Border crossing presents possibly the most dangerous situation that lawmakers need to address in future immigration laws. Unlike those in the country with expired visas, people engaging in the illegal crossing of borders remain entirely anonymous. Government agencies have no way of knowing the type of individuals that enter the country illegally through the American borders. This present specific problems in the current terrorist afflicted world, particularly after the attacks of September 11th. Although, as a whole, statistics suggest that crime rates may not be tied to illegal immigration, there remains a clear danger with people entering the country with anything they happen to have in their possession.
Concerns over border protection have strained relations between Mexico and the United States in the past, and recent widespread violence in Mexico has not abetted this trend much. Even though American officials remain weary over possible substances or firearms that illegal immigrants may bring to America, the majority of the guns in Mexico come from America. These reversing trends require better collaboration at the borders.
In response to continued illegal border crossings, recent news has spotlighted civilian-vigilante border patrol groups with the stated goal of watching the borders and reporting illegal activity to the police. This trend illustrates the focus of the United States on the issues surrounding border crossing, but these groups have been labeled as both racist and patriotic, and some question their underlying intentions.