Traveling the Terror Highway: Infiltration of Terror Operatives across the U.S.-Mexico Border

摘要

Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, border security and immigration have received increased attention. Public and political scrutiny have changed the priority of border security and immigration enforcement from migrant workers seeking employment to counterterrorism. However, the question remains, if U.S. law enforcement and security agencies are unable to stop the smuggling of drugs and illegal immigrants across the southwestern border between the United States and Mexico, is it possible to prevent terrorists from gaining unauthorized and unaccountable entry into the heartland of the United States. A corollary question is as follows: Given attempts to restructure immigration enforcement policy and infrastructure to deter the illegal entry of terrorists, will it still be possible and lucrative for terrorists to attempt to illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border. The purpose of this thesis is to determine whether conditions exist that would facilitate transnational terrorist organizations' use of Mexico as a conduit to infiltrate personnel clandestinely into the United States. More specifically, the thesis will examine how the existence of these conditions not only makes it possible for terrorists to infiltrate and destabilize the U.S. homeland, but increases the likelihood that terrorists will exploit these conditions until the United States revises its current policies and procedures.