11, Rebuilding FISA ‘Wall’ Would Be a Mistake
https://www.heritage.org/homeland-security/commentary/forgetting-lessons-911-rebuilding-fisa-wall-would-be-mistake
The System of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Law

Corrie
a few seconds ago
https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL30465.html#:~:text=%C2%A7%201801%20et%20seq.%2C%20an,assist%20in%20specified%20types%20of
Supplemental/Optional Reading:
Civil liberties vs. National Security
http://www.bancroftpllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/11.-BookFreedom-and-Security-After-September-11-A-2004.pdf
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA): An Overview
https://www.fletc.gov/sites/default/files/imported_files/training/programs/legal-division/downloads-articles-and-faqs/research-by-subject/miscellaneous/ForeignIntelligenceSurveillanceAct.pdf
Student 1:
In 1978, President Carter signed into law the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. It was presented to him by Congress who was tasked with coming up with guidelines for the United States Government to exercise foreign intelligence surveillance. This law first established that electronic surveillance (non-criminal) was permissible for only the purpose of collecting foreign intelligence. Secondly, it basically stated that any foreign powers or individuals of foreign powers were subject to electronic surveillance. There are many other aspects to this act but it boils down to the physical and electronic surveillance of foreign powers/individuals.
FISA has seemed to become an issue with some individuals who fear they are losing their civil liberties. I do not think that FISA is really good or bad. I mean, foreign intelligence is one of the most important aspects of homeland security. If it protects our nation as well as other nations then I believe that it is necessary. Nevertheless, I do believe that there should be safeguards in place so that there is no room for FISA to be taken advantage of. This is not something that should be abused in any way. For now, as long as we are using it within the means of the law, FISA is a tool for our country to use to keep us safe.
References:
Bulzomi, M. J. (2003, June 1). Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: before and after the USA Patriot Act. (Legal Digest). The Free Library. https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Foreign+Intelligence+Surveillance+Act%3A+before+and+after+the+USA…-a0105477700.
McAdams, J. (n.d.). Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA): An Overview. https://www.fletc.gov/sites/default/files/imported_files/training/programs/legal-division/downloads-articles-and-faqs/research-by-subject/miscellaneous/ForeignIntelligenceSurveillanceAct.pdf
Student 2:
The United States established the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to oversee requests for surveillance warrants against foreign spies inside the United States by federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The main reason why this Act was put into place was after the tragic events of 9/11, we needed to add as many possible solutions in order to combat any form of terrorist attacks. This provided insight on what could be done to avoid any possible threats including that FISA surveillance will be used as a workaround by criminal investigators to obtain information for investigation of crimes without having to meet the more rigorous standards applicable in traditional criminal investigations, including the requirement for a warrant to obtain communications content (Jaffer, 2017). This would seem to violate the privacy rights that are in place for everyone, the people who worked directly with FISA also did things behind the scenes that were not available to the public which makes matters much worse for FISA.
Although there is a lot of controversy whether FISA is a good or bad, it is fair to say that this it is needed but has been taken advantage of in the past. FISA itself is relatively good and we can see that the intentions it has been created with might have been good however once again people have taken advantage of it in poor ways. According to an article that discusses the dangers of the government overstepping its boundaries with FISA states, “FISA’s different standards for intelligence surveillance have been viewed suspiciously by some who fear the loss of individual liberty, care must be taken to avoid any abuse of this tool by law enforcement. The Court has warned that, “the greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without understanding” (Foreign). It is crucial for FISA to be put in place but more importantly it should be used properly for FISA to be completely good.
References
Jaffer, J. (2017, December 05). Forgetting Lessons of 9/11, Rebuilding FISA ‘Wall’ Would Be a Mistake. Retrieved July 06, 2021, from

Corrie
a few seconds ago
https://www.heritage.org/homeland-security/commentary/forgetting-lessons-911-rebuilding-fisa-wall-would-be-mistake
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: before and after the USA Patriot Act. (Legal Digest).. (n.d.) >The Free Library. (2014). Retrieved Jul 06 2021 from https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Foreign+Intelligence+Surveillance+Act%3a+before+and+after+the+USA…-a0105477700
Discussion Board #5 Readings – Discuss the Patriot Act. What is it? Good, bad, or indifferent?
Required Reading:
Use at least three readings offered and add one more reference that you find yourself. Do the same for each mini paper and forum. The reference you add to each forum and mini paper needs to come from a scholarly – referred Journal article. The best place to find these is from the VCU online Library- databases.
Balancing Civil Liberties and Homeland Security: Does the USA Patriot Act Avoid Justice Robert H. Jackson’s Suicide Pact.? (Richard L. Thornburgh)
http://www.albanylawreview.org/Articles/Vol68_4/68.4.0801Thornburgh(final).pdf
Patriot 2005-2007: Truth, Controversy, and Consequences
http://www.trolp.org/blog/2016/9/15/patriot-2005-2007-truth-controversy-and-consequences
Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act and Metadata Collection: Responsible Options for the Way Forward
http://thf_media.s3.amazonaws.com/2015/pdf/BG3018.pdf
A way forward on the Patriot Act
https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/way-forward-the-patriot-act
Summary of Key Sections of the USA Patriot Act of 2001
http://www.rhesq.com/terrorism/patriot_act_summary.pdf
Experts Debate the USA PATRIOT Act
http://www.bancroftpllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/7.-An-Indispensable-Tool-in-the-War-on-Terror-2005.pdf
Supplemental/Optional Reading:
USA Patriot Act
https://it.ojp.gov/PrivacyLiberty/authorities/statutes/1281
Arguments Within an Argument: Examining The USA PATRIOT Act
https://dc.cod.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1178&context=essai
Student 1
The PATRIOT Act was passed in the immediate aftermath of the terror attacks of 9/11. The main purpose of this controversial law was providing investigative bodies and law enforcement agents with greater oversight, discretion, and authority in terrorism related investigations. In order to strengthen the hand of law enforcement, the Bush administration rolled out a series of measures that centered on electronic surveillance, expedited search warrants, and obtaining financial records without the proper warrants (Vasi & Strang, 2009). In the long term, the PATRIOT Act opened a can of worms and sparked the ire of both ordinary citizens and civil libertarians who believe that the law oversteps the Bill of Rights and Constitution of the United States.
Following the attacks which completely upended American national security, the economy, and our way of life, it was widely expected that the country would undertake rather drastic measures to prevent radical terrorist organizations from further harming the United States. Despite the Bush administration’s reassurance that the comprehensive law would specifically target radical extremist outfits, the PATRIOT Act morphed into a one-size-fits-all mechanism for erecting a Western-style police state (Vasi & Strang, 2009). To that end, the newly created Department of Homeland Security and other government agencies built a network of sprawling fusion centers that conduct open ended telecommunications and digital surveillance in the United States and across the broader world (Vasi & Strang, 2009). These high-tech fusion centers cost taxpayers billions of dollars however there is no evidence of arbitrary data mining resulting in qualitative leads in the war on terror.
Now that the dust has settled and the United States is convinced that waging an open-ended war on terror is no longer in the best interests of the US, it is time to realign our national security priorities with civil liberties and the Bill of Rights. As discussed last week, FISA courts continue to operate in a bubble and ordinary American citizens have no idea about the shadowy frameworks that FISA courts follow in order to execute warrants in counterterrorism investigations. I highly doubt that a centrist Democrat or conservative Republican will undo the PATRIOT Act but in the future the rise of a more progressive minded libertarian – Republican or Democrat – could unwind the PATRIOT Act and require investigative bodies to return to the pre-9/11 playbook. Most importantly, certain checks and balances will remain in place to ensure that terrorists can never again exploit our borders, financial systems, cyber networks, and economy.

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