From Protection to Oppression: The Human Rights Cost of U.S. Border Enforcement Post-9/11

Abstract

This research investigates evolution of U.S. border control, how security-driven policies and technologies have become central in US immigration governance after 9/11. Applying theory of realism, the study explores how post-9/11 threats reshaped US national priorities, opting for aggressive border securitization and militarization. Through analyzing policies and technologies, the research analyzes their impact on human rights. The findings suggest that while these technologies advanced, they also intensified violations such as the racial profiling, data breaches, and the erosion of liberties. And allows understanding how border enforcement transforms migrants into threats under the guise of sovereignty. This study contributes to limited literature connecting national security and human rights.

Keywords: Protection, Oppression, Human Rights Cost, U.S. Border Enforcement, Post-9/11