This month marks the 5th anniversary of the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. A Washington Post article reflects on the past success and current challenges facing DHS as it looks forward toward the next five years. One current challenge facing DHS is the completion of nearly 670 miles of border fence by the end of 2008. A second Washington Post article reports mixed results with the more than 300 miles of fence constructed along the Southwest border to-date.
Having led the Bush Administration’s unsuccessful efforts last year to prompt Congressional passage of comprehensive immigration reform, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff, along with U.S. Attorney General Michael B. Mukaskey, have now announced inter-departmental efforts to crack-down on illegal immigration. Similarly, U.S. Senate Republicans have brought forth a package of immigration enforcement measures.
Meanwhile, the Arizona Republic reports on the growing fiscal strain in U.S.-Mexico border counties as a result of local law enforcement and legal action against illegal immigrants. On the northern border, DHS intends to rely on technological solutions to border security the Federal Computing Weekly reports.
The Border Trade Alliance continues to monitor DHS’ progress as it prepares to transition to a new administration in the coming months.
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