nd at least 25 miles off the border. The agents are responsible to check factories and homes for illegal workers. (U.S. INS) “Border control” particularly from Mexico, emerged as important topics in U.S. politics. This was due to the mid-1970’s economic recession, rising numbers of Border Patrol apprehensions, and aggressive INS media campaigns highlighting the scale of the illegal alien problem. The trend continued through the 1980’s reaching its apex in the early 1990’s. U.S. public opinion now consistently shows that there is strong opposition to illegal immigration. (Cornelius, 1994) Over the last several years, the U.S. has seen increasing calls and efforts to fight unauthorized immigration and boundary related crime, specifically drug trafficking. There has been an unprecedented growth in federal resources dedicated to boundary policing. Unauthorized immigration and an out of control border region fueled the political sentiment for immigration enforcement, which climaxed with the passage of the Immigration and Control Act of 1986. (UTA, 1992) Former President Ronald Reagan starkly framed unauthorized immigration as a national security issue, warning, “The simple truth is that we’ve lost control of our borders and no nation can do that and survive.” (Cornelius, 1994) The U.S. – Mexico border region is the fastest growing border zone in the Americas, perhaps in the world. With a population of 11 million people and an economic output of $150 billion, the region now has an economy larger than that of Poland. Approximately 230 million people and 82 million cars enter the U.S. from Mexico each year. In 1994, the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement intensified this trend. About 2.8 million trucks crossed the border that year. The “NAFTAization” and growing militarization of the U.S. – Mexico boundary, are taking place simultaneously. (Divine, 19...
