Airports as sovereignty engines
Immigration, customs, and security merge at the gate. Automated biometrics, API/PNR data, and watchlists make airports the densest points of state presence.
Green borders vs. legal crossings
Open countryside may look porous, but penalties and detection at official crossings concentrate enforcement where people actually need to pass.
Ports and bonded zones
Container terminals, free trade and bonded zones, and AEO programs move checks to a few nodes—high control at entry, lighter touch inland.
Interior governance
Once inside, routine administration prevails: tax filings, licensing, and post-audit sampling rather than constant, chokepoint-style inspection.