Question

Should the intelligence elements of Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement become part of the Intelligence Community? Why or why not?

Answer 1

There are lot of efforts taken by the Intelligence community already towards the Border Security however, the information is always out of Public assessment since it is classified. Only the basic few details are open to Public. This also means that ‘classified information’ cannot be compromised at any cost and bigger the community, more is the chances of leakage in the information channel during the process. Supporting the Customs and Border Protection or Immigration and Customs Enforcement externally, is fine but including the entire set of elements of these wings under the Intelligence community might stand to be not only a risky affair but also tedious in nature owing to its vast base. Hence intelligence elements of Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement should not become part of the Intelligence Community. Moreover, there could be possible detraction of the missions of these intelligence elements from that of the Community, monitoring could be a herculean task, etc. Moreover, there may also be a possibility that the Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement elements may be gathering certain information from the sources that are same in case of the Intelligence community too. Clubbing altogether might give rise to duplication of efforts, if not identified in the right time.