Exiting Senator’s Report Describes DHS Failure to Secure Borders, Enforce Immigration Laws

The January 7, 2015, terror attack on Paris underscores the fact that, where the “War on Terror” is concerned, the “All clear” has not sounded.

Borders and immigration laws are America’s first line and last line of defense against international terrorists and transnational criminals from around the world; yet, we continue to operate as though borders don’t matter. The failures in immigration policy can be seen nearly daily in news reports across the country and the world. More evidence of this failure that undermines national security and public safety has been summarized in an oversight report about the Department of Homeland Security, issued recently by the office of departing U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, who was Ranking Member for the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

The report found that Homeland Security is not successfully executing any of its five missions: securing the border, enforcing immigration law, preventing terrorism, safeguarding cyberspace and strengthening national preparedness.

Among the key findings of the report were that only three out of 100 illegal immigrants will ever be deported, the Southern border of the U.S. still has 700 miles that are not secure, the northern border is worse and after 11 years and $50 billion on counterterrorism efforts, Homeland Security cannot demonstrate the country is more secure. The report also found that Homeland Security has lost track of thousands of foreign students, and roughly three dozen foreign students have been arrested and convicted of committing terror-related crimes.

Additionally, the report found that the department struggles to protect itself, as well as federal and civilian networks, against serious cyberattacks, even with $700 million spent annually on cybersecurity.

The extremely costly use of pilotless drones by the DHS to patrol the border was also scrutinized. In 2011, I was interviewed by Neil Cavuto on his Fox Business program, and the discussion turned to the use of drones. I told Neil that it would be more effective to use conventional manned helicopters rather than the far more expensive and less effective drones.

For many years the federal government has squandered billions of dollars purportedly to secure our borders and enforce our laws while, in reality, these costly efforts have been utterly ineffectual.

It is obvious that the goal of the federal government is create the illusion of securing our border while making certain that the flood of foreign workers, students and tourists continues without impediment.

A number of years ago when I was a guest on Lou Dobbs’ program on CNN, Lou asked me what I thought about the Secure Border Initiative Network aka the “Virtual Fence.” I said that the Virtual Fence would do precisely what it was supposed to do: cost lots of money and stop virtually no one. Unfortunately, a subsequent GAO report confirmed my concerns.

The threats America and Americans face are all too real. Failure to secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws undermines national security, public safety and the overall well-being of our citizens. Smoke and mirrors, regardless of how expensive they may be, are an ineffective barrier against those who have sinister intentions