BORDER CONTROL STRATEGY RESULTS IN CHANGING INS TACTICS Beginning in the mid-1990s, the INS began a series of border control initiatives in urban border areas. These operations did result in dramatically decreased numbers of undocumented border crossers in these areas, but did little to curb the total number of people attempting to cross the border. The concentration of Border Patrol agents in cities on the border caused people to make their crossing in remote, often dangerous areas. People also began to rely more on smugglers, known as coyotes, to sneak them across the border and into the interior of the US.
As the demand for the smugglers has become greater, they have grown more sophisticated, relying increasingly on high-tech devices to run their businesses. They have also increased their cooperation with each other. The changes in the way smugglers work has forced the INS to change how it goes after them. After years of trying to deal with the problem through the use of force, the INS is now adopting tactics one would more frequently associate with the FBI.
Instead of focusing efforts on apprehending the migrants, the Border Patrol is beginning to use resources to target the smugglers, often using undercover agents and wiretaps to make cases against them. This change in tactics would not be possible without two new weapons Congress recently added to the INS’ arsenal – the authority to place wiretaps on phones and to monitor e-mail, and the power to seize assets of suspected smugglers.
The willingness of the INS to use this new strategy to fight smuggling on the Mexican border also has much to do with the success of Operation Seek and Keep, a massive undercover operation that infiltrated a Dallas-based smuggling ring responsible for smuggling over 10,000 people into the US through an international network.
The shifting INS focus has won approval from people on both sides of the immigration debate. Those who want to seek illegal cross-border traffic stopped are pleased that the INS is focusing on large smuggling operations. Those whose primary concern is the safety of those crossing the border think that focusing on disrupting the communication between the smugglers might result in fewer border deaths. < Back | Next > Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided as a public service and not intended to establish an attorney client relationship. Any reliance on information contained herein is taken at your own risk. | 
