The U.S. approach to border security has evolved in response to incidents like the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which triggered extensive policy reforms to increase the resources provided for homeland protection.
Moreover, border security issues drew additional criticism from the public and from senior officials in the government after it emerged that the 9/11 hijackers held temporary U.S tourist visas,[1] which allowed legal entry into the US.
According to a 2004 report from the Congressional Research Service, there are "great difficulties in securing the many points through which people and goods may enter legally, and the thousands of miles of ‘lines’, thinly guarded stretches of coasts and land borders which entry is illegal.
As part of her testimony at a Congressional Hearing on container security, JayEtta Hecker, Director for Physical Infrastructure Issues at the Government Accountability Office, said "drugs and illegal aliens are routinely smuggled into this country, not only in small boats but also hidden among otherwise legitimate cargoes on large commercial ships.
"[8] Ms. Hecker's testimony also touched on the fact that the sheer number of cargo containers that enter the United States augments this threat.
[11][citation needed][12] In a 2008 article for the Manhattan Institute, Rudolph Giuliani argued that border security was one of the most critical issues facing the United States, and should by monitored by a single organization that embraced CompStat, the organizational philosophy of the NYPD.
In addition, there were more than 600 canine teams that could "identify narcotics, bulk currency, human beings, explosives, agricultural pests, and chemical weapons" working U.S. ports of entry.
[18] Due to the massive numbers of travelers, and the consequent pressure for airport security mechanisms to be quick, efficient, and effective, the DHS has implemented the Automated Targeting System, a data mining program.
This data is fed into the Automated Targeting System,[20] and helps TSA, FBI, CIA, and other organizations to create the Selectee and No Fly List.
They fly either in uniform or incognito and act as the law enforcement while on board to protect passengers and crew members from criminals and terrorists.
[22] Starting in March 2010, the TSA begin a wide-scale deployment of full body scanners, in addition to metal detectors, to physically screen airline passengers.
[24] The system occasionally leads to a "false positive" which is the accidental flagging of individuals that have similar names to suspected terrorists or are on the List for illegitimate reason.