Rachel Browning’s Legal Blog

Not wanting to remain out of the ever-expanding loop of social networking, the Department of Homeland Security has created a new website called Our Border to promote an open dialogue among wide network of people interested in Southwest border issues. The website features groups such as Comprehensive Immigration Reform, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, Customs & Border Protection, and Immigration Customs Enforcement.  The blog provides a forum in which these groups’ myriad constituencies can communicate, argue, challenge and ultimately educate one another on the issues revolving around immigration and border security. 

Social networking sites are not new to the U.S. government.  The U.S. Department of State has its own presence on the web through sites like Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and their own blog called DipNote, all of which provide the public with photos, news feeds and analysis of all matters related to U.S. foreign policy.   And of course, President Obama, whose use of social networking helped him ascend to the presidency, has stayed connected to the American people, by maintaining an active presence on numerous social networking sites, and with its own blog, featuring the latest news, remarks of the president, analysis on proposed legislation and promotion of the president’s broader agenda.

With so many challenges facing Americans today—from the current state of the economy, to our broken immigration system, to the wars and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan—we all have a responsibility as members of a democratic society, to keep ourselves informed and to broaden our own perspectives by looking to a variety of sources of information.  These sites are only the beginning, but they can provide an important tool in understanding the issues facing our elected and appointed officials, and the policies they are implementing to meet our nation’s challenges.  Whether you visit these sites or prefer instead the feel of newsprint in your hands, I encourage you to read and stay engaged in the debate. There’s too much at stake not to.