Mexico or Canada, which Border should We Defend Most? There is a clear difference between how the two international borders of the United States are managed. Canada, as one of America’s top trading partners, has a visa-free agreement with the United States, meaning a Canadian citizen may cross the border with a passport, ID, and border crossing card. For a limited time, Canadians need no visa inside the United States. Contrastingly.The International Boundary Commision referred to the border as an “open and trusting relationship” (Sullivan). However, after the 9-11 terrorist attacks, the view of the Canadian border changed. The border with Mexico, similarly, saw a peaceful relationship in the past, but tremendous amounts of illegal aliens have …show more content…
After the notable boundary disputes between the United States and Canada in history, such as the Aroostook War along Maine’s international border with Canada, and the Oregon Question, the boundary between the United States and Canada saw little conflict. Communities on both both sides of the border even shared public buildings, especially the famous Haskell Library and Opera House that is divided by the international border. However, after the terrorist of September 11, 2001, increasing attention was given to the Canadian border. An investigation found that drugs, firearms, human trafficking, violence, and even terrorism was coming across the United States northern border with Canada. Therefore, the need to secure this border was clear and protect American Territoriality is clear. Drones, surveillance towers, and heavily guarded border crossings and now increasing along the United States-Canada border. The United States Customs and Border Protection is responsible for securing international borders, and have consistently placed more security and protection measures along this border. Individuals crossing the border with Canada have reported being handcuffed, questioned, and then released. The United States border with Canada has never been more secure than it is …show more content…
Illegal aliens began crossing the border in the 1920’s to fill the need for cheap labor, and later the Bracero program brought more foreign workers in the United States, who were expected to only temporarily live in and work in the United States. However, after the program ended, many of the workers involved in the Bracero program with only temporary status, staying in the United States as illegal workers. This eventually led to President Eisenhower’s “Operation Wetback,” which resulted in tens of thousands of illegal aliens being caught and deported. “Operation Wetback” restored the American labor market, resulting in a drop of illegal immigration of nearly 95% by the end of the 1950’s. Nonetheless, the 1965 Immigration Act abolished the national origins quota system, resulting in a wave of illegals due to chain migration. In an attempt to slow the amount of illegal immigration into the United States, the Immigration and Reform Control Act of 1986 gave “blanket amnesty” to nearly three million illegals, but this law only resulted in more illegal immigration (). With amnesty showing to be in-effective, drones, fences, and armed guards dot the southern border of the United States, while billion of the federal budget go to border security, much of which specifically to the United States-Mexico border. Regardless of amnesty’s failure to slow illegal immigration in the 1980’s, still today