Border
In comments made to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this week, major medical societies blasted efforts to change visa rules, citing concerns over limits the “arbitrary and disruptive” change would impose and pleading for exemptions for physicians.
Together, the societies -- which... Read More »
A Memphis, Tennessee-based Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operation initiated in July 2019 has yielded nearly 200 seizures of counterfeit ID cards and illegal narcotics.
Operation Mega Flex involves an interagency effort seeking to measure compliance and assess illicit networks in the... Read More »
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) three recommendations regarding the department's efforts to improve workforce planning and monitoring.
The GAO analysis stemmed from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) within DHS increasing its... Read More »
With the introduction of the Commitment to American Security Act (H.R. 13), U.S. Reps. Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Pete Stauber (R-MN) seek to bolster technology and manpower for security operations across various federal government aspects.
“This bill will secure our southern border, strengthen... Read More »
Law enforcement authorities in the United States and Mexico are seeking to identify individuals lasing aircraft along the U.S.-Mexico border from Del Rio, Texas/Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila to Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras.
During multiple evening operations earlier in October, aircraft operated by the... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and General Services Administration (GSA) personnel are touting the opening of a new
commercial land crossing facility at the Alexandria Bay Port of Entry.
“This new facility truly fits the needs of the current times as the United States continues to stand... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) opened the Center for Countering Human Trafficking, the U.S. government’s first law enforcement operations center directly related to human trafficking and forced labor.
The center is based in Washington and is led by U.S. Immigration and Customs... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar (R-TX) introduced legislation designed to protect border communities against the COVID-19 pandemic by amending the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission Act.
This bill, the Binational Health Strategies Act of 2020, directs the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission to... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel in Boston, Mass., recently seized a Thailand shipment containing 196 grams of the opioid drug Tramadol.
“Illegal trading of opioids poses a significant health threat,” Michael Denning, director of Field Operations for the Boston Field Office,... Read More »
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives representing districts along the Northern and Southern U.S. borders introduced a bill that directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create a strategy to integrate emerging technologies in the nation’s border security strategy.
The... Read More »
Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) has introduced a measure she said is designed to combat cross-border tunnel trafficking operations across the nation’s southern border.
The DHS Illicit Border Tunnel Defense Act has a companion measure introduced by Rep.Debbie Lesko (R-AZ) in the House in... Read More »
Louisville Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency officials said officers recently seized 10 boxes of Virus Shut Out devices, which officials said does not protect the bearer from the Coronavirus.
Authorities indicated the shipment of shut out devices, which claim potency against Coronavirus... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials recently noted a narcotics seizure increase of more than 1,000 percent within the Buffalo Field Office during fiscal year 2020 over last year.
“The work of the officers has been incredible, and their dedication to CBP's enforcement mission is... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is looking to expand the department’s authorities and methods for collecting biometrics to improve the screening and vetting process.
The proposed rule changes would modernize biometrics collection and authorize expanded use of biometrics beyond... Read More »
Coast Guard officials said crews recently executed narcotics seizures in international waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean Sea.
The Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton crew offloaded approximately 11,500 pounds of cocaine and... Read More »
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officials said spending cuts and increased incoming revenue and receipts has resulted in averting an administrative furlough of more than 13,000 employees.
“Our workforce is the backbone of every USCIS accomplishment. Their resilience and... Read More »
National Security Forum (NSF) and Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) personnel are espousing the benefits of a recent dialogue session focusing on efforts to track drug cartels.
“An exciting development for our upcoming programs is a new collaboration NSF is building with... Read More »
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has earmarked $1 million to combat human trafficking in Alaska via the agency’s Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking program.
Officials said Covenant House Alaska and the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) would receive $500,000 each... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel along the California border with Mexico recently reported that, in June, the agency seized 43,000 pounds of narcotics valued at nearly $92 million.
Officers at the six land ports of entry were able to foil numerous attempts to smuggle 34,685 pounds... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) personnel in Laredo, Texas, recently executed actions resulting in the interception of narcotics valued at more than $11.4 million.
"These drugs will not reach Main Street USA due to the efforts of the officers in our cargo... Read More »
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has officially begun deploying Autonomous Surveillance Towers (AST) systems along the southwest border, providing continuous surveillance operations.
“These towers give agents in the field a significant leg up against the criminal networks that... Read More »
House members of the Northern Border Caucus are pushing for a phased reopening of that United States-Canadian border, which has been shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In all, 29 Congress members, led by caucus co-chairs Brian Higgins (D-NY) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY), called for... Read More »
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) personnel and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James crew members recently offloaded narcotics seized in international waters during a briefing at Port Everglades in Florida.
The Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security joined in detailing the... Read More »
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officials said Baltimore special agents seized over 14,000 unapproved COVID-19 capsules and several COVID-19 test kits via Operation Stolen Promise.
Operation Stolen Promise is a national operation that includes... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said Office of Field Operations (OFO) personnel at the Hidalgo International Bridge seized $2,446,000 worth of alleged methamphetamine concealed within a vehicle.
On May 23, an officer encountered a brown 1999 Ford F150 pickup driven by a 20-year-old... Read More »
Boeing has secured a combined $3.1 billion Navy contract for Harpoon and Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM ER) weapon systems in support of Foreign Military Sales (FMS).
Officials indicated about $2.6 billion of the agreement was recently contracted, with the remainder having... Read More »
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Ports of Entry working within the Baltimore Field Office seized several shipments of counterfeit and unapproved coronavirus personal protective equipment (PPE) and pharmaceuticals.
Since March 23, CBP officers at the ports in Philadelphia,... Read More »
Representatives from private industry and the federal government have joined forces to combat fraud and other illegal activity surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.S. Homeland Security Investigations National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) is working with... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the recent inspection of express-consignment shipments at the Rochester New York Airport yielded seizure of counterfeit COVID-19 test kits.
“I’m proud of the continued efforts of our CBP officers here in Rochester,” Rochester Port Director... Read More »
Laredo Port of Entry Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently executed a narcotics interception effort yielding hard narcotics with an estimated street value of more than $25 million.
Authorities indicated the seizure occurred at the World Trade Bridge when an officer referred a... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) - International Mail Facility (IMF) officers recently seized suspected counterfeit COVID-19 test kits from the United Kingdom.
On March 12, officers discovered six plastic bags containing various vials... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) February 2020 operational update indicated rises in meth and fentanyl seizures along the southwest border, as well as a significant tunnel discovery.
“The processing pathways and repatriation initiatives which have been implemented by the administration... Read More »
During the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee’s hearing on the President’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget for National Guard and Reserve Components, Sen. Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) inquired about a funds transfer.
Durbin, vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee,... Read More »
Two government agencies said Southwest Valley Constructors Co. has secured a contract to build 15 miles of new Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Sector border wall.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) officials announced the contract, valued at $179,580,000,... Read More »
Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced last week a measure designed to protect Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees from accidental exposure to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.
The Synthetic Opioid Exposure Prevention and Training Act of 2020 would... Read More »