RAND Research Topic: Border and Port Security

Mexican Security in Decline: Implications and Options for the United States

Apr 9, 2012

On June 17, 2009, Jack Riley discussed how Mexican security issues affect the United States, implications for traditional border concerns such as illegal immigration and drug trafficking, and various policy options available to aid the Mexican government in improving security.

Using Pattern Analysis and Systematic Randomness to Allocate U.S. Border Security Resources

Mar 27, 2012

Pattern and trend analysis and systematic randomness can be used to position U.S. border security personnel and equipment effectively for interdiction, and in some circumstances the combined approach is competitive with perfect surveillance.

The Challenge of Violent Drug-Trafficking Organizations

Oct 25, 2011

Violent drug-trafficking organizations in Mexico produce, transship, and deliver into the U.S. tens of billions of dollars worth of narcotics annually. A Delphi exercise offers an assessment of the security situation in Mexico through the lens of existing research on urban unrest, historical insurgencies, and defense-sector reform.

Four Approaches to Estimating the Total Flow of Illegal Border Crossings Between Ports of Entry

Mar 11, 2011

Fundamental to the question of border control effectiveness is the proportion of illegal crossings that are prevented through deterrence or apprehension, but estimating these proportions requires knowing the total flow. Four new approaches warrant further attention for purposes of supporting reliable, valid, and timely measures of illicit cross-border flow.

Deterring the Smuggling of Nuclear Weapons in Container Freight Through Detection and Retaliation

Dec 31, 2010

The authors quantify a game-theoretic model of terrorist decision making to understand the role of nuclear detection technologies in deterring nuclear terrorism.

Measuring the Effectiveness of Border Security Between Ports-of-Entry

Jul 8, 2010

Focusing on three missions—illegal drug control, counterterrorism, and illegal migration—this report recommends ways to measure performance of U.S. border-security efforts in terms of interdiction, deterrence, and exploiting networked intelligence.

U.S. Freight System Modernization Necessary to Reduce Bottlenecks, Improve Security

Jun 9, 2009

The long-term efficiency and effectiveness of the U.S. freight transportation system is threatened by bottlenecks, inefficient use of some parts of the infrastructure components, vulnerability to disruptions, and crucial environmental and energy concerns.

U.S. Freight System Modernization Necessary to Reduce Bottlenecks, Improve Security

Jun 8, 2009

Assessing Mexico's Narco-Violence

May 13, 2009

Drug-related violence in Mexico has more than doubled over the past 18 months, with a sharp increase in crimes that can only be understood as atrocities. The executions, assassinations, and decapitations may all seem wanton and senseless. But this violence actually has a purpose, write Benjamin Bahney and Agnes Gereben Schaefer.

U.S.-Mexico Strategic Partnership Needed to Help Mexico Improve Its Security Institutions

Apr 28, 2009

The United States should forge a strategic partnership with Mexico that emphasizes reform and long-term institution building as a way to battle the ongoing drug war and other security challenges that face Mexico.

U.S.-Mexico Strategic Partnership Needed to Help Mexico Improve Its Security Institutions

Apr 27, 2009

Is It Time to Rethink U.S. Entry and Exit Processes?

Mar 22, 2009

Meeting mandated standards for managing individual travelers' entry and exit at U.S. borders has been a longstanding difficulty for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. border protection apparatus. This paper examines related policies and procedures critical to their success.

Could Mexico Fail?

Feb 12, 2009

The lawlessness along the mexican border has gone way beyond a local crime wave: there has been a dramatic increase in armed robberies, not by lone gunmen but by heavily armed gangs. Kidnappings and homicides are way up—and not just murders but beheadings.... It is starting to look like a terrorist campaign, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.

Savage Struggle on the Border: Can Mexico Fail?

Dec 31, 2008

Discusses the possibilities and options for America if neighboring country Mexico should become a failed state.

While Piracy and Terrorism at Sea Grow, Scant Evidence That They're Merging

Jun 5, 2008

Acts of piracy and terrorism at sea are on the rise, but there is little evidence to support concerns from some governments and international organizations that pirates and terrorists are beginning to collude with one another.

Developing Robust Border Security Technologies to Protect Against Diverse and Adaptive Threats: Addendum

Dec 17, 2007

Document submitted on December 17, 2007 as an addendum to testimony before the House Science and Technology Committee, Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation on November 15, 2007.

Developing Robust Border Security Technologies to Protect Against Diverse and Adaptive Threats

Nov 14, 2007

Testimony presented before the House Science and Technology Committee, Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation on November 15, 2007.

RAND Supply Chain Policy Center to Research Critical Issues in Freight Transportation

May 9, 2007

May 9, 2007 news release: RAND Supply Chain Policy Center to Research Critical Issues in Freight Transportation.

The Strategic Challenge of Border Security

Mar 6, 2007

Testimony presented before the House Homeland Security Committee, Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism on March 8, 2007.

The Container Security Initiative and Ocean Container Threats

Dec 31, 2006

This paper analyzes one program, the Container Security Initiative, which inspects high-risk U.S.-bound containers at foreign ports.