Since stepping into office in January of 2021, President Joe Biden has signed a flurry of executive orders aimed at reversing many of the policies put in place by his predecessor, Donald Trump. Among these policies was a promise to create a more open and welcoming border for immigrants seeking asylum and refuge in the United States. While many have praised this decision as a step towards compassion and unity, it has also sparked concerns about the potential consequences of opening the border without proper infrastructure and security measures in place.
The issue at hand is not simply one of immigration, but also one of national security. With an open border policy, the United States runs the risk of becoming a hub for illegal activities, including drug and human trafficking—both of which have been on the rise in recent years. Critics argue that the lack of proper screening and vetting measures makes it easier for individuals with malicious intentions to enter the country undetected, posing a serious threat to the safety and security of American citizens. But perhaps even more concerning is the potential for mass surveillance under the guise of border control—a chilling reality that could have far-reaching consequences for civil liberties and privacy rights.
Relaxed Border Controls and the Risk to National Security
While the intention behind Biden’s open-door policies may be rooted in compassion and humanitarianism, it’s results that matter. In his first month in office, Biden issued multiple executive orders aimed at reversing several Trump-era policies, including the Migrant Protection Protocols Program (MPP), also known as “Remain in Mexico.” This program required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases were processed, rather than being allowed into the United States. While the program faced criticism for its harsh conditions and human rights abuses, it did provide a temporary solution to the overwhelming influx of migrants at the southern border. By dismantling the MPP without a proper replacement in place, the door was opened for thousands of asylum seekers to enter the country unchecked.
During the same month, Biden also ended construction of Trump’s border wall and issued a 100-day moratorium on deportations, although this was quickly halted by a federal judge due to concerns about its legality. Within months of these policy changes, the number of migrant encounters at the border reached a 20-year high. Over 224,000 migrants were apprehended or deemed inadmissible in May 2022 alone—more than a tenfold increase from May 2020. These numbers have only continued to rise, with total recorded encounters at the Southwest border in FY2023 already surpassing those in previous years. The surge has overwhelmed the already stretched resources of Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), leading to a backlog of cases and an inability to properly screen and vet individuals entering the country.
With the number of illegal border crossings reaching all-time highs and limited resources to process and address these cases, criminal organizations and other nefarious actors have found an opportunity to exploit the situation. Leaked internal data from CBP revealed that in a span of two years, agents had intercepted 6,386 Afghans, 3,153 Egyptians, 659 Iranians, and 538 Syrian nationals. These individuals came from countries known for their ties to terrorist organizations and were flagged as potential security threats by the FBI terror watch list.
According to the CBP, in FY2023 alone, 169 individuals on the terrorist watchlist were stopped attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border between ports of entry. The CBP’s “Startling Stats” report also revealed that so far in FY2023, CBP has arrested over 35,000 aliens with criminal convictions or outstanding warrants nationwide, including known gang members and MS-13 affiliates. Over 27,000 pounds of fentanyl were seized at the border in FY2023, enough to kill more than 6 billion people, according to CBP data.
Today, more than 2 million cases are pending in U.S. immigration courts, with an average wait time of over 1,000 days for a hearing. Having tripled since the beginning of 2017, this backlog reflects the immense strain on the immigration system, which has only been exacerbated by the current administration’s open-door policies. While the majority of illegal immigrants may be seeking a better life, those with ill intent have taken advantage of the porous border to infiltrate the country and further their illicit activities. The open door policy has not only contributed to an increase in illegal immigration but also a rise in criminal activity and human trafficking- now the second largest and fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world. With Biden threatening to veto any House GOP bill aimed at restricting asylum, the question remains: how will the United States manage such a large influx of migrants without compromising national security?
Opening Pandora’s Box
As the southern border continues to be overwhelmed by migrants, concerns about national security are growing. A Department of Justice report from 2021 revealed that in 2018, noncitizens accounted for 64% of federal arrests despite only making up 7% of the population at that time. Adding to these concerns, a recent report released by the House Judiciary Committee showed that nearly all illegal aliens released into the country under Biden’s administration have not been removed through immigration court proceedings. This has resulted in a de facto “catch and release” policy, where thousands of individuals are released into the country with little to no oversight.
The ease at which individuals can enter the country has raised red flags among national security experts who point to the vulnerability of our borders to potential terrorist threats. In a November 2023 hearing, FBI Director Christopher Wray confirmed that the border crisis poses a major homeland security problem and that the FBI is still attempting to locate individuals on the terrorist watchlist who have crossed the border. In response to the number of gotaways (those who cross the border undetected), Wray stated, “The group of people that you’re talking about are a source of great concern for us. That’s why we are aggressively using all 56 of our joint terrorism task forces.”
As the number of individuals crossing the border increases, privacy rights activists have raised concerns about the erosion of privacy rights and increased surveillance measures. Threats deemed necessary for national security have often been used to justify the implementation of mass surveillance programs. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. government used fears of terrorism to justify increased surveillance measures and the expansion of monitoring systems. The normalization and proliferation of these surveillance measures have resulted in an erosion of privacy rights and an entrenched surveillance infrastructure that continues to expand.
Today, a new Pandora’s Box is being opened as the U.S. government faces increasing pressure to address national security concerns and immigration challenges at the border. With the introduction of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), government tracking and surveillance capabilities could potentially reach unprecedented levels. Just months after Biden signed an executive order to explore the possibility of a digital dollar, the Federal Reserve of New York announced that they would be conducting a 12-week digital dollar pilot involving global banking giants such as Citigroup, HSBC Holdings, Mastercard, and Wells Fargo.
Since then, multiple bills have been introduced in Congress to explore the development of a digital dollar, with Representative Stephen F. Lynch introducing the Electronic Currency and Secure Hardware (ECASH) Act most recently in September 2023. If passed, this act would develop an electronic version of the U.S. dollar for use by the American public, furthering the government’s ability to track and monitor financial transactions.
While proponents of CBDCs tout the potential benefits such as increased financial inclusion and efficiency, there are valid concerns about privacy and government control. Retail CBDCs would remove the need for intermediaries such as banks and allow governments to have direct control over individuals’ financial transactions. This raises questions about privacy rights and government overreach, as well as the potential for exploitation by illicit actors. In China, where a national digital currency has already been rolled out, government dissenters have reported that their digital wallets were frozen, effectively cutting off their access to financial resources.
Although most Americans are skeptical of the idea of a government-controlled digital currency, the ongoing border crisis could provide justification for its implementation. Increased surveillance measures and tracking capabilities could be packaged as necessary for national security, while also addressing the challenges of managing a large influx of migrant populations. The digitization of currency and increased surveillance capabilities would allow the government to track and monitor both domestic and international financial transactions, further blurring the lines between privacy rights and national security.
‘Never Trust Money More Than Gold’
In this era of increased digitalization and government control, the age-old wisdom of “never trust money more than gold” may be ringing truer than ever. As government surveillance capabilities continue to expand and encroach on America’s core values of privacy and individual rights, protecting one’s wealth may prove to be the last bastion of privacy in an increasingly monitored world. With gold, individuals have physical possession and control over their assets, free from government interference. In contrast, a digital currency system controlled by the government could give them unprecedented power and control over individuals’ financial lives. The ongoing border crisis serves as a stark reminder that national security concerns can often be used as a justification for government overreach, and the introduction of CBDCs only expands this potential. For those concerned about their privacy and financial autonomy, gold offers something that government-controlled digital currency cannot—true ownership and control over one’s wealth. As the debate over CBDCs and government surveillance continues, heeding the age-old wisdom to “never trust money more than gold” may prove to be valuable for individuals seeking to help protect their privacy rights.
