Operation Gatekeeper
Encyclopedia
Operation Gatekeeper was a Clinton
-era measure aimed to halt immigration at the United States–Mexico border
near San Diego
, California
. According to the Immigration and Naturalization Service
, the goal of Gatekeeper was "to restore integrity and safety to the nation's busiest border."
Operation Gatekeeper was announced in Los Angeles
on September 17, 1994 by U.S. Attorney General
Janet Reno
, and was launched two weeks later on October 1.
In the United States Congress
, additional funds were allocated to the United States Border Patrol
and other agencies. By 1997, the budget of the Immigration and Naturalization Service had doubled to 800 million dollars
, the number of Border Patrol agents had nearly doubled, the amount of fencing or other barriers more than doubled, and the number of underground sensors nearly tripled.
The merits of Operation Gatekeeper have been debated extensively, including during Congressional hearings. The Department of Justice
, the INS
and the Border Patrol have maintained that Operation Gatekeeper is a success. However, various Congressmen and newspaper articles have sharply criticized the program and declared it a failure.
to the San Ysidro
checkpoint. U.S. migration routes immediately shifted eastward, and the use of professional smugglers
increased. In May 1995, the Border Patrol initiated Operation Disruption to target smugglers, known as coyote
s or polleros, and also established new checkpoints on interior highways.
Phase two, launched in October 1995, consisted of the appointment of Alan Bersin
as the Attorney General's Special Representative on Southwest Border Issues and the establishment of the first Immigration Court of the actual boundary at the San Ysidro port of entry. The court expedited hearings for and subsequent deportations of people apprehended in attempts to enter via official ports of entry with false documents or through false representation.
Phase two also introduced IDENT, a computerized system to facilitate identification of repeat offenders and "criminal aliens", non-U.S. citizens with criminal records or active warrants. The Border Patrol also intensified relations with local law enforcement agencies to counter the flow of migrants through the Otay Mountains
.
has said that Operation Gatekeeper was a "militarization of the U.S.-Mexican border" and alleges it was because NAFTA would have increased illegal immigration into the United States therefore Gatekeeper was a precaution to stop future illegal immigration caused by NAFTA.
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
-era measure aimed to halt immigration at the United States–Mexico border
United States–Mexico border
The United States–Mexico border is the international border between the United States and Mexico. It runs from Imperial Beach, California, and Tijuana, Baja California, in the west to Matamoros, Tamaulipas, and Brownsville, Texas, in the east, and traverses a variety of terrains, ranging from major...
near San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. According to the Immigration and Naturalization Service
Immigration and Naturalization Service
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service , now referred to as Legacy INS, ceased to exist under that name on March 1, 2003, when most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly created Department of Homeland Security, as...
, the goal of Gatekeeper was "to restore integrity and safety to the nation's busiest border."
Operation Gatekeeper was announced in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
on September 17, 1994 by U.S. Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
Janet Reno
Janet Reno
Janet Wood Reno is a former Attorney General of the United States . She was nominated by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1993, and confirmed on March 11...
, and was launched two weeks later on October 1.
In the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, additional funds were allocated to the United States Border Patrol
United States Border Patrol
The United States Border Patrol is a federal law enforcement agency within U.S. Customs and Border Protection , a component of the Department of Homeland Security . It is an agency in the Department of Homeland Security that enforces laws and regulations for the admission of foreign-born persons to...
and other agencies. By 1997, the budget of the Immigration and Naturalization Service had doubled to 800 million dollars
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
, the number of Border Patrol agents had nearly doubled, the amount of fencing or other barriers more than doubled, and the number of underground sensors nearly tripled.
The merits of Operation Gatekeeper have been debated extensively, including during Congressional hearings. The Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
, the INS
Immigration and Naturalization Service
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service , now referred to as Legacy INS, ceased to exist under that name on March 1, 2003, when most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly created Department of Homeland Security, as...
and the Border Patrol have maintained that Operation Gatekeeper is a success. However, various Congressmen and newspaper articles have sharply criticized the program and declared it a failure.
Phases
The first phase of Gatekeeper focused on the five westernmost miles of the border, extending from the Pacific OceanPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
to the San Ysidro
San Ysidro, San Diego, California
San Ysidro is a community in the southern section of San Diego. It is located in the southernmost part of San Diego County, immediately north of the U.S.-Mexico border. It neighbors Otay Mesa West to the north, Otay Mesa to the east, and Nestor and the Tijuana River Valley to the west...
checkpoint. U.S. migration routes immediately shifted eastward, and the use of professional smugglers
People smuggling
People smuggling is defined as "the facilitation, transportation, attempted transportation or illegal entry of a person or persons across an international border, in violation of one or more countries laws, either clandestinely or through deception, such as the use of fraudulent documents"...
increased. In May 1995, the Border Patrol initiated Operation Disruption to target smugglers, known as coyote
Coyotaje
Coyotaje is a colloquial Mexican-Spanish term referring to the practice of people smuggling across the U.S.-Mexico border. Smuggling should not be misinterpreted to mean human trafficking. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement define smuggling as the "Importation of people into the United...
s or polleros, and also established new checkpoints on interior highways.
Phase two, launched in October 1995, consisted of the appointment of Alan Bersin
Alan Bersin
Alan D. Bersin serves as the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Commissioner Bersin was placed by President Barack Obama on March 27, 2010 as a recess appointment. As Commissioner, Mr. Bersin oversees the operations of CBP’s 57,000-employee work force and manages an operating...
as the Attorney General's Special Representative on Southwest Border Issues and the establishment of the first Immigration Court of the actual boundary at the San Ysidro port of entry. The court expedited hearings for and subsequent deportations of people apprehended in attempts to enter via official ports of entry with false documents or through false representation.
Phase two also introduced IDENT, a computerized system to facilitate identification of repeat offenders and "criminal aliens", non-U.S. citizens with criminal records or active warrants. The Border Patrol also intensified relations with local law enforcement agencies to counter the flow of migrants through the Otay Mountains
Otay Mesa, San Diego, California
Otay Mesa is a community in the southern section of the city of San Diego, just north of the U.S.–Mexico border. It is bordered by the Otay River Valley and the city of Chula Vista on the north, Interstate 805 and the neighborhoods of Ocean View Hills and San Ysidro on the west, and unincorporated...
.
Allegations of NAFTA enforcement
Academic Noam ChomskyNoam Chomsky
Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and activist. He is an Institute Professor and Professor in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT, where he has worked for over 50 years. Chomsky has been described as the "father of modern linguistics" and...
has said that Operation Gatekeeper was a "militarization of the U.S.-Mexican border" and alleges it was because NAFTA would have increased illegal immigration into the United States therefore Gatekeeper was a precaution to stop future illegal immigration caused by NAFTA.