Border Patrol unveils new "risk-based" strategy

AFP/Getty Images

(AP) SAN DIEGO - The U.S. Border Patrol on Tuesday unveiled its first national strategy in eight years, a period in which the number of agents more than doubled and apprehensions of people entering illegally from Mexico dropped to a 40-year low.

The new approach — outlined in a 32-page document that took more than two years to develop — uses buzzwords like "risk-based" and "intelligence-driven" to describe a more nuanced, targeted response to constantly evolving threats.

The Border Patrol previously relied on a strategy that blanketed heavily trafficked corridors for illegal immigrants with agents, pushing migrants to more remote areas where they would presumably be easier to capture and discouraged from trying again.

"The jury, for me at least, is out on whether that's a solid strategy," Chief Mike Fisher told The Associated Press.

The new strategy draws on intelligence to identify repeat crossers and to try to determine why they keep coming, said Fisher, who was expected to address a House subcommittee on the plan Tuesday.

"This whole risk-based approach is trying to figure out who are these people? What risk do they pose from a national security standpoint? The more we know, the better informed we are about identifying the threat and potential risk," he said in a recent interview.

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Conditions on the border have changed dramatically since the last national strategy, putting pressure on the agency to adapt to a new landscape. An unprecedented hiring boom more than doubled the number of agents to 21,000 since 2004, accompanied by heavy spending on fencing, cameras, sensors and other gizmos.

At the same time, migration from Mexico has slowed significantly. Last year, the Border Patrol made 327,577 apprehensions on the Mexican border, down 80 percent from more than 1.6 million in 2000. It was the slowest year since 1971.

The Pew Hispanic Center reported last month that the largest wave of migrants from a single country in U.S. history had stopped increasing and may have reversed.

Illegal Mexican immigrant numbers down as more migrate back to Mexico

The new strategy moves to halt a revolving-door policy of sending migrants back to Mexico without any punishment.

The Border Patrol now feels it has enough of a handle to begin imposing more serious consequences on almost everyone it catches from Texas' Rio Grande Valley to San Diego. In January, it expanded its "Consequence Delivery System" to the entire border, dividing border crossers into seven categories, ranging from first-time offenders to people with criminal records.

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[martykz-2009]

Evolution favors the most adaptable and its offspring. Therefore, the future of humanity resides with the children of these persistent migrants.

[ohsodisapointing]

I believe this says it all

http://www.wthr.com/video?clipId=7054149&autostart=true

[jhfrecker]

Actually no one is sure what the facts are; it's very difficult to get the exact numbers. Many of the "deportations" that the administration claims are simply aliens who are turned around at the border - "Voluntary Returns - which aren't deportations. Enforcement-wise, the Obama administration is not much better or much worse than the Bush administration or others before it.

[davcor2]

I would submit to you that it's not the implimentation of special strategies that is reducing the amount of attempted illegal crossings. It is the American economy that's forcing illegal wanna be's to stay home. It's easier to be jobless at home than it is to be jobless here.

[jhfrecker]

I believe you're right, "davcor2". I believe once the economy improves, the number aliens attempting illegal entry will increase dramatically. And they will increase even more so if there's serious consideration of an amnesty for illegal aliens already here.

[beluleano]

Hey if your gardner or laundry tenants (illegals) are so precious to you, go back to their country with them. I can guarantee if i robbed a bank i'd go to jail, but it's okay for somebody who doesn't even pay into the system, not even a citizen to flaunt our laws and you're all ok with it, republican and democats??? I wish i had a spaceship to get off this rock. You are all insane religious hypocrites.

[beluleano]

How stupid. If anyone believes they're not burdoned by this they're completely wrong. More spanish language this, more rapes, murders and drugs because of their beautul culture Mexico shares with us. I say put a bunch of land mines and radioactive waste along the border. I can guarantee you we'll have a serious shortage of all this soon enough. But too late, the "hispanic" advocate rights (i.e. their anchor babies) are already growing up and trying to protect "LA RAZA!" Choose people, you're either and American or not. No Mexican-American, no African-American....just American, or go home!

[busterdawgggy]

Earlier a poster suggested a "shoot to kill" policy. Have we as American stooped this low? Yes, these people shouldn't cross the border. But examine their motives: caught in extreme poverty, no hope, wanting a better life for them and their families. Deport them, yes, but shoot them? Where is the humanity? I suspect that each of us, caught in that web of hopelessness, would try to cross that border.

[Bojax39]

Campaign driven foolery until election time, after which it will be back to the old revolving door policy no matter who is elected. Sort of like a slumlord slapping paint on a decaying edifice to hide the rot and put on a better face until the inspectors are gone.

[democracy8]

The Obama administration has deported more illegals in 3-1/2 years than the total deported in 8 years under Bush. FACT!

[nehicks]

democracy8: He is still, at the most conservative estimate, 12 MILLION people behind in deportation numbers. When the number that he has managed to deport reaches about 10 Million, then, I will give him credit for deportations.

[occupy_cbs]

WiseAsOwl: "You're just as smart today as you were yesterday".




Unfortunately you're not, but never disappoint us with wasted bandwidth repeating the usual republican talking points or as in this case, adding absolutely nothing to the discussion.

It is nice to know that the Pew Hispanic Center reported last month that the largest wave of migrants from a single country in U.S. history had stopped increasing and may have reversed.

[WiseAsOwl]

This all looks more like a full-scale "retreat" and they're putting a whole lot of thought into how to make it LOOK like an all-out "attack".. But, remember, guys. Your first job is to get Obama re-elected. The rest will be "added unto you"... After all, Obama has done his part by destroying jobs and an economy that were attracting illegals in the first place.. As you've heard, there are now as many going back to Mexico as there are coming into the U.S. Now, it's your turn to help him. I guess we all gotta do our share. Let's ask Holder.. Maybe it's time to send more guns to Mexico??