Operation Gatekeeper facts for kids

Operation Gatekeeper was a special plan started in 1994. It was put in place by the United States Border Patrol. This happened during the time Bill Clinton was president. The main goal was to stop people from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border without permission. This plan focused on the area near San Diego, California.

The people in charge said Operation Gatekeeper wanted to make the border safer and more orderly. It was announced in Los Angeles on September 17, 1994. The program officially began on October 1.

The United States Congress gave more money to the Border Patrol and other groups. By 1997, the money for border security had greatly increased. The number of Border Patrol agents almost doubled. Also, the amount of fences and other barriers grew a lot. More underground sensors were added too.

People had different ideas about if Operation Gatekeeper worked well. Some government groups said it was a success. But some members of Congress and others thought it did not work as planned.

How Operation Gatekeeper Worked

Operation Gatekeeper was carried out in different steps or "phases." Each phase focused on different parts of the border or new ways to manage it.

Phase One: Focusing on the Border Area

The first part of Operation Gatekeeper focused on a specific area. This was the westernmost part of the border. It stretched from the Pacific Ocean to the San Ysidro entry point near San Diego.

When this area became harder to cross, people started trying to cross in other places. They moved eastward, often through more dangerous areas. Also, more people started using "coyotes." These are people who get paid to help others cross the border without permission.

In May 1995, the Border Patrol started another plan called Operation Disruption. This plan aimed to stop these human smugglers. New checkpoints were also set up on roads inside the country.

Phase Two: New Tools and Courts

Phase two started in October 1995. It brought in new ideas to help manage the border. A special representative was appointed to work on border issues.

A new immigration court was also set up right at the border. This court was inside the San Ysidro entry point. It helped to quickly process people caught trying to enter the U.S. with fake papers. It also helped to quickly send them back if they were not allowed to enter.

This phase also introduced a system called IDENT. This system used special technology to identify people. It helped to find people who had tried to cross many times before. It also helped identify people who had criminal records. The Border Patrol also worked more closely with local police. This helped to stop people from crossing through the Otay Mountains.

Why Some People Criticized It

Some people, like the writer Noam Chomsky, said that Operation Gatekeeper made the U.S.-Mexico border more like a military zone. He suggested that this was because of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NAFTA was a trade deal that some believed would lead to more people trying to cross the border without permission. So, Operation Gatekeeper was seen by some as a way to prepare for this.