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This issue brief provides an overview of Latino Immigration into the United States, specifically focusing on the largest Hispanic subgroup—Mexicans. Outlined is the scope of the immigration, the history of controversy, the tactics used to deter or attract immigrants, and the current state of immigration reform under the Obama administration.

The events of 11 September 2001 were a watershed moment in American history; one that has catapulted national security back to the center stage. In response to the growing fears of terrorism and the heightened concern for illegal immigration that subsequently followed, President Bush signed the Secure Fence Act in October 2006, thus entangling two very distinct issues: counterterrorism, and illegal immigration. The legislation authorized the construction of 700 hundred miles of double-layered fencing in addition to cameras, ground radar and improved lighting along the U.S.-Mexican border. The proposed border fence was designed to prevent "unlawful entry into the United States, including entries by terrorists, other unlawful aliens and instruments of terrorism." This thesis examined the probable effectiveness of the border fence on illegal immigration and counterterrorism, by analyzing other such structures in the context of these two very different phenomena. This study investigated the border fence in San Diego, California and its affect on illegal immigration in addition to the security fence along Israel's border with Gaza to explore its effect on terrorism. The result of this study suggests that fences can prove effective in curbing illegal immigration and less successful with regard to combating terrorism. http://archive.org/details/thesecurefencect109453790 US Air Force (USAF) author. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

CHDS State/Local Illegal cross-border activity is a severe homeland defense and security problem along the international Southwest border. The issue of illegal human smuggling is not new to the United States-Mexico border or to law enforcement agencies; however, the phenomenon is rising and human smugglers are adjusting to law enforcement tactics. This thesis has three objectives. First, it describes and identifies the fundamental dimensions of U.S. Border Patrol operations in the busiest, most vulnerable section of the border. Second, it integrates prominent border security factors into a mathematical predictive model -- the Arizona-Sonora Border (ASB) Model * that provides an illustration of possible border security operational strategies and the outcome apprehension probability of migrants given the implementation of various operational strategies. Last, this thesis seeks to provide a comprehensive picture of the complex dynamics along the USBP Tucson Sector. This picture highlights the primary challenges facing policymakers in developing innovative policies that will minimize illegal cross-border activity and secure the homeland. http://archive.org/details/modelingusborder109452978 Southwest Border Specialist, Arizona Office of Homeland Security

The United States Border Patrol (USBP) is responsible for interdicting unauthorized entry into the U.S. The USBP must decide how to allocate its detection and interdiction assets to maximize the probability of catching illegal aliens along the border. We study the case where an infiltrator can observe USBP preparations, and then choose a path into the U.S. We define the infiltrator's courses of actions to maximize the probability of escape, and then express the USPB's courses of actions to minimize that maximum achievable probability of escape. This case applies especially well to a signal entry, e.g. a well-planned, one-time smuggling of a weapon of mass destruction. We solve a sample problem for the U.S. Mexican border near Yuma, Arizona. http://archive.org/details/atwosidedoptimiz109451865 Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.