Immigration enforcement has always been serious business for the federal government. It dates back to before Ellis Island and the mass migration of tens of millions of foreign nationals to the U.S. in her formative years. Even then, many potential immigrants were turned away for various reasons including criminal records, mental health issues, and disease and people would get deported for many of the same reasons as they do today. However, today’s political and economic environment has pushed immigration enforcement to never before experienced extremes.

President Obama has doubled manpower and financing to the U.S.-Mexico border since taking office and shattered deportation records by ejecting almost 800,000 illegal aliens, with a staggering 393,000 in 2010 alone. The borders are now equipped with high technology including surveillance systems and drones.The issue has been taken up at a state level as well. Previously, immigration enforcement has been the sole jurisdiction of the federal government and while they continue to increase enforcement measures, many states don’t feel that it is enough. Arizona is a prime example having passed perhaps the most controversial piece of immigration legislation in decades, putting enforcement directly into the hands of state officials. The law, known as SB 1070, requires state officers to question those they have apprehended that they suspect could be in the country illegally. SB 1070 inspired dozens of copycat laws across the nation, most of which have met with failure in state legislatures. It doesn’t end there, however. There have been reports of private individuals and groups who have taken up the cause of border security, patrolling the border armed and well-equipped.

Due to hard economic times and these increased enforcement measures, many illegal aliens—mostly Mexicans—are deciding to give up and head back to their nations of origin. This seems like exactly what advocates of immigration enforcement would want, right? However, as these people go to cross the border, they are often stopped, questioned, and even detained by Customs and Border officials so they can be catalogued and formally deported. This practice is for future enforcement purposes. These departing illegal aliens will be barred from legal entry into the U.S. for a minimum of ten years and if they are caught in the country illegally again, they can face criminal prosecution. Also, Customs and Border officials are looking for employees of Mexican drug cartels who might be trafficking cash and firearms across the border.

The reach of immigration enforcement can be impressive. Prospective illegal immigrants will go to great lengths to enter the country such as Dominican Republic citizen Jairo Marte-Gomez who obtained a Puerto Rican drivers license and attempted to board a flight to New York City from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Somehow, he was recognized as suspicious and apprehended by Customs and Border officials before he could get on the plane. Director of field operations for Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Marcelino Borges said of the apprehension, “Every day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers are vigilant seeking individuals who try different means to reach the U.S. and circumvent detection. CBP officers are trained to detect counterfeit and/or fraudulent documents and continually use their skills to deter illegal immigration.”