Border People Efforts United Due Illegal Control Recent

In recent years, the United States has "amped up" (increased) its efforts at "border control" (knowing and limiting who enters the country). These increased efforts are "in part" (partially) due to fears that "terrorists" (people who use violence to create fear) will enter the country, but also due to concerns about the number of illegal immigrants in the United States. Border control efforts also focus on what people bring into the country, specifically trying to limit the movement of illegal drugs across the borders. Most of the focus is on the United States' southern border with Mexico.

The U.S. Congress has looked at many "bills" (proposals for new laws) to build a "fence" (gate; wall) along the U.S./Mexican border. These tall walls and "intended" (meant) to stop people from crossing the border illegally by "funneling" (pushing toward) them through the "manned" (with people working there) crossing points. As of 2010, more than 600 miles of fence have been built, but plans to build more of the fence have been "stalled" (delayed) due to the "expense" (money required).

There has also been an increase in "vigilantism" in recent years. This refers to efforts by citizens, not law-enforcement officers, to "enforce" (make sure people follow and obey) laws. Groups of concerned citizens work together to "patrol" (walk back and forth along) border areas, looking for illegal crossings. There are many different vigilante groups. Some are helpful to law-enforcement officers, but others are "problematic" (creating trouble) - especially those that have "ties to" (connections with) "hate groups" (organizations that try to hurt people of different races or ethnicities).