Members of Congress proposed a bipartisan bill Oct. 22 that aims to strengthen law enforcement operations and collaboration at America’s southern border.
“For the safety of our communities, we have to restore the rule of law and secure our borders, and DHS [Department of Homeland Security] must take serious steps to improve its coordination with partner agencies. This bill will help us do just that,” said U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH), who sponsored the Advanced Border Coordination Act, H.R. 10027, alongside three cosponsors, including U.S. Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV).
Specifically, the measure would establish joint operations centers along the southern border of the United States to serve as centralized operating hubs tasked with coordinating border operations, information sharing, and workforce training.
DHS has periodically established such hubs to help multiple law enforcement agencies work together to bolster border security and crack down on transnational criminal activity, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
“As a former prosecutor, I know how successful joint operations centers can be, especially when it comes to detecting drug and human trafficking, and have no doubt they will help us address the national security crisis that has exploded at our southern border,” Joyce said.
If enacted, The Advanced Border Coordination Act would direct DHS to establish at least two joint operations centers along the southern border to help law enforcement from multiple federal, state, local, and tribal agencies coordinate their efforts and better work together, the summary says.
The bill also would require these centralized hubs to serve as resources to improve field operations and intelligence sharing, help detect and deter criminal activity like drug and human trafficking, and support workforce development and training coordination between participating agencies.
DHS also would be required to issue an annual report to Congress on the operational activities of the centers and to make recommendations for coordinated federal actions at the southern border.
Participating agencies would include DHS, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Justice, other federal agencies deemed appropriate by DHS, and state, local, and tribal agencies that voluntarily choose to participate.
“Border Patrol officers need all the help they can get to protect our southern border, and joint operation centers are a proven way to make that happen,” said Lee. “I’ve consistently voted to secure the resources and reforms we need to fix our broken immigration system, and this bipartisan bill is a big step in the right direction.”
The bill has been endorsed by the National Border Patrol Council, the National Immigration Forum, the Texas Border Coalition, and the Major Cities Chiefs Association.
H.R. 10027 is the companion bill to the same-named S. 3104, introduced in October 2023 by U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).