NCJ Number
163748
Date Published
1996
Length
71 pages
Annotation
This study analyzed the U.S. Border Patrol's enforcement activities nationwide and by location for fiscal year 1994.
Abstract
The analysis is intended for congressional use in deliberations on the number of Border Patrol agents to patrol the Southwest Border, such as hiring new agents, relocating agents from other locations, and redirecting the enforcement time of agents along the Southwest Border who were not patrolling the border. Further, the analysis provides baseline data that may assist congressional oversight of the Border Patrol's activities and staffing. The study first identified the locations where the Border Patrol conducted its enforcement activities, and it also obtained data on the number of Border Patrol staff at each location. Further, it determined the specific enforcement activities performed at each location, obtained the views of selected district directors on the contributions of the Border Patrol, and identified some factors that could affect decisions related to hiring or relocating agents to deploy on the Southwest Border. The study found that agents at the 17 coastal border stations spent 14 percent of their 380,785 enforcement hours patrolling the border. Nationwide, Border Patrol agents spent 37 percent of their 5.3 million enforcement hours apprehending aliens after entry. At the 17 coastal border stations, agents spent 86 percent of their enforcement hours apprehending aliens after entry. The analysis showed that some of the Border Patrol's enforcement activities paralleled the enforcement activities of other INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) enforcement divisions. The Border Patrol and Investigations divisions both are responsible for identifying criminal and illegal aliens, reviewing employers' records to determine that only authorized workers are employed, and investigating alien smuggling. In fiscal year 1994, 9 percent of the Border Patrol agents' time was spent on activities that were also performed by Investigations. 7 tables and 8 figures