US Border Patrol

Everything you Should Know About the US Border Patrol

The United States Border Patrol is called USBP short and is recognized as the largest federal law enforcement agency. As the name suggests, it is one of the higher authorities responsible for maintaining peace and harmony within the borders. The three principal missions of border patrol are:

  • To ensure the safety of Americans
  • To safeguard the US borders
  • To enhance economic stability and prosperity

As of 2019, the agency comprises 19,648 agents who were actively involved in serving the country.

History of US Border Patrol

In the 19th century, US borders were open and unrestricted for anyone to pass, and there was no systematic control to stop anyone from trespassing. Mounted guards of the US department of labor and commerce took this opportunity to patrol the border in 1904. However, due to the irregularity in their services, a troop of 75 had to be hired to patrol California and prevent Chinese immigrants from entering the border.

patrol California

Around 1915, special forces called “mounted inspectors” were hired, which in the long run proved their incompetency, and US army soldiers occasionally took the place to patrol along the borders. However, in 1932, the official border patrol groups were divided into two offices

  • Mexican office, which was directed from El Paso, Texas
  • Canadian office, which was directed from Detroit, Michigan

However, after the attacks on the border in 2001, the entire border patrol was under the Home Security Department, whose primary goal was to prevent the entry of terrorists and weapons into the United States. As of 2019, the border patrol officers are also responsible for controlling illegal drugs, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration along the border.

Goals and objectives of border patrol

In addition to the responsibilities mentioned above, by 2025, the Border patrol department plans on achieving the following goals and objectives:

Goal 1: Reduce Air Pollution

  • Objective1: Install and establish air monitoring networks to access data on air quality.
  • Objective 2: Receive data from emission inventories from different governments across the border, including Afro-Mexican and Indigenous communities.
  • Objective 3: Monitor vehicles that do not follow the emission standards and reduce the number of cars, thus reducing vehicle emission
  • Objective 4: Improve public health along the border by improvising technologies to reduce atmospheric pollutants.

Goal 2: Enhance water quality

water quality

  • Objective 1: Address the problems related to water management and find necessary solutions along the Tijuana river.
  • Objective 2: Improve the infrastructure for water treatment and provide clean drinking water, certified by the NADB board.
  • Objective 3: Enhance and promote the use of re-treated wastewater to save and conserve energy and water.

Goal 3: Promote sustainable waste management techniques

  • Objective 1:Ehnace waste management resource practices along the borders and also with local and state institutions
  • Objective 2:Improve government knowledge at all levels to employ sustainable waste management strategies.
  • Objective 3: Take care of the marine environment to prevent and reduce marine pollution

 

U.S. Citizenship

What Are the U.S. Citizenship Requirements for Naturalization?

You can become a U.S citizen by birth or through Naturalization. You are considered a U.S citizen if you are born in the United States or if you are born abroad to U.S citizens. Naturalization is the process of becoming a U.S citizen if you are born outside of the United States. To apply for Naturalization, you must meet various criteria. You must be 18 years old at the time of your application. Depending upon the category you are applying for, you must have been living in the U.S for the past three to five years. To be eligible for Naturalization, you must also have good knowledge of the English language and an understanding of the U.S government and Constitution. You must also take the Oath of Allegiance for citizenship and have a medical test. However, it is important to note that some cases have exceptions to English language proficiency and medical examination.

U.S citizen

Eligibility:

Before applying for your citizenship, it is beneficial to check whether you are already a U.S citizen. If you are born to U.S citizens who is a citizen either through birth or Naturalization, then you might already be a U.S citizen. You can also become a U.S citizen at birth, even if your place of birth is not U.S if you are born to U.S citizens living abroad. However, if you are sure that you are not a U.S citizen by birth or did not derive your citizenship from your parents at birth, you can apply for Naturalization. You can do this either by paper, through mail services, or online. If you are married to a U.S citizen, you can apply for citizenship after living in the U.S for three years instead of five years, applicable for other categories.

U.S citizen

Application Process:

To apply online for Naturalization, go to the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official webpage (uscis.gov) and create an online account. You need to register with an email address to which a confirmation message will be received. Before proceeding, you will be asked to review the terms of use, which you should click ‘I Agree’ after carefully reviewing the document. You will be asked to create a password and then Submit it. You can set up a two-step authentication process with your mobile phone at this stage. A one-time password will be sent to your phone or email, depending upon your preference. After creating your account, fill out the N-400 Form for applying for Naturalization. At the time of application, you must provide all supporting documents and pay the fees electronically. After approving your application, you might be asked for a biometrics service appointment in which you will be interviewed and asked to provide fingerprints, photographs, and signatures to verify your identity. The USCIS also may conduct an extensive background check, ensuring no criminal records are in the files maintained by the FBI.