Protecting America’s Borders and Points of Entry: An Introduction

This chapter describes how, with some 95,000 miles of coastline, 26.000 miles of navigable inland rivers and waterways, and 6,500 miles of land borders, access into America is almost limitless. Roughly 120 million people travel into or out of the United States every year. Major points of entry for international travel include hundreds of international airports, 360 ports, over 3,700 marine terminals and recreational marinas beyond that count. Each year hundreds of millions of cars, trucks and people cross the border into the United States. Obviously, it is impossible to know exactly who these people are, and more importantly, what their intentions are while in the United States. This book explores the various dimensions of border and port security, with particular focus on efforts at the national, state and local levels in order to address pre-9/11 vulnerabilities. In order to frame the understanding of the threat as it is known today, this chapter reviews a number of recent events and news reports that are related to border and port security. Also, as discussed in this and other chapters of the volume, it is important to recognize the critical dimension of international cooperation in securing our borders and ports.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0275987698
• Corporate Authors:

  Praeger Security International

  88 Post Road West
  Westport, CT  United States  06881
• Authors:
  • Forest, James J F
• Publication Date: 2006

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 1-18
• Monograph Title: Homeland Security Protecting America’s Targets. Volume 1 Borders and Points of Entry
• Serial:
  • Volume: 1

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Border regions; Coasts; Inland water transportation; International airports; Marine terminals; National security; Ports; Ports of entry; River ports; Security; Security checkpoints
• Identifier Terms: U.S. Border Patrol
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Highways; Marine Transportation; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01050144
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0275987698
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 24 2007 12:15PM