What are Smart Borders?

Question

What are smart borders?

Answer

The U.S. will always have a challenge with the management of our nation’s borders. Trying to keep borders open for business, crossings of the border legally for travel, and keeping terrorists out has been a daunting task. Not only do border patrol and customs agents worry about getting people across the border promptly they also must ensure that they are not allowing dangerous people (terrorists) or illegal products (weapons, drugs, etc.). However, the use of “smart borders” have made this frightening task a little easier. These smart borders are an agreement between both countries at the border (U.S. – Canada and U.S. – Mexico).

The smart border agreements “…call for a layered approach to monitor cargo and travelers that by its very nature requires greater cross-border cooperation.” (Andreas, 2009, P. 166). Andreas (2009) goes on to discuss these smart borders regarding travel by stating, “…the agreements call for consultation on visa policies and greater screening of third-country nationals, the development of preclearance standards and policies of obtaining passenger information in advance, and creating a database to support the cross-border information sharing.” This agreement for the countries not only makes traveling across the border timelier, but it also is supposed to help with making sure terrorists and illegally smuggled items do not cross the borders in either direction.