NCJ Number
57313
Date Published
1977
Length
113 pages
Annotation
MEXICO IS THE PRINCIPAL SOURCE OR TRANSIT COUNTRY FOR ILLICIT DRUGS AND ILLEGAL ALIENS ENTERING THE UNITED STATES, A FLOW WHICH CONTINUES BECAUSE BORDER CONTROL AGENCIES HAVE NO CONSISTENT, ORGANIZED, STRATEGY.
Abstract
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES TO IMPROVE BORDER CONTROL HAVE NEARLY DOUBLED SINCE FISCAL YEAR 1971. ABOUT $142 MILLION WERE SPENT IN FISCAL YEAR 1976 TO CONTROL THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE, AIRCRAFT, BOATS, AND VEHICLES ALONG THE 2,000 MILE OPEN-LAND BORDER. THE PRINCIPAL AGENCIES INVOLVED ARE THE CUSTOMS SERVICE, IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE, AND THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION, WHILE THE FBI; THE BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TABACCO, AND FIREARMS; DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE; FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION; COAST GUARD; DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE; AND PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ALSO HAVE AN INTEREST. BECAUSE THESE VARIOUS AGENCIES HAVE NOT DEVELOPED A COORDINATED BORDER CONTROL PLAN MOST DRUG APPREHENSIONS INVOLVE ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS AND SELDOM LEAD TO THE IDENTIFICATION AND CONVICTION OF IMPORTANT TRAFFICKERS. IN 1971, DRUGS FLOWING FROM AND THROUGH MEXICO REPRESENTED AND ESTIMATED 20 PERCENT OF THE HEROIN (INCREASING TO 89 PERCENT IN 1975), 90 PERCENT OF THE MARIHUANA, AND 80 PERCENT OF THE ILLICIT AMPHETAMINES AND BARBITUATES REACHING THE UNITED STATES. THE ILLEGAL ALIEN PROBLEM IS EQUALLY SEVERE. ALTHOUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APPREHENDED MORE THAN 600,000 PERSONS IN 1975, FOR EACH ALIEN STOPPED TWO OTHERS ENTER THE U.S. ILLEGALLY. BOTH INCREASED EXPENDITURES AND GREATER COORDINATION AMONG BORDER PATROL AGENCIES AND WITH MEXICO ARE NEEDED. IN ADDITION, CONGRESS SHOULD ENACT LEGISLATION MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO PUNISH PILOTS FLYING WITHOUT VALID LICENSES. STATISTICS, CASE STUDIES, AND APPENDIXES ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)