The Mexico-US border is the most frequently crossed border in the world, with approximately 350 million documented crossings annually. The border extends 3,145 kilometres (1,954 miles) and traverses a variety of terrains, from urban areas to deserts. The US government has invested millions of dollars in border security, and the topic has been a source of contention in the 2024 presidential campaign.
In recent years, the federal government has received low ratings for its handling of the situation at the border. A 2024 survey found that 80% of Americans believe the government is doing a bad job of dealing with the large number of migrants seeking to enter the country. The same survey found that 78% of Americans believe the situation at the border is either a crisis or a major problem.
The number of migrant encounters at the border has increased in recent years, with the US Border Patrol reporting more than 1.6 million encounters in the 2021 fiscal year. The majority of these encounters resulted in expulsion from the US. The journey to the border is dangerous, and the US-Mexico border is the deadliest migration land route in the world, with 686 migrant deaths and disappearances documented in 2022.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Border Length | 3,145 km (1,954 miles) |
Border States (US) | California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas |
Border States (Mexico) | Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas |
Border Crossings (Annual) | 350 million |
Border Crossings (Daily) | 50,000 vehicles and 25,000 pedestrians |
Border Fence Length | 1,127 km (700 miles) |
Border Fence Cost | $2.8 million per mile |
Border Patrol Agents | 20,000+ |
Border Wait Time | 1 hour |
Border Incidents (2022) | 686 deaths and disappearances |
What You'll Learn
- Border crossings: the most frequently crossed border in the world, with 350 million documented crossings annually
- Border security: the US government has invested millions of dollars in security measures, including a border wall
- Border patrol: there are over 20,000 border patrol agents, more than ever before
- Border crisis: the US-Mexico border is the world's deadliest migration route, with 686 migrant deaths in 2022
- Border towns: the economies of towns on both sides of the border are impacted by the crossing
Border crossings: the most frequently crossed border in the world, with 350 million documented crossings annually
The Mexico-US border is the most frequently crossed border in the world, with approximately 350 million documented crossings annually. The border traverses a variety of terrains, ranging from urban areas to deserts, and has a total length of 3,145 kilometres (1,954 miles). It is one of two international borders that the United States shares, the other being the Canada-US border.
The border crossings take place by roads, pedestrian walkways, railroads, and ferries. There are several border city "twinnings" with cross-border municipalities connected by one or more legal border crossings. For example, San Diego in California and Tijuana in Baja California are connected by the San Ysidro Port of Entry, which is used by approximately 50,000 vehicles and 25,000 pedestrians daily.
The Mexico-US border crossings have been influenced by various policies and regulations over the years. In 2006, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative was implemented, introducing new identification requirements for US citizens and international travellers entering the US. In 2017, the Trump administration announced plans to build a border wall to control immigration, with the construction of 732 kilometres of barrier completed during his administration. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to temporary restrictions on inbound land border crossings from Mexico to "essential travel" only.
The border crossings have also been impacted by humanitarian crises, with migrant children being particularly affected. In 2019, humanitarian groups provided aid and assistance to address the lack of resources at the border. In June 2019, a group of lawyers reported unsafe and unsanitary conditions at a migrant detention facility in Clint, Texas, leading to the relocation of 300 children.
The high rate of documented and undocumented migrant crossings at the Mexico-US border has led to concerns about border security and the treatment of immigrants. The US Border Patrol reported more than 1.6 million encounters with migrants along the border in the 2021 fiscal year, with the number increasing to over 1.7 million in the 2021 fiscal year. The increase in border security has made crossings more dangerous, contributing to a human rights crisis with a dramatic rise in migrant deaths.
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Border security: the US government has invested millions of dollars in security measures, including a border wall
Border security has been a priority mission area for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since its creation. The US shares a 7,5000-mile land border with Canada and Mexico, along with rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a DHS component, is one of the world's largest law enforcement organizations and the country's first unified border agency.
The US government has invested heavily in border security, including millions of dollars in security measures and a border wall. In 2010, President Barack Obama signed an appropriation bill that provided $600 million to the CBP, specifically the Border Patrol, to implement and improve security. The construction of the Mexico–United States barrier has been a controversial topic, with attempts to complete it challenged by the Mexican government and various US-based organizations.
The US-Mexico border is the most frequently crossed international boundary in the world, with approximately 350 million documented crossings annually. The border traverses a variety of terrains, from urban areas to deserts. The four US states that border Mexico are California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
To enhance border security, the DHS has implemented a six-pillar Southwest Border Security and Preparedness Plan:
- Surging resources
- Increasing efficiency to reduce strain on the border
- Administering consequences for unlawful entry, such as a five-year bar on admission
- Bolstering the capacity of NGOs and working with state and local partners
- Targeting and disrupting networks of cartels and smugglers
- Collaborating with regional partners to address root causes of migration and enhance migration management
The DHS employs various technologies and assets to increase capacity and effectiveness at the border, including drones, manned aircraft for aerial surveillance, sensors on border barriers, radar, and autonomous surveillance towers. The DHS also works closely with other agencies, such as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the US Coast Guard, to protect the country's borders.
In June 2024, the Biden administration issued new restrictions on asylum and pressured Mexico to increase its immigration enforcement, leading to a decrease in border crossings. However, the issue of border security and migration remains a highly contentious topic in US politics, with no meaningful immigration legislation passed in three decades.
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Border patrol: there are over 20,000 border patrol agents, more than ever before
Border patrol is a complex and challenging task, and the number of agents has increased over time to meet the demands of securing the Mexico-US border. As of 2022, the mission of the United States Border Patrol (USBP) is to "Protect the American people, safeguard our borders, and enhance the nation's economic prosperity." With a current total of over 20,000 agents, the USBP is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the United States, and their work is critical to border security and the facilitation of international trade.
The USBP falls under the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and is responsible for patrolling both the Mexico-US and Canada-US borders. The USBP's primary activity is "line watch," which involves detecting, preventing, and apprehending terrorists, illegal immigrants, and smugglers of contraband at or near the land border. They employ a range of equipment and methods, including electronic sensors, video monitors, night vision scopes, vehicles, boats, aircraft, horses, and snowmobiles, to carry out their duties effectively.
The USBP's efforts are focused primarily on the Mexico-US border, where they work to control drug trafficking and illegal immigration. The border between Mexico and the United States is the most frequently crossed international boundary in the world, with approximately 350 million legal crossings annually. This high level of traffic, combined with the border's extension of 1,954 miles, makes the USBP's job a challenging and critical one.
The USBP's presence along the border has evolved over time. In 1924, the first Border Patrol station began operations in Detroit, Michigan, followed by a second station in El Paso, Texas. Initially, their focus was on restricting the flow of illegal Chinese immigration. Over the years, the USBP has expanded its operations, and by 2010, the number of agents had nearly doubled to 20,000. This increase in personnel is a response to the growing demands of border security and the need to address drug trafficking and illegal immigration.
The work of the USBP is essential to maintaining border security and facilitating legitimate trade and travel between Mexico and the United States. Their presence along the border acts as a deterrent to illegal activities and helps to ensure the safety and well-being of citizens on both sides of the border.
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Border crisis: the US-Mexico border is the world's deadliest migration route, with 686 migrant deaths in 2022
The US-Mexico border is the world's deadliest migration route, with 686 migrant deaths recorded in 2022. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has described the border as the 'world's deadliest overland migration route', with the number of deaths in 2022 making it the deadliest year on record since IOM's Missing Migrants Project began in 2014.
The IOM's data reveals that nearly half of the recorded deaths were linked to the hazardous crossing of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts. The dangers of these crossings are twofold: in summer, migrants are susceptible to heat stroke, and in winter, hypothermia. The remote nature of these regions means that some bodies are never found.
The high death toll at the US-Mexico border is symptomatic of a wider crisis. In 2022, the IOM recorded 1,457 migrant deaths and disappearances throughout the Americas, with this number representing the lowest estimate due to a lack of data from official sources. One of the most concerning trends observed by the IOM was the increase in deaths on migration routes in the Caribbean, with 350 recorded in 2022 compared to fewer than 170 in all prior years.
The US-Mexico border is the tenth-longest border between two countries in the world, extending 1,954 miles from the Pacific Ocean in the west to the Gulf of Mexico in the east. It traverses a variety of terrains, from urban areas to deserts. It is the most frequently crossed border in the world, with approximately 350 million documented crossings annually.
The high rate of migrant crossings at the US-Mexico border has led to a range of security measures being implemented by the US government. For example, in 2010, President Barack Obama signed an appropriation bill providing the Customs and Border Protection with $600 million to improve security. In 2018, the Trump administration announced a policy of separating parents from their children at the border.
The US-Mexico border has also been the site of humanitarian efforts. Humanitarian groups such as Humane Borders, No More Deaths, and Samaritans provide water to migrants journeying through the Arizona desert in an attempt to reduce deaths.
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Border towns: the economies of towns on both sides of the border are impacted by the crossing
Border towns on both sides of the Mexico-US border have been impacted by the crossing in a variety of ways.
The economies of towns on the Mexico side of the border have long been dependent on their proximity to the US. During the presidency of Porfirio Díaz (1876-1910), the Mexican border communities boomed due to close ties with the US and financial investments from the US. Railroads were built, connecting the northern Mexican states more to the US than to Mexico, and the population grew. The mining industry also developed, with US companies controlling 81% of the industry by the early 20th century.
The economies of towns on the US side of the border are also impacted by the crossing. For example, the thousands of vehicles that transit through the border every day cause air pollution in San Ysidro and Tijuana. The emission of carbon monoxide and other vehicle-related air contaminants have been linked to health complications such as cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and asthma.
Reducing wait times at land ports of entry would promote commerce and economic growth in both countries. Research shows that a 10-minute reduction in wait times could lead to an additional $26 million worth of cargo entering the US each month via commercial vehicles, translating to more than $312 million in further commerce from Mexico into the US annually. This would drive down US domestic prices, creating increased economic well-being for US citizens. It would also promote the creation of nearly 18,700 direct and indirect jobs in Mexico, increase labor income per sector, and boost growth in various Mexican economic sectors, particularly manufacturing, wholesale trade, and mining.
The flow of illegal immigrants is diverted into rural, mountainous, and desert areas, leading to several hundred migrant deaths along the border each year. This has resulted in humanitarian groups providing water, food, and first aid treatment to immigrants journeying through the Arizona desert.
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Frequently asked questions
For US citizens, a passport, passport card, or state-enhanced driver's license are all valid forms of ID. For non-US citizens, a passport and visa are required.
US citizens can stay in Mexico as tourists, or for business, for up to 180 days.
There are several visa options for longer stays in Mexico, including student visas, work visas, and immigrant visas for those with family members in Mexico.