Northern border: A long thin line
By Alfredo Sosa | Photo editor of The Christian Science
Monitor
America's northern border is twice the
length of its southern border, but it has only one-tenth the
number of agents. If each of them were standing guard at the
same time, they'd be spaced four miles apart.
The border is the responsibility of the International
Boundary Commission. The US-Canadian commission uses 5,528
markers to define the line and keeps clear a strip of land
called the "vista." In North Dakota, that means dotting the
expansive plains with small obelisks. In Washington State, it
means clearing a swath of forest 20 feet wide.
Despite the border's length, fewer than a third of the people
crossing into the US by land come from Canada. In 2004, that
turned out to be 191,000 a day, on average, compared with
660,000 entering from Mexico. About the same number on each
border came by bus. Mexico won hands down in pedestrian traffic,
even when restricted to legal crossings (132,000 vs. 2,300 a
day).
Blaine, in the northwest tip of Washington, is one of the
busiest northern border crossings, at least in the western US.
Hannah, N.D., is one of the least active, last year averaging
just under 3.2 cars a day from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. That's why
border agents next month will start closing it at 5 p.m. daily.
|
BORDER HOPPING:
Chance
Wessels crosses the border, marked by a
creek, at the International Peace Garden
north of Dunseith, N.D. The garden
opened in 1932 to promote good relations
between the two countries.
ANDY NELSON
|
Such lean security is not unusual for a sparsely populated
frontier, especially one known as the world's longest undefended
border. But the war on terror and rising concerns about illegal
immigration are challenging that tradition. Next year, Canada
will begin arming its border guards, who until now have carried
only pepper spray and batons. In 2008, US border guards, already
armed, will begin demanding passports of all drivers crossing
into the US.
The only terrorist known to be caught entering the US by car
was unmasked in 1999 because a border agent in Port Angeles,
Wash., noted his nervous behavior. Agents found explosives in
his car, destined for Los Angeles International Airport. He is
now serving a 22-year prison term.
Also read: America's
Other Border: Canada
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