21st Century Debate Research (Fall 2024):
Public Forum Debate Topic
Every few months (seasonally) the 21st Century Debate Institution releases a series of debate topics for students to debate at our online (and eventually in-person) events.
This topic is for both “Public Forum” & “Skills” debate.
For more information about upcoming contests, and how you might participate, please use the “events calendar” from the above menu. Or you can click here: Upcoming Events.
[SEPT-OCT 2024 (NSDA)]
Public Forum Debate Topic
The United States federal government should substantially expand its “surveillance infrastructure” along its southern border.
BACKGROUND
US border security means protecting the borders of the United States to keep the country safe. This includes tools like cameras, drones, and sensors, as well as workers like border patrol agents who watch and guard the borders. Surveillance infrastructure means the tools and technologies used to watch and check the borders, helping border patrol agents see and track activities along the border from a distance.
Those in favor of increasing surveillance believe that it is necessary to improve safety and stop illegal activities, like smuggling drugs or people. They believe that with more cameras and drones, border patrol agents can spot illegal actions quickly. For example, if cameras and drones see someone trying to cross the border illegally, they can alert the border patrol agents right away. The agents can then go to the exact spot and arrest the person before they get too far. This helps make sure that only legal and safe entries happen, making the country safer.
Those who oppose increased surveillance believe that it might invade people’s privacy and hurt communities. They worry that adding more surveillance might spy on people living near the border, recording their every move and making them feel watched all the time. For example, cameras and drones might capture videos of people in their yards or walking to school, even if they are not doing anything wrong. This could make daily activities, like going to school or work, feel uncomfortable and stressful. People might feel like they have no privacy and are always being watched, which could increase feelings of stress and fear.
Increasing Border Surveillance (PRO)
- Strengthening National Security: Terrorists and dangerous people might try to enter the country to cause harm. Increased surveillance with cameras, drones, and sensors can spot these threats quickly. This helps border patrol agents catch and stop them before they enter, keeping millions of people safe.
- Enhancing Economic Stability: Illegal immigrants sometimes take jobs that pay very little, which can hurt workers who are here legally and need those jobs to support their families. Better surveillance reduces illegal entries by stopping people who try to cross the border without permission. This helps protect jobs for legal workers and keeps wages fair.
- Protecting Public Services: Illegal immigration can overcrowd schools, hospitals, and other services, making it hard for legal residents to get the help they need. Increased surveillance helps catch more illegal entries, ensuring that resources are available for people who are legally allowed to use them. This leads to better quality and availability of services for legal residents.
- Stopping Drug Smuggling: Drug cartels try to bring illegal drugs into the country, leading to more crime and health problems. With advanced surveillance technology, border patrol can watch for and track suspicious activities, catching and stopping drug smugglers more effectively. This keeps communities safer and reduces crime related to drugs.
- Fighting Human Trafficking: Human traffickers exploit and harm people by bringing them across the border illegally. Improved surveillance helps by watching for suspicious movements and alerting border patrol quickly. This enables them to catch traffickers and rescue victims, protecting vulnerable people and preventing exploitation.
Increasing Border Surveillance (CON)
- Lacking Overall Effectiveness: Surveillance tools like cameras and drones don’t always work well. People trying to cross the border illegally can find ways to avoid being seen. They might use special clothes to hide from cameras or break sensors. This means that even with lots of expensive technology, many people still get across without being caught. The surveillance doesn’t stop as many illegal crossings as hoped, making it a waste of money and effort.
- Wasting Financial Resources: Setting up and running all this surveillance equipment is very expensive. The government would need to spend billions of dollars on cameras, drones, and computers. When we spend so much on border surveillance, we have less money available for other important things like schools, hospitals, or security.
- Violating Privacy Rights: Powerful cameras and listening devices can see and hear a lot. They might record innocent people who live near the border, not just those trying to cross illegally. This feels like the government is always watching, even when people aren’t doing anything wrong. It’s not fair to treat everyone like they might be a criminal. This goes against the principle of protecting people’s rights.
- Endangering Migrant Lives: When it’s harder to cross at usual places because of surveillance, people try more dangerous routes. They might walk through very hot deserts or climb over high mountains. These journeys are very risky, and more people could get hurt or die trying to enter the country. Even if we don’t agree with illegal crossing, we shouldn’t make things so hard that people lose their lives.
- Perpetuating Unjust Barriers: Borders are made-up lines that stop people from moving freely. Many people want to move for better jobs, safety, or to be with family. Increased surveillance makes this harder. This isn’t fair or kind. People should be free to move around the world like they can within their own country. Surveillance keeps an unfair system in place, making life harder for those already struggling. It goes against the moral belief that all people should be treated equally with dignity and respect.
REQUIRED RESEARCH (VIDEOS & ARTICLES)
We ask that you watch all of the videos and read all of the articles and take light notes about the topic that you are researching. When everyone in class has watched/read the materials, it makes the learning better. We encourage students to do their own research in addition to the research provided (assuming you have time).
Required Research (Videos):
US Border Security:
Standoff between White House and Texas,
Fox News, February 5, 2024 [2+ min]
[Youtube], & [Transcript (PDF)].
‘Broken’: America’s border crisis with Mexico, explained
CBC News, March 4, 2024 [14 min]
[Youtube], & [Transcript (PDF)].
US Border Surveillance: Pros and Cons Explained,
Debate Matters, August 22, 2024 [14 min]
[InVideo.AI], & [Transcript (PDF)].
Safe and Sorry – Terrorism & Mass Surveillance,
Kurzgesagt, April 14, 2016 [6 min]
[Youtube], & [Transcript (PDF)].
[OPTIONAL] Separating fact from fiction on the frontline of America’s Border Crisis,
Foreign Correspondent (ABC News), May 16, 2024 [30 min]
[Youtube], & [Transcript (PDF)].
Required Research (Articles):
The Deadly Digital Frontiers at the Border,
TIME Magazine, May 21, 2024
[Link to Article], [Original (PDF )], or [Simplified (PDF)].
Crossings at US-Mexico Border are Down. [Why]?,
US News & World Report, February 14, 2024
[Link to Article], [Original (PDF )], or [Simplified (PDF)].
Increasing Use of Artificial Intelligence in Border Zones Prompts Privacy Questions,
Migration Policy Institute, February 2, 2022
[Link to Article], [Original (PDF )], or [Simplified (PDF)].
Note: You may want to just read the ‘simplified’ version.
OPTIONAL RESEARCH (VIDEOS & ARTICLES)
The Situation at the U.S.-Mexico Border Can’t Be ‘Solved’ Without Acknowledging Its Origins,
TIME Magazine, March 31, 2021
[Link to Article], [Original (PDF )], or [Simplified (PDF)].
Israel’s High-Tech Border Failure Could Happen in the U.S., Experts Say,
Newsweek, November 15, 2023
[Link to Article], [Original (PDF )], or [Simplified (PDF)].
Fueled by Unprecedented Border Crossings, a Record 3 Million Cases Clog US Immigration Courts,
US News & World Report, January 15, 2024
[Link to Article], [Original (PDF )], or [Simplified (PDF)].
The Grim High-Tech Dystopia on the US-Mexico Border,
Town and Country, May 21, 2024
https://jacobin.com/2024/05/high-tech-ai-mexico-border
Note: To police the US-Mexico border, the US government is implementing an array of ever more sophisticated military tech — now including AI-powered robo-dogs. It promises to worsen an already severe humanitarian crisis. This excerpt has been adapted from The Walls Have Eyes: Surviving Migration in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Petra Molnar (The New Press, 2024).
[VIDEO] The Walls Have Eyes: Exploring Border Technologies with Petra Molnar,
MSP Radio, June 15, 2024 [19 min]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vufXp444MwU
Note: In this podcast episode, Petra Molnar, a lawyer and anthropologist specializing in border technologies, emphasized the critical point that technology is far from neutral. She highlighted how technology mirrors and perpetuates power dynamics in society, underscoring the significant impacts it can have on individuals if not carefully considered during the innovation process. This concept is essential to grasp as it illuminates the broader implications of technological advancements on society.
[VIDEO] Petra Molnar: Surviving Migration in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,
Squirro, June 6, 2024 [30 min]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJmie78C6Cg
Website: https://squirro.com/squirro-podcast/petra-molnar-surviving-migration-in-the-age-of-artificial-intelligence
Podcast Name: “Squirro’s Podcast: Redefining AI – Season 3“
Note: In this episode, Petra Molnar – Surviving Migration in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, with, Lauren Hawker Zafer is joined by is joined by Petra Molnar. Lauren and Petra shape a critical conversation in which they redefine what ethical AI really means, especially when human lives and freedoms are at stake.
[VIDEO] The US should substantially expand its surveillance infrastructure along its southern border,
DebateUS, September 1, 2024 [17 min]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cqrmgLQg0M
Note: This is a debate lecture from a former Harvard scholar/coach. It is not a “source” for our evidence (it does contain real evidence).
[VIDEO] US Walls of Shame: The US-Mexican Border l Featured Documentaries,
Al Jazeera News, February 18, 2017 [25 min]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ4nHnsfxNY
[VIDEO] Extreme Heat: Is Border Patrol Leaving People To Die?,
Al Jazeera, July 20, 2023 [20 min]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32ZU2Xue3VA
[VIDEO] What type of border security technology is the government working on?,
CBS News, March 21, 2019 [3+ min]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwU2bI0vKgE
Economic Times, September 29, 2023 [7 min]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_iYuiHyzKQ
[VIDEO] How smart borders work,
What Makes it Tick, November 13, 2019 [6 min]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YgWqbb4bos
[VIDEO] Why Border Patrol agents are seeing a drop in migrant apprehensions,
CBS News, August 1, 2024 [2+ min]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwvGCOiPZKY
Contact Information
Bill Eddy,
Email: BillEddy@21stCenturyDebate.org
Phone: 714.655.8135 (I prefer text)
Note: When contacting me, please include your name and class information (day/time). Thanks!