House lawmakers have advanced an emergency spending package containing a provision restoring a robust Customs and Border Protection (CBP) presence along the northern border.
“Restoring hours at these ports is critical to commerce, emergency medical services, and to everyone who lives and works in Roseau, Lancaster, and Northern Minnesota,” Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN) said. “CBP so far has been tone deaf when it comes to understanding the importance of the northern border and our rural communities, and I will continue to fight to get this done.”
The action requires CBP return to northern border staffing levels no less than 3,600 officers, which is the same number prescribed in a June 2018 Department of Homeland Security report on Northern Border Strategy, noting it follows the recent diversion of nearly 730 CBP officers reassigned from northern land ports of entry to the southern border.
Peterson maintains diverting resources is causing staff shortages along the northern border while reducing service hours for crucial land ports of entry, adding local communities like Roseau and Lancaster, Minnesota, are facing economic hardships, especially when hospital and manufacturing staff face difficulties crossing the Canadian border.
Peterson previously joined the Northern Border Caucus in forwarding correspondence to the Department of Homeland Security expressing concern over officer diversions to the southern border and asking for additional funding to meet CBP’s officer hiring shortage.