Immigration Reform and National Security

Over the last few years, the debate over immigration reform has beeen tied to national security concerns.  U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Friday that immigration reform would let U.S. law enforcement focus on catching criminals instead of “future housekeepers and landscapers.” But he said Americans are unlikely to back any such reform until added security along the Mexican border convinces them that they’re safe. Click here for the full AP report.

Proponents of efforts of militarizing the southern border with Mexico through border fences and the like often point to security concerns (and 9/11) as justifying the measures.  But, according to the latest studies, no known terrorists have  entered the United States from Mexico.  The most publicized terrorist in recent years who tried to cross a U.S. land borders was the Millennium bomber who tried to enter through Canada.  Although better tracking of noncitizens in the United States may improve national security, it is hard to see how focusing the border the keep “future housekeepers and landscapers,” in Chertoff’s words, makes us any safer as a nation.  For further analysis of immigration reform and national security, see an article (here) that Bernie Trujillo and I wrote for a Minnesota Law Review symposium.

KJ