In her book “Conditional Citizens,” author Laila Lalani focuses on public policies that directly affect citizenship and the treatment of citizens and non-citizens in America. Her research into the border patrol system led her to a surprising discovery that she shares in this video. What are your thoughts about what she discovered and about how America should address border security?

Quick Ideas for Using the Video in Class:
1. After viewing the video have students summarize the organization of the border patrol checkpoints that Ms. Lalani describes.
2. Use the video in a unit focused on the contemporary issue of border security. Have students offer their thinking on the topic as they respond specifically to the examples posed by Ms. Lalani in the video.
3. Have students write a short essay describing both sides of the border issue addressed by Ms. Lalani and offer specific reasons for the validity of each.
4. The author asks a penetrating question about how a country so passionate about personal freedom and liberty has a network of essentially militarized check points. The Fourth Amendment comes into play as well as the right to freedom of movement. Have students research and then choose and defend a position on the whether the Border Patrol checkpoints are legal or not.