Part 6/12:
A significant portion of the conversation revolves around the profound changes in border policy after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Prior to 9/11, border patrol's focus was primarily on combating narcotics and illegal immigration—less emphasis was placed on threats like terrorism.
Manadas explains that post-9/11, the mission widened to include threats from terrorism and other national security concerns. The terminology shifted from border control to border security to reflect this broader scope. This shift also prompted substantial increases in staffing and resources; for instance, the border patrol doubled from about 8,000 to over 16,000 agents during the 2000s, driven partially by political motivations tied to legislation like NAFTA and the War on Terror.