Sens. Portman, Hassan introduce Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit Stipend Act to fund foreign law enforcement teams

With the introduction of the Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU) Stipend Act last week, U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) seek to authorize existing TCIUs into law and get foreign law enforcement teams working with American agencies paid.

TCIUs are teams working for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Based in 13 countries, they consist of trained and vetted law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute transnational criminal activity, from gangs and drug operations to full-fledged global criminal networks. If passed, the new bill would require TCIU members to undergo continuous vetting but, in return, would authorize payment of stipends to those successfully vetted and trained in the United States.

“I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to ensure Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit officers are compensated for their service to combat the illicit narcotics crisis,” said Portman, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “These foreign law enforcement partners are on the ground to help U.S. law enforcement disrupt and stop the drug cartels from smuggling in illicit narcotics like fentanyl. Considering the most recent CDC data shows that our country faced more than 107,000 drug overdose-related deaths last year, the most ever in a calendar year, with roughly 80 percent of these deaths due to deadly synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.”

In theory, the stipends provided by the legislation could help reduce the turnover rates among TCIU personnel, who often turn to other employment opportunities with higher compensation. This, Portman argued, is detrimental to HSI’s anti-crime efforts, sapping the time and resources it pumps into the recruitment, training, and vetting of new TCIU members.

“Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit officers play a key role in helping to prevent fentanyl and other dangerous drugs from crossing our border and making their way to communities in New Hampshire and across the country,” Hassan said. “I am pleased to work across the aisle on this legislation to strengthen the efforts of these critical units as we work to combat fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drug trafficking across the board.”

In addition to the benefits for TCIU members and HSI, the bill would require Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to report to Congress on its vetting procedures.