Congressional Digest

Excerpt

The U.S.–Mexico border is roughly 2,000 miles long. In some areas, it is nothing but barren desert or nearly impassable mountainous terrain. Between El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, the border is marked by a long concrete culvert and an 18-foot-tall security fence. The two cities make up a sprawling metropolis, with regular daily international traffic. The border is patrolled by more than 21,000 U.S. agents, responsible for security in the area. At times, they have used deadly force during their patrols. According to government reports, for instance, there were 67 shootings by U.S. officials along the Mexica…