Secure Border Initiative

The Secure Border Initiative (SBI) was unveiled November 2, 2005 by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff in an effort to tackle the serious threat to national security posed when illegal immigrants cross our borders, entering the United States. This multi-year plan is aimed at securing America’s borders and reducing illegal migration.

In addition to border operations, the initiative focuses on interior enforcement, and on strengthening efforts to combat document fraud and on monitoring the worksite. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is achieving these goals through expanded fugitive operations and criminal alien programs, and an expedited removal process enabling ICE to quickly remove “other than Mexican” (OTM) illegal aliens to their home countries. Expedited removal reduces the time illegal aliens remain in detention awaiting their deportation from about 30 days to 15 days.

Since the SBI was implemented in September 2005, close to 4000 non-Mexican aliens were turned over to ICE for detention under expedited removal. Thus far, ICE has removed close to 3,000 of these individuals from the country.