Border
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 »
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said officers staffing the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) seized over $99,000 from a family bound to the Palestinian territories.
“Customs and Border Protection wants to make clear that there is no limit to the amount of money that... Read More »
Area Port of Memphis Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel said the agency routinely seizes low-quality, counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination cards.
This fiscal year, Memphis has initiated 121 seizures totaling 3,017 of the fake vaccination cards. The cards regularly contain typographical... Read More »
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Otay Mesa Commercial Facility seized nearly 3 tons of methamphetamine and fentanyl powder hidden in a shipment of household articles, officials said Tuesday.
The seizure was the largest methamphetamine drug smuggling seizure along the... Read More »
With the introduction of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Training Act (H.R. 4989) this week, U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) have proposed a grant to educate students, teachers, and school personnel on the warning signs of human... Read More »
This week yielded multiple attempts from Republican legislators to crack down on what they see as massive health concerns at the United States-Mexico border, urging COVID-19 tests for migrants, a field hearing on illegal immigration and border health protections, and increased support for... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI), a House Committee on Homeland Security member, has joined committee Republicans in introducing legislation they said would bolster border security.
The Border Security for America Act of 2021 would require the federal government to secure the nation’s... Read More »
Fearing for highly interdependent border communities, a bipartisan collection of U.S. representatives and senators have submitted legislation to strengthen multi-country cooperation to screen infectious diseases and support public health initiatives therein.
The Border Health Security Act (H.R.... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced last week legislation that would direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to research how supply chain vulnerabilities could threaten U.S. homeland security.
The Domains Critical to Homeland Security Act will not only... Read More »
Aligning with its Plan for Use of Border Barrier Funds, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is terminating two Laredo Sector border barrier contracts.
CBP officials said the contracts are unnecessary to address any life, safety,... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI) announced Tuesday his bill to combat human trafficking passed the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support.
The DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act would bolster the existing efforts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to combat human... Read More »
A fact sheet recently released by Homeland Security Republicans showed that southern border activity demonstrates the situation has become a humanitarian crisis involving thousands of migrants.
According to the report, border crossings this year included more than 1.1 million illegal crossings... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this week the launch of a new initiative to support noncitizen service members, veterans, and their immediate family members.
"It’s our responsibility to serve all veterans as well as they... Read More »
Laredo Air Branch Air and Marine Operations (AMO) personnel have detailed how crew detection, surveillance and tracking operations experienced a 143 percent increase in migrant apprehensions.
The Laredo Air Branch Air and Marine Operations (AMO) was involved in the apprehension of 12,400... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently reintroduced legislation they said would require the government to develop a list of scientific and engineering institutions affiliated with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tommy... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently outlined the plan for allocating border barrier funds ending wall expansion to the extent permitted by law.
The prior administration sought to spend over $15 billion on wall construction, diverting more than $10 billion of those funds from... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) personnel said a recently formed partnership would target criminal smuggling enterprises.
The partnership is tied to Operation Sentinel, a new counter-network targeting operation launched in April 2021. Operation... Read More »
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) has forwarded correspondence to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to encourage efforts to reopen the U.S. northern border.
Stefanik seeks the unilateral easing of non-essential travel restrictions across the northern border if a... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced last week a bill designed to devise a southern border strategic plan and establish a contingency fund to address plan activation.
The Border Response Resilience Act would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and federal... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the agency has implemented biometric facial comparison technology at pedestrian border crossings at all the Northern New York ports of entry.
Authorities noted the expanded scope includes Alexandria Bay, Ogdensburg, Massena, Trout River, Fort... Read More »
Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said Rep. John Katko (R-NY), ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, has been chosen to lead the American Security Task Force.
“Bolstering our nation’s security is an integral part of Republicans’ legislative plan for when we win... Read More »
Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY) has issued an appeal to expand the definition of essential traveler related to the northern border, citing the need to allow families to reunite.
Higgins, co-chair of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus, recently spoke with Department of Homeland Security (DHS)... Read More »
While the Biden administration still intends to pursue some form of the Southern Border wall, the redirection of any funding from other federal agencies for border barrier projects has been terminated.
Declaring that the Trump administration’s previous border wall construction efforts created... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has unveiled a new anti-smuggling initiative the agency said focuses on transnational criminal organizations affiliated with the smuggling of migrants.
Authorities indicated Operation Sentinel is a collaborative effort with Customs and Border... Read More »
On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate Center of Excellence’s (COE) Borders, Trade, and Immigration Institute (BTI) announced the release of a report on cross-border e-commerce.
Working with the University of Houston, the report looked at... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a measure designed to respond to the migrant influx at the southern border.
Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) joined Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX) in introducing the Bipartisan Border Solutions Act, maintaining the... Read More »
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have made 11 tentative selections for new reimbursable services agreements, noting the effort would enhance security, promote cross-border trade and facilitate domestic essential travel.
“Reimbursable services agreements are a fundamental... Read More »
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)... Read More »
Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY) has forwarded correspondence to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas Higgins, seeking advanced proposals to reopen the United States-Canada border.
“I write you to advocate that the Department immediately advance concrete proposals for a phased... Read More »
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a recommendation to the Department of Homeland Security regarding its plan to improve border security, including the use of personnel, barriers, and technology.
The GAO indicated its assessment of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS)... Read More »
