Is border security primarily the responsibility of individual state governments?

Border security is primarily the responsibility of federal authorities rather than individual state governments. The federal government, through agencies such as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is tasked with overseeing border control and managing immigration policy. This federal oversight is necessary due to the complexities involved in national security and immigration law that transcend state boundaries.

While state governments can play a role in supporting border security, such as through enforcement of certain laws or cooperation with federal agencies, the foundational responsibilities lie with the federal level. This centralization ensures a uniform approach to border issues and facilitates coordination across states and international borders, which would be challenging if handled solely at the state level.

The other choices suggest varying degrees of state responsibility, but they do not accurately reflect the primary role of federal authorities in managing border security. State governments may assist or collaborate with federal agencies, but they do not bear the primary responsibility for border control.