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Brumley Student Profile: Jeremy Doran Investigates Programa Frontera Sur

Mar 26, 2019 |

Jeremy Doran, senior in Government Honors & Political Communication (with a certificate in Security Studies), is a Brumley Next Generation Undergraduate Scholar at the Strauss Center. Every year, our cohort of Scholars take a research training and career preparation class through the Brumley program. Today we talk with Jeremy about what the class has been working on, his experiences as an intern with the House Homeland Security Committee, and more:

Could you go into the project you’re working on in the Brumley Scholars’ class?

“The Brumley Scholars class, taught by Drs. Kate Weaver and Michael Mosser, is fantastic because it gives students the opportunity to practice professional development in preparation for careers in foreign affairs and international relations. The class’s small size (only nine of us) allows us to get to know the professors and one another much better than in an average course. From the role of women in peacekeeping to formatting a resume, our topics of conversation are as diverse as they are interesting. The program is split into two parts: the course is during the first semester, and the second semester is dedicated to professional development and crafting an op-ed for publication. The professors work with us every step of the way, and access to their advice has been one of the most valuable aspects of the program. Specifically, I’m currently writing an op-ed about the new Mexican President’s obligations to Central American refugees as they are increasingly being denied asylum in the United States.”

What are the most inspiring and the most frustrating parts of being an intern in the Homeland Security Committee?

“Working for the House Homeland Security Committee was one of the most formative professional experiences of my life. The Homeland Security Committee coordinates US security legislation and maintains oversight of the Department of Homeland Security. When I was in DC as an Archer Fellow during the Fall of 2017, I worked as a legislative intern for the committee. I loved working for the Committee because it furthered my understanding of the complexities of US security policy from an interior perspective. Because the Department of Homeland Security and the Committee are both so new (created in 2001 and 2002, respectively), their jurisdiction is somewhat complicated. Homeland Security interacts with a wide range of agencies and departments so, as an intern, I quickly had to become familiar with what we did and did not handle. Specifically, I worked mostly with the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, which gave me direct experience working with legislation concerning immigration, border control, CBP, ICE, and the Coast Guard.

My most memorable experience while working for the Committee was serving as the “point person” for Congressman Michael McCaul’s Border Security for America Act: one of the earliest pieces of legislation to explicitly allocate funding for President Trump’s wall on the southern border. It was my job to know every detail of the bill and to field questions from reporters, lobbyists, and congresspeople. As I worked for the minority (democratic) committee, our job was to organize opposition to the bill and to seek alternative legislative pathways. Party aside, being solely responsible for overseeing the progress of a large bill taught me exactly how complex and valuable the American legislative process is, as well as the importance of thoroughly vetted research and collaboration across political lines as a bill works through committee. Although I sometimes felt like I was going to scream, I left Congress feeling inspired and with a newfound appreciation for American democracy.

The most frustrating part of working for the committee was definitely learning to navigate the underground tunnel system connecting all of the buildings on Capitol Hill. Who designed that? It’s a mess.”

Can you go into detail on how you’ve benefited from being in the Security Studies certificate program?

“Oh boy. Since starting at UT, I’ve changed my major back and forth between journalism, communication studies, government, rhetoric, english, international relations, and history and have at some point pursued certificates in public policy, business foundations, business and public policy, forensic science (yes, I know), and finally security studies. I was constantly looking for a way to meld my loves of political rhetoric, immigration and refugee studies, and domestic national security policy while somehow managing to graduate in four years. The security studies certificate program has allowed me to explore my passions through courses such as “Complex Emergencies and Humanitarian Action” and “Ethics of Foreign Intervention” without diverging too strongly from my government or communications degree plans.”

Tell us about your honors thesis for the Government Dept.

“Being from rural West Texas, my earliest interests in politics and national security were sparked by my curiosity about immigration and the border. When I came to UT, I knew that I wanted to continue studying immigration and border security policy, but I struggled to find my academic niche. It wasn’t until I really started digging into higher-level coursework that I learned to approach complex political issues with a nuanced, critical perspective. As I took survey of my interests throughout my junior year, I came to realize that the US/Mexico security relationship is far more complex than many Americans are made to believe. I committed myself to meeting anyone in DC and Austin who knew about Mexican immigration policy and would be willing to answer my questions about it. While the US and Mexico are so often defined in opposition of one another, a clear pattern of cooperation slowly emerged. With UT Professor Ken Greene as my advisor, I slowly figured out what I wanted to write about:

In 2012, rates of Central American migration through Mexico en route to the US skyrocketed. Both the US and Mexico rushed to restrict the flow and, in 2014, Mexico’s 2014 Programa Frontera Sur (Southern Border Program or PFS) was announced. The plan was instituted with the aim of limiting migration from Central America, improving Mexican border infrastructure, increasing coordination between Mexican agencies and Central American governments, and protecting migrants. It reinforced security at twelve ports of entry and along well known migration routes at Mexico’s southern border. Almost immediately, the rate of Central American migration to the US dropped as the rate of apprehensions in Mexico spiked. However, the program was and is controversial due to documented human rights abuses against migrants in-transit and opaque funding. There is considerable evidence that much of the program’s funding comes from the United States by way of the Mérida Initiative: a bilateral partnership launched in 2007 to disrupt organized crime and promote rule of law in Mexico. Drawing from the limited academic literature on bilateral immigration cooperation between developed nations, my thesis interrogates Mexico’s 2014 Programa Frontera Sur (Southern Border Program or PFS) as a point of expansion for US/Mexico security cooperation and a potential “North American Immigration Policy” similar to that of the EU.

I’m only two chapters in, so I can’t share much more than that. Already, the process of writing the thesis has been one of the most challenging and rewarding of my short academic career. To anyone who wants to write a thesis but has no clue where to start, my best advice is to meet with anyone who will talk to you and to be unafraid of asking questions that feel tangential. Everyone starts somewhere!”

What do you see in your future in the immigration policy arena, or any other?

“I really fell in love with DC during my time there, so my first priority is definitely to move back to the city and pursue policy work there. I’d love to work in Congress, either for a member or committee, on immigration and national security issues. Research and/or advocacy are also things I want to pursue professionally. I spent the summer of 2017 working as a communications intern with the National Immigration Forum, an organization I really believe in and would love to return to. I’d also like to take around a year off to pursue Spanish language study in Mexico. My game plan is to gain valuable work experience for a few years before pursuing either a law degree or a master’s degree in international relations or security studies.

As we’ve seen, today’s political conversations have become dominated by immigration and national identity. I truly believe that this work is more important than ever, and I look forward to driving realistic, research based, and compassionate policy in a climate currently dominated by fear and misinformation.”

Thank you Jeremy!

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