Border
The Senate advanced the Countering Human Trafficking Act last week, raising the possibility of a permanent Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) to oversee federal counter-human trafficking efforts and a crackdown on goods made with forced labor.
Currently, the CCHT – a part of the... Read More »
Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) has joined nine colleagues in introducing a bill they said prohibits President Joe Biden from lifting Title 42 immigration restrictions without a migrant surge contingency plan.
The Public Health and Border Security Act of H.R. 7458) seeks to have a plan in place from... Read More »
The House of Representatives advanced two Republican bills to secure the southern border against drug cartels and bolster domestic supply chain resilience.
The DHS Illicit Cross-Border Tunnel Defense Act (H.R. 4209) directs Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to develop a strategic plan to... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) recently introduced legislation that addresses the uptick in illicit drug action at the southern border.
The Stop Fentanyl Border Crossings Act expands Title 42 authority to turn back migrants as a means of combating drug... Read More »
A group of Republican senators wrote the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this week to criticize current border policies and urge additional information ahead of a potential revocation of U.S. Title 42.
The senators noted the possible problems a reversal of Title 42 policy, which allows... Read More »
U.S. Reps. John Katko (R-NY) and James Comer (R-KY) expressed concerns to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding failure to disclose apprehension information for southern border terrorists.
“We write to conduct oversight over the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS)... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and John Cornyn (R-TX) recently reintroduced legislation to strengthen border security and address ports of entry personnel shortages.
The Securing America’s Ports of Entry Act, which passed out of committee last Congress, would fully staff the nation's airports,... Read More »
Four congressmen founded a new bipartisan Border Security Technology Caucus this week to keep Congress informed of available technologies to improve U.S. border security.
It was created by U.S. Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Tim Ryan (D-OH), and Vicente Gonzalez... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Justice said a recent collaboration of U.S. and Mexican law enforcement resulted in an enforcement operation dismantling a transnational human smuggling organization in Nogales, Sonora.
“The Attorney General established Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) to address the threat... Read More »
U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) said the House of Representatives' advancement of the Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act (H.R. 5681) represents wins for border security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Katko is ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and introduced the... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-AK) are touting a $187 million funding allotment that would bolster the supply chain and border security.
The legislators lauded the funds garnered from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It would... Read More »
Five senators, led by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), are urging Senate leadership to support additional funding for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) efforts to boost security at U.S. ports of entry and improve its ability to detect and seize drugs.
Peters, chairman of the Homeland Security... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Chris Jacobs (R-NY) has introduced the Northern Border Reopening Act, which urges the Biden administration to end COVID-19 mandates for Canadians crossing the U.S. northern border.
“Vaccine mandates being imposed upon our truckers, workers in other essential industries, families, and... Read More »
Coast Guard Cutter James recently offloaded over $1.06 billion in illegal narcotics.
Coast Guard Cutter James offloaded 54,500 pounds of cocaine and 15,800 pounds of marijuana, at Port Everglades, Fla., on Feb. 17, 2022. During their 90-day patrol, the crew set new marks for the largest single... Read More »
Memphis, Tennessee, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel said the division has seized 2,509 pounds of drugs since the beginning of this fiscal year.
China, Mexico, and Brazil are among the countries of origin for the contraband, which includes fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, ketamine, DMT,... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials recently detailed a Port of Lukeville, Ariz., operation resulting in the seizure of 880 pounds of methamphetamine and over 110 pounds of suspected fentanyl.
Port of Lukeville officers referred a 47-year-old Phoenix man for additional inspection of... Read More »
U.S. Reps. John Katko (R-NY) and Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) have joined 14 colleagues to introduce legislation that bolsters the nation’s ability to combat human trafficking.
The Countering Human Trafficking Act would provide the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center for Countering Human... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, requesting a hearing regarding the nation's southern border.
U.S. Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Rob Portman (R-OH), Ron Johnson (R-WI), James Lankford... Read More »
Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) said she has established a Human Trafficking Congressional Task Force to combat human trafficking while aiding Orange, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino county victims.
“Human trafficking is modern-day slavery that exploits some of the most vulnerable members of our... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently released its annual Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) report, reflecting an increase in arrests and seizures.
“The courageous public servants of the Department of Homeland Security dedicate every day to supporting the... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Justice unveiled its new National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking this week in accordance with the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.
“Human trafficking is an insidious crime,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Traffickers exploit and endanger some of... Read More »
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued Monday its December 2021 operational statistics update, which offers a comprehensive view of agency initiatives.
“The dedicated men and women at CBP are committed to ensuring dangerous drugs and counterfeit products are off the streets, our... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) joined U.S. Reps. Brian Higgins (D-NY) and Chris Jacobs (R-NY) in urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to keep the U.S.-Canada border open for vaccinated individuals.
Citing the economic livelihoods of New York businesses, as well as supply chain... Read More »
Calling attention to human trafficking, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Blue Campaign announced that Jan. 11, 2022, will be Wear Blue Day and encouraged supporters to join in and speak out.
“Human trafficking is one of the most... Read More »
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at eight South Texas ports of entry seized significantly more cocaine and fentanyl in 2021, officials said Wednesday.
According to CBP, officers have seized 1,066 percent more fentanyl and 98 percent more cocaine in fiscal year 2021, than in... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Victoria Spartz (R-IN), and Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) introduced new legislation that seeks a new review process for the nation’s supply chain to screen out vulnerabilities and exploits for national adversaries.
“The unfolding global... Read More »
According to a report released Friday by the White House, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is leading the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to combat human trafficking.
DHS helped the White House develop a whole-of-government National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking,... Read More »
On Monday, U.S. Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) introduced a bill to secure the U.S. southern border.
The Build Better Borders Act of 2021 would increase civil monetary penalties for illegally crossing the border to $450,000. It stipulates that funds collected from those fines be... Read More »
Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel recently detailed record seizures of counterfeit and prohibited merchandise.
During Fiscal Year 2021, which spans from Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021, trade enforcement seizures increased by 24 percent and the overall... Read More »
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials said three men have been indicted for their alleged role in participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy that resulted in the seizure of over one ton of cocaine.
Jorge Aponte-Guzman, Nelson Agramonte-Minaya, and Carlos Maisonet-Lopez were... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, grilled Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus, President Joe Biden’s nominee for Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), on the need for enhanced border security... Read More »
Following investigation by Border Patrol agents in Southern California -- El Centro Sector -- some 1,000 fentanyl pills were seized last week at a checkpoint and two United States citizens arrested for smuggling.
A pair of 33-year-old men were detained with what amounted to $6,500 worth of... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials said the agency is evaluating air domain awareness technologies as a means of protecting northern border airspace.
S&T’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory recently spearheaded a test team that... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the agency has initiated a facial biometric pilot in select vehicle lanes at the Anzalduas International Bridge Port of Entry (POE), Texas.
Simplified Arrival uses facial biometrics to automate manual document checking procedures required for... Read More »
A group of lawmakers have forwarded correspondence to President Joe Biden, encouraging efforts allowing vaccinated Canadians to travel to the U.S. through land ports of entry.
"As Senators who represent states along the northern border, our communities have been deeply affected by the... Read More »
