Border Security: Observations on Costs, Benefits, and Challenges of a Department of Defense Role in Helping to Secure the Southwest Land Border.

摘要

The National Guard, with its dual federal and state roles, has been in demand to meet both overseas operations and homeland security requirements. Over the last decade the National Guard has experienced the largest activation of its forces since World War II. At the same time, the Guard s domestic activities have expanded from routine duties, such as responding to hurricanes, to include activities such as helping to secure U.S. borders. Generally, the National Guard can operate in three different statuses: (1) state status state funded under the command and control of the governor; (2) Title 32 status federally funded under command and control of the governor (Title 32 forces may participate in law enforcement activities); and (3) Title 10 status federally funded under command and control of the Secretary of Defense. Forces serving in Title 10 status are generally prohibited from direct participation in law enforcement activities, without proper statutory authorization, but may work to support civilian law enforcement. Although National Guard forces working in support of law enforcement at the southwest land border have been activated under Title 32, the Secretary of Defense has limited their Guard forces are not to make arrests. Since 2006, the National Guard has supported DHS s border security mission in the four southwest border states (California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas) through two missions: Operation Jump Start (June 2006-July 2008) involved volunteers from the border states and from outside the border states; its mission included aviation, engineering, and entry identification, among others, according to National Guard officials. Operation Phalanx (July 2010-September 30, 2011) involved volunteer units and in-state units. The Secretary of Defense limited the National Guard mission to entry identification, criminal analysis, and command and control, according to National Guard officials.