News

Bill targets border drug trafficking

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) introduced last week the Eradicate Crossing of Illegal Tunnels (EXIT) Act, which expedites efforts to address cross border tunnels, removing red tape preventing law enforcement from acting.

Hartzler said the bill would empower Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) personnel.

“Our southern border has become overrun by human and drug traffickers who have profited off both innocent children and America’s drug epidemic,” Hartzler said. “The EXIT Act targets our border vulnerabilities and expedites a long, bureaucratic, and unnecessary process of filling these smuggling tunnels. With this legislation, our communities become better protected from the influx of harmful, illegal drugs, and our border patrol agents see much-needed relief towards securing our nation.”

The measure would grant the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority to waive federal, state, and local environmental permits and reviews necessary to remediate unlawful border tunnels.

Hartzler said waiting for environmental reviews of drug tunnels that have already disturbed the ground and will ultimately be filled with concrete is unnecessary and threatens our national security and that it also allows for CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enter into indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts. Currently, CBP must put the contract out for bid for every single tunnel instead of utilizing an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract allowing contractors to be on hand to more quickly fill border tunnels.

The measure will also amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify CBP has the authority to search for and remediate all unlawful cross-border tunnels while patrolling the border.

Douglas Clark

Recent Posts

Sen. Barrasso raises concerns over DOE’s ability to protect AI R&D from China

With artificial intelligence (AI) the increasing focus of interest for Washington and private companies, U.S.…

1 day ago

Senate advances legislation that emphasizes federal building security

The Senate greenlit the Federal Building Security Act (S. 3613) this week, moving to the…

1 day ago

Senate bill seeks to compel national security risk analysis of economic integration with China

A bipartisan group of senators recently introduced the American Economic Independence Act, which would require…

2 days ago

Sen. Peters presses federal agencies to increase cybersecurity for American health care

Citing cases where cyberattacks targeted health care systems in the United States, U.S. Sen. Gary…

2 days ago

U.S. Justice Department launches National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center to curb gun violence

The U.S. Department of Justice recently launched a new resource center – the National Extreme…

3 days ago

Government funding agreement includes $3M allotment to create Northern Border security center

Among the provisions included in the recent $1.2 trillion funding agreement signed by President Joe…

3 days ago

This website uses cookies.