What This Document Is
This is a policy paper written for a Terrorism course (GOVT 480) at Liberty University, completed by student Maryssa Griffin for Professor Roenicke on September 15, 2023. The paper focuses on the potential national security threat posed by the current situation at the U.S.-Mexico border, specifically the possibility of terrorists exploiting the influx of migrants.
Why This Document Matters
This assignment is intended for students of terrorism studies, political science, and homeland security. It serves as an example of applied coursework, demonstrating a student’s ability to identify a current event, analyze its connection to terrorism, and propose policy recommendations. It’s valuable for understanding how academic research can be applied to real-world security concerns.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This is a student paper and represents one individual’s analysis. It is not a finalized, peer-reviewed policy recommendation from a government agency or think tank. The scope is limited to the student’s research and perspective.
What This Document Provides
The full paper includes an introduction to the border crisis as a potential terrorism vulnerability, a discussion of key factors like the number of migrants encountered with matches in the Terrorist Screening Database, specific policy recommendations (increased border security and vetting processes), and a consideration of potential risks associated with implementing those policies. This preview does *not* include the full details of the proposed security upgrades, the cost analysis of vetting procedures, or the complete argument regarding resource allocation.