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Border and Port Security

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Border and port security agencies are charged with keeping their nations safe from terrorists and illegal, smuggled goods. RAND researchers examine border and port security challenges and immigration issues, and also advises U.S. Customs and Border Security on ways to best allocate its limited resources.

Report
Characterization of the Synthetic Opioid Threat Profile to Inform Inspection and Detection Solutions
The opioid overdose crisis has accelerated in recent years because of the arrival of potent synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl and related substances. Analysis of regional trends can help inform decisions about how and where to deploy law enforcement interventions.
Sep 9, 2019
Research Brief
Human Smuggling Operations from Central America to the United States
Smuggling unlawful migrants from Central America to the United States generated between $200 million and $2.3 billion for human smugglers in 2017. The wide range reflects uncertainty about the number of migrants, their use of smugglers, and the fees they pay. Transnational criminal organizations are only one type of actor involved.
Apr 22, 2019

Explore Border and Port Security

Commentary
Preparing for the Next India-China Border Crisis
Mounting tensions between India and China due to Chinese encroachment on their disputed border affect the United States and its Indo-Pacific strategy. Washington should assist New Delhi in deterring further Chinese attempts to nibble away at Indian territory and be ready to respond quickly in case events spiral out of control.
Feb 15, 2023
Report
Risk-Informed Analysis of Transportation Worker Identification Credential Reader Requirements
This report assesses the cost-effectiveness of a U.S. Coast Guard rule that requires any facility handling certain dangerous cargoes to biometrically verify the identity of anyone accessing a secure area of that facility.
Nov 10, 2022
Commentary
Unblocking the Black Sea for Ukrainian Grain
As Russia has been blockading ports around Odesa, Ukrainian grain exports in May were more than 60 percent lower than a year ago. Global hunger has hit a new high while 22 million tons of grain in Ukraine could rot if not exported soon.
Jun 15, 2022
Brochure
Immigration Policy and Border Security
A collection of RAND's interdisciplinary work on immigration and on managing the U.S. border.
Nov 30, 2021
Commentary
How the EU Can Overcome Barriers to Using AI in Border Security and Beyond
Artificial intelligence is increasingly a crucial tool for improvement and innovation in public policy and services. While there are opportunities to harness AI as a tool for improving the effectiveness of border-security functions, there are also barriers to its adoption.
May 17, 2021
Commentary
The Suez Grounding Was an Accident. The Next Blocked Chokepoint Might Not Be
The recent spectacle of a hulking container ship wedged into the Suez Canal is a reminder of how vulnerable maritime transportation is to blocked chokepoints. The fragility of maritime lifelines may encourage the use of this tactic in future conflict.
Mar 30, 2021
Commentary
Getting COVID-19 Vaccines to Pennsylvania Residents
Pennsylvania state and county health departments have a number of options that could speed the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to make sure Pennsylvania residents at high risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes are vaccinated as soon as possible.
Jan 19, 2021
Brochure
Mass Migration: How RAND Is Addressing One of the Greatest Challenges and Opportunities of the Century
This document describes RAND's interdisciplinary work on migration-related trends, challenges, and solutions.
Sep 23, 2020
Report
The Benefits and Risks of Face Recognition Technology
Face recognition technologies (FRTs) offer opportunities to improve identification efforts, but they also raise concerns about privacy and bias. Understanding the trade-offs between the utility and risks of FRTs is crucial for evaluating their adoption and implementation.
May 14, 2020
Report
Modeling the Impact of Border-Enforcement Measures
This report offers insights into effects of surveillance technology on border outcomes. The underlying research demonstrated the promise and limits of quasi-experimental statistical methods for evaluating the impact of border-enforcement measures.
May 7, 2020
Commentary
Sleep Deprivation Could Do Long-Term Damage to Migrant Children
The challenges faced by detained children at the U.S. southern border are immense. Sleep disruption may significantly hinder their ability to function physically and mentally. Policymakers shouldn't overlook the importance of providing appropriate sleeping conditions.
Jul 22, 2019
Commentary
Common Sense Solutions to the Border Crisis
After years of declines, apprehensions of undocumented immigrants at the U.S.–Mexico border are set for their largest year-on-year increase in history. There is, in fact, a humanitarian crisis on the border. How did this come about? More importantly, what can be done to address it?
May 2, 2019
Blog
Childhood Trauma, Space Traffic, China–Russia Relations: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on a program that helps children exposed to trauma, making outer space safer, tighter China–Russia relations, and more.
Apr 26, 2019
News Release
Human Smuggling Via Central America Generates Hundreds of Millions of Dollars, but Transnational Criminal Groups May ...
The smuggling of unlawful migrants from the Northern Triangle region of Central America—Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador—to the United States generated between $200 million and $2.3 billion for human smugglers in 2017. The wide range reflects uncertainty about the number of migrants that travel northward, their use of smugglers and the fees they pay.
Apr 22, 2019
Report
Human Smuggling and Associated Revenues: What Do or Can We Know About Routes from Central America to the United States?
The authors examine the structure, operations, and financing of actors that engage in human smuggling along routes from Central America to the United States and develop a preliminary estimate of revenues associated with human smuggling.
Apr 22, 2019
Commentary
Hadrian's Wall Was a Policy Statement; So Is Donald Trump's
It's not clear if Hadrian's Wall was necessary to prevent Scottish fighters from invading the Roman Empire. Neither is it clear how effective Trump's wall would be at repelling undocumented immigration and smugglers. Hadrian's Wall may have been of symbolic value to those on both sides of it. Trump's could be, too.
Mar 6, 2019
Blog
Shutdown, Hezbollah, Border Wall: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on Americans' financial fragility, Hezbollah in Venezuela, assessing the effectiveness of a border wall, and more.
Feb 15, 2019
Commentary
Terrorists on the Border and Government Secrecy
Detailed information on how many would-be terrorists may have sought to cross the southern border is being withheld on the grounds that it is sensitive. The refusal of officials to offer a fuller explanation of the numbers illustrates how the continued expansion of secrecy in government is damaging the ability of the public to assess the risk and evaluate the response.
Feb 13, 2019

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RAND Topic:
Border and Port Security

Research conducted by

Justice Policy

Researcher Spotlight

Joseph C. Chang

Senior Physical Scientist

Joseph Chang is a senior physical scientist at RAND. He has more than 30 years of experience in diverse technical areas, including border security, immigration, chemical security, transportation security, infrastructure protection, risk assessment, operational analysis, analysis of alternatives,…
Aaron C. Davenport

Associate Director, Infrastructure, Immigration, and Security Operations Program, RAND Homeland Security Research Division

Aaron C. Davenport is an associate director of the Infrastructure, Immigration, and Security Operations (IISO) Program, part of the RAND Homeland Security Research Division (HSRD), and a senior policy researcher. HSRD oversees the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC), a…

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