Border
Border Patrol seizes more than $350,000 in marijuana last weekend
U.S. Border Patrol agents in Texas seized more than $350,000 in marijuana over the final weekend of 2019. The seizures were the result of four narcotic smuggling attempts. Three seizures were made Dec. 28. Agents in Weslaco responded to a call about a suspicious man near Pharr, Texas. The... Read More »
Bill aids CBP administrative support
Rep. Xochitl Liana Torres Small (D-NM) introduced Wednesday a measure designed to address Customs and Border Protection (CBP) challenges, including the need for a new position providing migrant processing administrative support. The Border Workforce Efficiency Act creates a processing... Read More »
ICE joins Kansas City-area task force targeting drug traffickers
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) personnel have joined a Kansas City-area task force targeting drug traffickers and violent criminals. U.S. Attorneys for the districts of Kansas and western Missouri said the Kansas City Metro Strike Force is a... Read More »
CBP engages in traveler privacy protection discussions
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel recently met with privacy experts to discuss how the agency implements the Congressional biometric entry-exit mandate. The meeting is the third session in an ongoing discussion series about CBP measures taken to protect traveler privacy during... Read More »
Agencies test border patrol technologies
U.S. Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) conducted 11 days of exercises and demonstrations in August in Sweetgrass, Mont. The field test simulated illegal border crossings and evaluated portable, surveillance technologies that provide... Read More »
Reps. Torres Small, Crenshaw introduce bill to enhance border security
U.S. Reps. Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM) and Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) introduced a bill to improve border security through enhanced detection technology at land ports of entry. The Securing America’s Ports Act seeks to increase the scanning rates of vehicles entering the United States by land with... Read More »
CBP Buffalo Field Office seizures rising, report finds
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the agency’s Buffalo Field Office has experienced a 30 percent increase in narcotic seizures in 2019 over fiscal year 2018. “The employees in the Buffalo Field Office work vigilantly throughout the year to protect our borders,” Richard... Read More »
Border officers seize more than 2,400 rounds of ammunition
A joint enforcement effort by the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Homeland Security Investigations recently seized more than 2,400 rounds of ammunition at the Boquillas border crossing between Big Bend National Park in Texas and Mexico. An NPS ranger... Read More »
CBP implementing El Paso facial biometric technology
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently introduced biometric facial comparison technology at the El Paso Port of Entry as a means of enhancing security and streamlining travel. “CBP uses biometric facial comparison technology to create a secure and seamless traveler experience at U.S.... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster CBP hiring, retention
Bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate was introduced to improve the hiring and retention of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and officers. U.S. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and John Hoeven (R-ND) said the CBP Hiring and Retention Innovation Act, S. 2813, creates a Customs and... Read More »
DHS awards Austin company contract to develop proof-of-concept application for CBP
The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently awarded Transmute Industries, an Austin, Texas-based company, a $198,642 Phase 1 award to develop a proof-of-concept application for Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The application must support... Read More »
Bill would reauthorize $110M for border security along northern U.S. border
A bill advanced out of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee seeks to reauthorize and increase funding for the northern United States border’s Operation Stonegarden program for the next five years, injecting $110 million into border security operations. U.S. Sen. Jon... Read More »
Savannah CBP detail seizes record cocaine shipment
Port of Savannah, Georgia, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently seized a port-record 2,133-pounds of cocaine via scrap aluminum and copper being shipped from South America to Europe. “Drug Trafficking Organizations are relentless in their attempts to smuggle drugs into the... Read More »
DHS awards funding for security checkpoint operation enhancement
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials said an Austin, Texas-based start-up has secured funding designed to enhance security checkpoint operations. S&T officials said the agency awarded $199,961.29 to Synthetik Applied Technologies to develop a... Read More »
CBP selects 11 potential partnerships to expand trade, travel services
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agreed to 11 tentative, reimbursable services agreements this week to boost cross-border trade and travel. The agreements are an expansion of the Reimbursable Services Program that has been in place since 2013. All are public-private partnerships that... Read More »
El Centro Sector Border Patrol highlights fiscal year 2019 efforts
El Centro Sector Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel said the division demonstrated a series of law enforcement achievements during fiscal year 2019. “El Centro Sectors results are attributed to the combined effort of our agents out in the field, new technology, and the border wall... Read More »
Bipartisan bill authorizes grants for border security
Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the Senate would authorize the Operation Stonegarden program, which provides state, local, and tribal law enforcement grants to assist in border security. Under the bill, the program would be authorized through 2024 at $110 million annually. The bill... Read More »
Democrats decry reports of Trump bid at acting DHS head
The chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security opened Wednesday’s hearing on global terrorism criticizing President Donald Trump and his bid to name a new acting director of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), on the day before Kevin McAleenan was scheduled to end his five-month... Read More »
DHS expands Migrant Protection Protocols sites
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) now has six ports of entry Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) sites in the wake of establishing expansion at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry. Migrants attempting to enter the country via the southwest border regardless of location may be returned to Mexico... Read More »
Lawmakers to formally introduce Immigration Detainer Enforcement Act
A bill that would give authority to the arresting law enforcement agency to maintain custody of an illegal immigrant in cases where a detainer has been issued will be formally introduced in Congress this week. The Immigration Detainer Enforcement Act would clarify the Department of Homeland... Read More »
Bill targets DHS immigration enforcement concerns
A group of Democratic senators introduced a bill last week that addresses southwest border challenges while improving Department of Homeland Security (DHS) border community engagement. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Tom Udall (D-NM) joined colleagues in supporting the Homeland... Read More »
Colorado Congressional delegation urges additional H-2B visas
A delegation of Colorado lawmakers is urging Congressional leaders to provide additional H-2B visas for seasonal workers in year-end appropriations packages or budget resolutions. H-2B program allows U.S. employers to bring aliens to the United States to fill temporary nonagricultural... Read More »
CBP New Orleans participates in Homeland Security anti-counterfeiting operation in Louisiana
Customs and Border Protection (CBP), New Orleans Field Office, has partnered with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to stop counterfeiting efforts during the Holiday season for the third consecutive year. Operation Safety Claus, an anti-counterfeiting law enforcement operation in metro New... Read More »
House bill would give border agents tool to detect synthetic opioids
A bill that would give U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents the equipment to detect synthetic opioids has been introduced in the U.S. House. The DHS Opioid Detection Resilience Act of 2019 requires the Commissioner of CBP to procure chemical screening devices that allow border patrol... Read More »
DHS, Houston partner to combat human trafficking
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this week that it has partnered with the City of Houston and the Houston Airport System (HAS) as a means of combating human trafficking. The effort stems from the Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI) program, officials said, which is an extension of the... Read More »
Rep. Rogers urges Congressional effort following CBP report of enforcement actions
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) is urging colleagues to take action regarding border security in the wake of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announcing nearly 1 million southwest border enforcement actions. The ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, Rogers extended gratitude to CBP... Read More »
CBP Field Operations seize $1.4M in mixed narcotics at Hidalgo International Bridge
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel staffing the Office of Field Operations at the Hidalgo and Anzalduas International Bridges foiled a drug smuggling attempt yielding a $1.4 million seizure. “These were two great interceptions of hard narcotics that our officers were able to detect... Read More »
Effort addresses Central American irregular migration
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said the agency recently initiated an effort designed to increase collaboration between America and Honduras regarding combating irregular migration through Central America. Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan has signed two... Read More »
CBP initiates facial recognition technology at Detroit Metro Airport
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has initiated Simplified Arrival at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) as a means of modernizing international arrivals by matching travelers to documents using face comparison technology. CBP is committed to implementing an integrated biometric... Read More »
Sen. Grassley unveils bipartisan bill to bolster security oversight of EB-5 investor program
On the heels of new regulations issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updating the EB-5 visa program that go into effect on Nov. 21, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) on Tuesday proposed a bipartisan bill that would expand the authority of the U.S. Department of Homeland... Read More »
CBP enforcement report shows recent decline
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the agency’s recently released enforcement actions report reflects a decline in the last 90 days while activity levels remain high. The analysis showed this year through August, the total number of people apprehended or found to be... Read More »
Measure targets asylum fraud, border child trafficking
Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced Tuesday legislation designed to address asylum fraud and protect children arriving at the border from human trafficking. The End Child Trafficking Now Act of 2019, amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require a DNA test to... Read More »
CBP reports 22 percent decline in people apprehended at Southern border
The number of people apprehended or found to be inadmissible at the Southern U.S. border declined by 22 percent in August, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The number apprehended or turned away was 64,006 in August, down from 82,055 in July. The August totals mark a 56 percent... Read More »
Senate Democrats ask why DoD is taking funds from military construction projects to build wall
A group of Senate Democrats recently called on the U.S. Department of Defense to provide Congress with details of its decision use military construction funding to pay for a Southern border wall. “We are opposed to this decision and the damage it will cause to our military and the relationship... Read More »