{
  "id": "RL32840",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL32840",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 306834,
      "date": "2005-03-29",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T19:48:47.461029",
      "title": "Border and Transportation Security: Selected Programs and Policies",
      "summary": "Border and Transportation Security (BTS) is a pivotal function in protecting the American\npeople\nfrom terrorists and their instruments of destruction. This report addresses selected programs and\npolicies now in place that seek to attain higher levels of BTS. It is the second in a three-part series\nof CRS reports that make use of analytical frameworks to better understand complex phenomena and\ncast them in terms that facilitate consideration of alternative policies and practices. (The first report\nin the series,  CRS Report RL32839 ,  Border and Transportation Security: The Complexity of the\nChallenge , analyzes the reasons why BTS is so difficult to attain. This report is the second in\nthe\nseries. The final report is  CRS Report RL32841 ,  Border and Transportation Security: Possible\nNew\nDirections and Policy Options .)\n \n Congressional concern with terrorism and border security was manifested as early as 1993, with\nthe first World Trade Center attack and subsequent terrorist attacks against U.S. targets abroad. The\ncongressional response to these events began with attempts to understand the nature of the terrorist\nthreat through the creation of several commissions. The response to the 9/11 attacks was followed\nby specific, targeted measures to protect the nation such as the creation of the Transportation\nSecurity Administration and the passage of laws that were aimed at strengthening security at the\nborder, including immigration policies with respect to the admission of foreign nationals; and\nstrengthening security in the maritime domain. Congressional interest continues in more\ncomprehensive approaches including recent efforts to respond to the report of the 9/11 Commission.\n \n There are several broad strategies that could be pursued to enhance border security. Current\nprograms and policies can be grouped under the following generic categories, which include pushing\nthe border outwards to intercept unwanted people or goods  before  they reach the United\nStates (as\nin the passenger pre-screening program); hardening the border through the use of technology (as\nshown by biometric identifiers); making the border more accessible for legitimate trade and travel\n(as in \u201ctrusted traveler\u201d programs); strengthening the border inspection process\nthrough more\neffective use of intelligence (with the integration of terrorist watch lists); and multiplying the\neffectiveness of interdiction programs through the engagement of other actors in the enforcement\neffort (as displayed by bi-national accords with Canada and Mexico). It is also possible to use the\nstrategies as a checklist for what new efforts might be explored.\n \n Many current programs and policies to enhance border and transportation security were put into\nplace as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with a sense of urgency --  to prevent another\nattack . \nPrograms and policies in existence prior to the attacks, however, were often created with a different\nfocus and not necessarily with the terrorist threat in mind. The challenge for Congress is to review\nthese programs and policies comprehensively to help them form a more coherent and effective\noverall strategy. This report will be updated periodically as events warrant.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
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      "topics": []
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  ],
  "topics": [
    "Foreign Affairs",
    "Intelligence and National Security"
  ]
}