I gots news for yah, churchmunch...
9/11 did in fact change everything. Our border patrol has been beefed up, even though there are those here on FR that like to bash the good people of the US Border Patrol, they are a good professional organization and they do a fine job with the resources they have.
The US Coast Guard also does a fine job, as does Customs.
Haven't there been recent changes which give border agents more control?
Not enough, according to those very border patrols.