print-only banner
The White House Skip Main Navigation
  

News: Speeches and Releases

  • President Promotes Secure and Open Borders in El Paso March 21, 2002
  • Gov Ridge, Deputy P.M. of Canada Discuss Smart Border Plan March 8, 2002
  • Governor Ridge Speaks at Embassy in Mexico March 4, 2002
  • President Increases Budget for Border Security January 25, 2002
  • Securing America's Borders Fact Sheet: Border Security January 25, 2002
  • Gov Ridge to Travel to Mexico January 11, 2002
  • Specifics of Secure and Smart Border Action Plan January 7, 2002
  • Action Plan for Creating a Secure and Smart Border December 12, 2001

    Links: Related Links and Information

  • Border Security Fact Sheet
  • Canada: Action Plan for Creating a Secure and Smart Border
  • Specifics of Secure and Smart Border Action Plan
  • Smart Border: 22 point agreement
  • Quick Facts about the U.S.-Mexico Border
  • Office of Homeland Security

    Video: Multimedia Streaming

  • Border Security
    Fact sheetBorder Security Fact Sheet
    Fact sheetCanada: Action Plan for Creating a Secure and
    Smart Border

    Fact sheetSpecifics of Secure and Smart Border Action Plan
    Fact sheetSmart Border: 22 point agreement
    Fact sheetQuick Facts about the U.S.-Mexico Border


    Securing America's Borders Fact Sheet: Border Security

    President George W. Bush reaches for Mexico's President Vicente Fox during a joint press conference at the Palacio de Gobierno in Monterey, Mexico, Friday, March 22. America's borders - land, air or sea - are the boundaries between the United States and the rest of the world. The massive flow of people and goods across our borders helps drive our economy, but can also serve as a conduit for terrorists, weapons of mass destruction, illegal migrants, contraband, and other unlawful commodities. The new threats and opportunities of the 21st century demand a new approach to border management. President Bush envisions a border that is grounded on two key principles:

    • First, America's air, land, and sea borders must provide a strong defense for the American people against all external threats, most importantly international terrorists but also drugs, foreign disease, and other dangerous items.
    • Second, America's border must be highly efficient, posing little or no obstacle to legitimate trade and travel.

    The President's 2003 Budget begins the process of achieving this vision of the border of the future.

    Facts about America's Borders

  • The United States has a 7500-mile land and air border shared with Canada and Mexico and an exclusive economic zone encompassing 3.4 million square miles.  
  • Each year, more than 500 million people are admitted into the United States, of which 330 million are non-citizens.  
  • On land, 11.2 million trucks and 2.2 million rail cars cross into the United States, while
    7,500 foreign-flag ships make 51,000 calls in
    U.S. ports annually.
  • MORE»