No Man’s Land: An Analysis of the effects that the Immigration Crisis has had on the Borderland Environment surrounding the U.S/Mexico Border

Abstract

This study examines the environmental consequences of border wall construction along the U.S./Mexico border, with a focus on air quality. The framing of illegal immigration as a national security threat has motivated the U.S. government to increase border securitization measures, and in turn has caused border infrastructure development to be expedited using waiver authority. This research explores whether the construction of pedestrian fences and vehicle barriers, following the Secure Fence Act of 2005, contributed to elevated levels of PM2.5, a key air pollutant that holds detrimental effects to living organisms while also being a product of construction activities. This study examines mean PM2.5 concentrations across construction and control sites before and after construction activities. Two regression models were developed: model one uses a binary construction treatment variable across a longer time frame (2005-2012), and model two distinguishes by construction types (pedestrian fences, vehicle barriers, and control) and shows short-term effects (2007-2008). Both models were unable to provide any statistically significant evidence that proved construction activities caused an increase in PM2.5 levels. Nonetheless, this study contributes to previous work that explores the negative effects of border securitization on borderland environments and highlights the importance of integrating ecological considerations into policy planning.