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Supply Chain Security: CBP Needs to Enhance Its Guidance and Oversight of High-Risk Maritime Cargo Shipments, Report to the Ranking Member, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives

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"The U.S. economy is dependent on a secure global supply chain. In fiscal year 2013, approximately 12 million maritime cargo shipments arrived in the United States. Within the federal government, CBP [Customs and Border Patrol] is responsible for administering cargo security, to include identifying 'high-risk' maritime cargo shipments with the potential to contain terrorist contraband. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review CBP's disposition of such shipments. This report discusses (1) how many maritime shipments CBP determined to be high risk and the extent to which CBP has accurate data on the disposition of such shipments, (2) the extent to which CBP consistently applies criteria and documents reasons for waiving examinations, and (3) the extent to which CBP ensures its policies on the disposition of high-risk shipments are being followed. GAO analyzed CBP data on maritime shipments arriving in the United States during fiscal years 2009 through 2013. GAO also visited four CBP targeting units selected on the basis of the percentage of maritime shipments they waived, among other factors. GAO recommends, among other things, that CBP define standard exception waiver categories and disseminate policy on documenting articulable reason waivers. Further, CBP should enhance its methodology for selecting shipments for self-inspections and change the way it calculates the compliance rate. The Department of Homeland Security concurred with GAO's recommendations."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2015-01
Moving the Line of Scrimmage: Re-Examining the Defense-in-Depth Strategy, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, United States House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, September 13, 2016

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This testimony compilation is from the September 13, 2016 hearing, "Moving the Line of Scrimmage: Re-Examining the Defense-in-Depth Strategy" before the House Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security. From the statement of Mark Morgan: "As America's unified border agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) protects the United States against terrorist threats and prevents the illegal entry of people and dangerous materials into the United States, while facilitating lawful travel and trade. USBP [United States Border Patrol] works with our CBP, interagency, state, local, tribal, territorial, and international partners to patrol the more than 6,000 miles of land border between the POEs that we share with Mexico and Canada and 2,000 miles of coastal waters surrounding the Florida Peninsula and the island of Puerto Rico. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. Government facilitated an unprecedented deployment of personnel, technology, and infrastructure to secure our Nation's borders. The resource base built over the past two decades has enabled USBP to develop and implement a Strategic Plan and enforcement posture tailored to meet the challenges of securing a 21st century border against a variety of different threats and adversaries. Today, our Strategic Plan is based on risk: identifying high-risk areas and flows and targeting our response to meet those threats. [...] Immigration checkpoints are also a critical element of USBP's layered approach to combat illegal cross-border activity and are the primary focus of my testimony. Border Patrol checkpoints are strategically located on routes of egress from the border and thereby additionally deters an attempted illegal entry." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mark Morgan, Peggy Davis, Gary Brasher, Elyse Golob, and Christian Ramirez.

United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security

2016-09-13
FY2006 Appropriations for Border and Transportation Security [August 24, 2005]

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"A well-managed border is central to maintaining and improving the security of the United States against terrorist threats. Border security entails regulating the flow of goods and people across the nation's borders so that dangerous and unwanted goods or people are denied entry. Transportation security entails screening and protecting people and goods as they move between different locations within the country. The overall appropriations over the past three years for Border and Transportation Security, as defined in this report, are as follows: in FY2004, Congress appropriated $18,106 million; in FY2005, Congress appropriated $20,313 million; in FY2006, the President requested $19,586 million; House-passed H.R. 2360 provides $21,015 million; and Senate-passed H.R. 2360 provides $21,283 million […] Within the federal government, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been given primary responsibility for securing the nation's borders and for increasing the security of transportation, among other responsibilities. The locus of border and transportation security activity within DHS is in the Directorate of Border and Transportation Security, which houses the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The U.S. Coast Guard is a standalone agency within DHS but plays an important role in border and transportation security, as does the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). This report includes appropriations for the functions and agencies of BTS, the U.S. Coast Guard and FLETC. Major issues include the number of available detention beds and investigators at ICE; the number of Border Patrol agents in CBP; the appropriate level of funding for the Deepwater program within the Coast Guard; and non-aviation security spending within TSA."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

2005-08-24
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for 2010, Part 5: Department of Homeland Security: Confronting the Cartel: Addressing U.S.-Mexico Border Security, Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session, Subcommittee on Homeland Security, November 19, 2009

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From the opening statement of David Price: "In March, this subcommittee examined the rise of violent Mexican drug cartels and other organized criminal groups and their impact on communities along the U.S.- Mexican border. Addressing this threat is one of the top priorities of the Obama administration and of this subcommittee. So today we will revisit this topic to determine how far that effort has progressed and where it must go from here. Last week, our subcommittee staff visited Mexico City and the Texas and Arizona border regions to take stock of the administration's progress implementing its Southwest Border Initiative. The initiative's goals include securing the U.S.-Mexican border, working with Mexican law enforcement and military personnel to combat cross-border smuggling of illegal drugs, weapons and money, and reducing the violence associated with this criminal activity. To date, progress can be cited, but the overall results are mixed." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Harold Rogers, John R. Carter, John Abney Culberson, Mark Steven Kirk, Ken Calvert, Ciro Rodriguez, Alan B. Mollohan, Nita M. Lowey, Sam Farr, Seven R. Rothman, Mariko Silver, Jayson Ahern, and John Morton.

United States. Government Printing Office

2010
Securing the Southwest Border: Perspectives from Beyond the Beltway, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, March 17, 2015

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This is a testimony compilation of the March 17, 2015 hearing "Securing the Southwest Border: Perspectives from Beyond the Beltway," held before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. From the opening statement of Chairman Ron Johnson: "Securing our border is incredibly complex. The U.S.-Mexico border stretches 2,000 miles across four states and nine border sectors -- each with its own unique terrain and distinct challenges. For example, the Texas Rio Grande Valley (RGV) sector border is in the middle of the Rio Grande, a narrow, often shallow, and easily navigable river. Meanwhile, in Arizona, two north-south mountain ranges provide cover for smugglers and illegal crossers. Protected lands and a Native American reservation restrict access to approximately 80 percent of the Arizona border. Both push and pull factors drive illegal immigration, and an unsecure border not only contributes to our broken immigration system but also threatens Americans' national security and public safety. Any border security legislation must recognize that this is a multifaceted problem. And this problem is exacerbated by our lack of information. We don't know for sure how many people today are 'living in the shadows.' And, most important, there is no solid way to track illegal flow at our borders." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Chris Cabrera, Mark J. Daniels, Howard G. Buffett, Othal Brand, and Monica Weisberg-Stewart.

United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

2015-03-17
Efforts by DHS to Estimate Southwest Border Security Between Ports of Entry

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"Securing the southwest land border against illegal immigration, smuggling of drugs and other contraband, and terrorist activities is a key part of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) mission, and a top priority for the White House, Congress, and the American public. On January 25, 2017, President Trump signed an Executive Order on 'Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements,' reflecting these concerns. In light of the effort and resources the Department has devoted to border security in recent decades, as well as the sustained public attention to the southwest border, Congress has directed the Department to provide more detailed reporting on southwest border security. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 directs the Department to publish 'metrics developed to measure the effectiveness of security between the ports of entry, including the methodology and data supporting the resulting measures.' While DHS employs a number of concrete metrics to track border security operations, it is difficult to precisely quantify illegal flows because illegal border crossers actively seek to evade detection, and some flows are undetected. As a result, any effort to quantify illegal flows or calculate an overall enforcement success rate must rely on one or more estimation techniques. Measurement is also difficult because of the diversity and complexity of the enforcement mission along the United States' 2,000-mile land border with Mexico."

United States. Office of Immigration Statistics; United States. Department of Homeland Security

2017-09
DHS Announces Task Forces to Combat Cross-Border Crime at the Southwest Border [January 6, 2006]

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In this press release, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff announces today the creation of new Border Enforcement and Security Task Forces, as part of the Department's Secure Border Initiative aimed at increasing control over our borders. These task forces will be nationally-integrated teams with federal, state, and local representation specifically directed at cross-border criminal activity.

United States. Department of Homeland Security. Press Office

2006-01-06
Southwest Border Security: Actions Are Needed to Address the Cost and Readiness Implications of Continued DOD Support to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Report to Congressional Requesters

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From the Highlights: "For decades, the U.S. southwest border has been vulnerable to cross-border illegal activity such as illegal entries, smuggling of drugs and contraband, and terrorist activities. Since 2002, DOD has supported DHS's mission to secure the nation's borders and episodically supported its efforts to manage surges in foreign nationals without valid travel documents who are seeking entry-- most recently since April 2018, when the President directed the Secretary of Defense to support DHS in securing the southwest border."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2021-02
Border Security: Improvements in the Department of State's Development Process Could Increase the Security of Passport Cards and Border Crossing Cards, Report to Congressional Requesters

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"In July 2008, the Department of State (State) began issuing passport cards as a lower-cost alternative to passports for U.S. citizens to meet Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requirements. In October 2008, State began issuing the second generation border crossing card (BCC) based on the architecture of the passport card. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to examine the effectiveness of the physical and electronic security features of the passport card and second generation BCC. This report addresses: (1) How effectively State's development process--including testing and evaluation--for the passport card and second generation BCC mitigates the risk of fraudulent use? (2) How are U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers using the cards' security features to prevent fraudulent use at land ports of entry? To conduct this work, GAO evaluated the security features of passport cards and second generation BCCs against international standards and guidance and results from testing and evaluation and observed the inspection of these cards at five land ports of entry (POE)."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2010-06
Securing the Borders and America's Points of Entry: What Remains to be Done? Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session, May 20, 2009

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From the opening statement of Charles E. Schumer: "The mandate of the American people cannot be any clearer. They will support better immigration laws if they can be convinced that their Government is serious about drastically reducing the number of illegal immigrants entering the United States. Accordingly, the purpose of today's hearing is to determine how to further secure our borders and ports of entry so that we will not be back 10 or 20 years from now discussing the same issues we are discussing today if we pass immigration reform later this year. But before we begin answering this question, we need to set the record straight. The American people need to know that because of our efforts in Congress, our border is more secure today, considerably more secure, than it was when we began debating immigration reform in 2005." Statements, letters, and documents presented for the record include those of the following: John Cornyn, Charles E. Schumer, Jeff Sessions, David V. Aguilar, Chad Foster, J.D. Hayworth, Douglas Massey, John P. Torres, Samuel F. Vale, Richard Wiles, and Thomas Winkowski.

United States. Government Printing Office

2010
Review of the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session, May 9, 2019

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This is the May 9, 2019 hearing titled "Review of the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services," held before the House Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Kathleen M. Rice: "Immigration detention is supposed to be civil detention. However, I have seen ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] detention facilities, and I can assure you, there is nothing civil about them. ICE's detention facilities look and feel like prisons. I saw them with my own eyes last month when I led a delegation from this committee down to El Paso. These facilities are chronically cited for conditions that are hazardous to the health and safety of its detainees, including lack of medical care, overuse of solitary confinement, spoiled and rotten food, and unreported health and security incidents. That is to say nothing of the repeated reports of abuse toward LGBTQ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning] individuals, pregnant women, and other vulnerable populations. To make matters worse, ICE has consistently failed to hold detention facilities accountable to performance standards. How in good conscience can we increase their capacity for detention when they have proven incapable of properly overseeing their existing facilities?" Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Robert E. Perez, Matthew T. Albence, and Tracy Renaud.

United States. Government Publishing Office

2019
S. Hrg. 107-341: Northern Border Security: Hearings before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventh Congress, First Session, Special Hearing, October 3, 2001, December 5, 2001, Washington, DC

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S. Hrg. 107-341: From the opening statement of "This hearing is to discuss the issue of border security, and especially about northern border security. It is our countries intention to hold a series of hearings on border security. While there are questions and interesting things to talk about a wide range of security issues dealing with our borders, I want to especially this morning at today's hearing talk about northern border security. All of us know that the tragic events of September 11 have persuaded this country that we must do much, much more to make sure that we protect the security of our country. A country cannot and will not be secure unless it has secure borders. We are a free country with substantial traffic, and freight, and people coming across our border, and we do not want to change that. By the same token, we want to make sure that we keep out of this country those who are not supposed to come in, and especially that we are vigilant in trying to determine and detect those who are suspected terrorists who we want to prevent from coming into our country. Both of the agencies that will testify here today stand on the front lines of protecting our borders. In the State of North Dakota, and other States that border Canada on the northern side, we have remote border crossings. Every day we have a few people, in most cases one or two people, standing guard, vigilant in trying to make sure that those borders are secure." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Robert C. Bonner, Byron L. Dorgan, Mike DeWine, Patrick J. Leahy, Conrad Burns, James W. Ziglar, Patty Murray, Colleen Kelley, Carl Levin, Barbara A. Mikulski, Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Charles Schumer, Debbie Stabenow, John Hoeven, Howard Dean, Dick Posthumus, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Timothy J. Lowenberg, Michael Haugen, Judd Gregg, Judy Martz, Gary Locke, and George E. Pataki.

United States. Government Printing Office

2002
Providing for the Common Defense: Securing the Southwest Border

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The Southwest border of the United States provides multiple threats to public safety. The region is influenced by long-standing and unresolved, economic, political and social concerns, that are aggravated by pervasive institutional corruption on both sides of the border. The 9/11 attacks, the presence of multiple terrorists organizations in the Western Hemisphere and the availability of Weapons of Mass Destruction, require us to address Southwest border security shortfalls. Securing the Southwest border is an attainable objective. Border control strategies employed during the last decade achieved some success. Consolidating government border agencies, adding additional personnel, building additional border infrastructure, and employing emerging technologies are the long-term steps needed to secure the Southwest border. In the near-term, military support can bridge the gap until resources and programs fully implemented. Properly resourced, these measures can protect the Homeland from terrorists, narco-terrorists and other threats currently endemic along the Southwest border. The current border security strategy outlined in The National Strategy for Homeland Security does not provide sufficient resources to address the threat from our open borders. While securing our borders entails a significant expenditure of resources, in the long run, this is the most cost- effective and prudent expenditure we can make.

Army War College (U.S.)

Diminyatz, Kerry L.

2003-04-07
Boots on the Ground or Eyes in the Sky: How Best to Utilize the National Guard to Achieve Operational Control, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, April 17, 2012

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This is the April 17, 2012 hearing on "Boots on the Ground or Eyes in the Sky: How Best to Utilize the National Guard to Achieve Operational Control," held before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security. From the opening statement of Candice S. Miller: "For almost 25 years, the Department of Defense has been a key partner in supporting the Border Patrol's efforts to secure the Nation's southwest and maritime borders, and has worked tirelessly to prevent illicit drugs and illegal immigrants from crossing our borders, so I would like to first thank the men and women from the Department of Defense, as well as within the Department of Homeland Security who have contributed to the security of our homeland. The reality is that our physical border, the actual line in the sand, should not be the first line of defense--it should be part of a layered approach to border security that begins overseas. We should use every tool of National power to detect, deter, and prevent drug and human smugglers, as well as others who would do us harm, from ever getting to the border. The Department of Defense has, and I suspect, will continue to play an important role to help us secure the border into the future." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Candice S. Miller, Henry Cuellar, Paul N. Stockton, Ronald D. Vitiello, Martin E. Vaughan, John Nichols, Brian J. Lepore, and Sheila Jackson Lee.

United States. Government Printing Office

2013
Fiscal Year 2015 Six Month Border Security Update Statement by Secretary Johnson [April 24, 2015]

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On April 24, 2015, the Department of Homeland Security issued the following press release: "Today I report on the status of our border security efforts mid-way through Fiscal Year 2015. This status update is part of our continuing effort to provide regular updates on our border security efforts. Border security is a core mission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Department has deployed historic levels of front-line personnel, technology, and infrastructure to the border to reduce the flow of illegal immigrants and illicit contraband while, at the same time, fostering legal trade and travel. To more effectively secure our borders and enhance public safety, in November 2014, at the direction of the President, I announced a number of administrative actions. As part of these actions, DHS established new Department-wide enforcement priorities focused on securing our southern border as well as the apprehension, detention, and removal of recent border crossers, convicted criminals, and threats to national security. DHS has continued to make significant progress in securing the southwest border through the dedication of unprecedented resources, implementation of our new U.S. Southern Border and Approaches Campaign, pursuit of threat-driven border security and enforcement operations, and as a result of increased cooperation with foreign governments."

United States. Department of Homeland Security. Press Office

2015-04-24
Department of Homeland Security: Addressing Management Challenges That Face Immigration Enforcement Agencies, Statement of Richard M. Stana, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, Testimony before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims, Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) assumed responsibility for the immigration programs of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in 2003. The three DHS bureaus with primary responsibility for immigration functions are U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS). This testimony focuses on CBP and ICE, which took over the immigration enforcement function. CBP is responsible for functions related to inspections and border patrol, and ICE is responsible for functions related to investigations, intelligence, detention, and removal. The Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims, House Committee on the Judiciary, held a hearing to discuss management challenges and potential structural changes. Some research organizations have suggested structural changes to address management challenges, including a merger of CBP and ICE. This testimony addresses the following questions: (1) Have ICE and CBP encountered similar management challenges to those encountered at INS? (2) What factors might be considered in addressing some of the management challenges that exist at ICE and CBP?

United States. Government Accountability Office

2005-05-05
Border Security: Immigration Issues in the 108th Congress [February 4, 2003]

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"Enhancing border security has emerged as a significant policy issue after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Prior to the terrorist attacks, the priorities for border security policy were beginning to shift from immigration-related issues to facilitating legitimate cross-border commerce. Although the 107th Congress enacted several pieces of legislation that dealt with enhancing immigration-related border security, legislation to strengthen the nation's borders had been enacted as early as the 104th Congress. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA; P.L. 104-208) contained several immigration-related border security provisions that addressed illegal immigration and the smuggling of humans into the United States through the southwest border. IIRIRA also contained a provision that required the electronic tracking of every alien arriving in and departing from the United States. The deadline for implementing the electronic tracking system, commonly referred to as the entry and exit data system, was moved back in subsequent legislation. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, however, prompted Congress to speed up implementation of the entry and exit data system as well as enact new provisions aimed at enhancing border security. This report provides background information on the main immigration-related border security issues that have been raised as a result of the terrorist attacks. It describes enacted legislation in the 107th Congress as well as in previous Congresses that focus on immigration-related border security issues. The report also poses possible immigration-related border security issues the 108th Congress may consider. This report will be updated to reflect any additional related legislation in the 108th Congress, as well as implementation issues."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Seghetti, Lisa M.

2003-02-04
CBP Border Security Report: Fiscal Year 2016

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"As the agency charged with safeguarding America's borders, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plays a vital role in protecting the national security of the United States. This report summarizes CBP's Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 border enforcement efforts, which reflect CBP's focus on transparency and building partnerships to secure a 21st Century border against a variety of threats and adversaries."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection; United States. Department of Homeland Security

2016-12-30
CBP Border Security Report: Fiscal Year 2017

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"As the guardian of our nation's borders and the gateway to our global economy, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a mission-focused agency committed to ensuring our safety, security and prosperity. This report summarizes CBP's fiscal year 2017 border enforcement efforts, which reflect CBP's focus on counterterrorism, countering transnational organized crime, and border security."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection; United States. Department of Homeland Security

2017-12-05
Combating Border Violence: The Role of Interagency Coordination in Investigations, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session, July 16, 2009

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From the opening statement of Loretta Sanchez: "Today's hearing is crucial to securing our borders and further reducing the violence in Mexico that has resulted in over 6,200 drug-related deaths just in this past year. The weapons used in the drug violence in Mexico largely come from the United States, as does the demand for drugs that pays for those weapons. This hearing is, I think, a timely opportunity to discuss the growing security problem and the violence happening at the border. [...] Information sharing between the three agencies which are responsible for all the investigations of drug and weapons violations at the border is really central to our southwest border strategy. And in fact, that is why we are having this hearing, to make sure that you all are cooperating, talking to each other, enhancing what we really consider is a critical process. In the recent reports from the GAO [Government Accountability Office] office, before the MOUs [Memoranda of Understanding] were announced, of course, they had concerns about the types of communication and coordination, or lack of, that were happening between you all. [...] We want to know who the good guys are and who the bad guys are, and want you all working together, because, quite frankly, we have limited resources--very scarce resources with respect to trying to do some of this. And these are very important issues." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Loretta Sanchez, Mike Rogers, Bennie G. Thompson, Al Green, Ann Kirkpatrick, Sheila Jackson Lee, Zoe Lofgren, Michael T. McCaul, Kumar Kibble, Bill McMahon, Anthony Placido, and Mark Souder.

United States. Government Printing Office

2010
Southwest Border Security: Actions Needed to Enhance CBP's Maintenance of Roads Used for Its Operations, Report to Congressional Requesters

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From the Highlights: "To secure the southwest border between ports of entry, Border Patrol uses approximately 5,200 miles of roads, most of which are owned by other entities, both private and public. CBP [Customs and Border Protection] estimates spending $12.5 million in fiscal year 2016 to maintain and repair roads Border Patrol uses for its operations, including roads CBP does not own. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review Border Patrol's use and maintenance of roads for its border security operations. This report examines the extent to which (1) CBP has processes and authorities to access and maintain roads for its security operations and (2) CBP's operations are affected by its use of public roads it cannot maintain, and options CBP could consider to address any needed maintenance. GAO selected three southwest border sectors to visit based on the sectors' total mileage of non-owned roads and number of apprehensions of illegal border crossers. GAO interviewed officials from Border Patrol, and from selected federal, state, local, tribal, and private and community organizations. The information collected from these entities is not generalizable, but provides valuable insights."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2017-10
Supply Chain Security: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Has Enhanced Its Partnership with Import Trade Sectors, but Challenges Remain in Verifying Security Practices, Report to Congressional Requesters

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"U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for ensuring the security of cargo containers shipped into the United States. To strike a balance between security and commerce, CBP oversees the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, or C-TPAT program. As part of this program, CBP aims to secure the supply chain--the flow of goods from manufacturers to retailers--through partnerships with international trade companies. Member companies agree to allow CBP to validate their security practices and, in exchange, they are awarded benefits, such as reduced scrutiny of their cargo. In 2005, GAO [Government Accountability Office] reviewed the C-TPAT program and noted operational challenges. For this report, GAO was asked to assess the progress CBP has made since 2005 in (1) improving its benefit award policies for C-TPAT members, (2) addressing challenges in validating members' security practices, and (3) addressing management and staffing challenges. To perform this work, GAO analyzed a nonprobability sample of completed validations; reviewed annual, human capital, and strategic plans; and held discussions with CBP officials. GAO is recommending that CBP improve its electronic validation instrument, improve the validation process, enhance its records management system, and establish performance measures for improving supply chain security. CBP concurred with each of the recommendations."

United States. Government Accountability Office

2008-04-25
Beyond Borders: Are the Department of Homeland Security's International Agreements Ensuring Actionable Intelligence to Combat Threats to the U.S. Homeland? Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, July 30, 2012

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This is the July 30, 2012 hearing, "Beyond Borders: Are the Department of Homeland Security's International Agreements Ensuring Actionable Intelligence to Combat Threats to the U.S. Homeland?" before the United States House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence. From the opening statement of Patrick Meehan: "Maintaining the security of the borders of the United States is a fundamental responsibility of the Federal Government. Various components of the Department of Homeland Security--Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the United States Coast Guard, among others--work tirelessly with numerous State, local, and Tribal authorities in an effort to secure our borders and to keep American safe. However, a February 2011 report prepared by the Government Accountability Office stated that only 32 of the 4,000-mile-long border between Canada and the United States has an acceptable level of security. The report also indicated the high risk of terrorism along the Northern Border as significant and highlighted the Border Patrol's lack of operational controls and existing vulnerabilities along the United States-Canada border." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Patrick Meehan, Brian Higgins, Kathleen C. Hochul, Deborah Meyers, Daniel J. Neaverth, Jr., and James Voutour.

United States. Government Printing Office

2013
H. Rept. 115-877: Resolution Directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to Transmit Certain Documents to the House of Representatives Relating to the Border Security Policies, Procedures, and Activities as Such Relate to the Interdiction of Families by the U.S. Border Patrol Between Ports of Entry, Adverse Report Together with Dissenting Views to Accompany H. Res. 1005, July 26, 2018

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From the Purpose and Summary: "On July 19, 2018, Representative Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi introduced H. Res. 1005, a non-binding resolution of inquiry directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to transmit certain documents to the House of Representatives relating to the border security policies, procedures, and activities as such relate to the interdiction of families by the U.S. Border Patrol between ports of entry."

United States. Government Publishing Office

2018-07-26
Open Borders: The Impact of Presidential Amnesty on Border Security, Hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, December 2, 2014

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This testimony compilation is from the December 2, 2014 hearing, "Open Borders: the Impact of Presidential Amnesty on Border Security," held before the House Committee on Homeland Security. From the Opening Statement of Michael McCaul: "Today, we're here to talk about illegal immigration and the grave consequences of the administration's recent actions to bypass Congress. Immigration reform is an emotional and divisive issue; there is no doubt about that. But the president's unilateral actions to bypass Congress undermine the constitution and threaten our democracy. Let me be clear: our immigration system is broken, and we need to fix it. America has always stood proudly as a beacon of hope for millions who are seeking a better life. And we should work hard to keep it that way. But regardless of where you stand on this issue, there is a right way to do this, and there is a wrong way. And unfortunately the president has taken the wrong way. In addition, the president has risked breaking something much more fundamental: our democratic process. We are a nation of laws. Yet this unprecedented executive power grab undermines the principle that the people--not just one man--should be the ultimate decision makers on our country's most important political matters. This action has also 'poisoned the well' here in Washington at a time when Americans desperately want their government to work together." Statements, letters and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Michael McCaul and Jeh Johnson.

United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security

2014-12-02
Securing America's Borders Fact Sheet: Border Security [January 25, 2002]

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This fact sheet outlines the President's 2003 budget for border security. Budget figures for 2003 border security initiatives, U.S. Customs Service inspections, INS enforcement, and the U.S. Coast Guard are provided.

United States. Department of Homeland Security

2002-01-25
Readout of Secretary Napolitano's Remarks on Border Security and Facilitating Legal Travel and Trade [April 1, 2011]

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"Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today delivered remarks highlighting the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) unprecedented efforts to strengthen security while facilitating legal travel and trade along the Southwest border. 'Security and economic prosperity represent two sides of the same coin,' said Secretary Napolitano. 'We are committed to further strengthening our border security efforts, which will reinforce and help expand legal trade and travel in the border region.' During her remarks, Secretary Napolitano underscored the Department's historic efforts to strengthen border security through the Southwest Border Initiative, launched in March 2009-- which includes increasing the number of Border Patrol agents from approximately 10,000 in 2004 to more than 20,700 today; doubling the number of personnel assigned to Border Enforcement Security Task Forces; and deploying more than a quarter of all U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel to the Southwest border region--the most ever. Secretary Napolitano also highlighted the unprecedented collaboration between the United States and Mexico to bolster cooperation on law enforcement, intelligence sharing and joint operations along the Southwest border. The Department has increased joint training programs with Mexican law enforcement agencies and, for the first time in history, Border Patrol agents are coordinating joint operations along the Southwest border with Mexican Federal Police to combat human trafficking and smuggling in both nations."

United States. Department of Homeland Security. Press Office

2011-04-01
Border Security: Immigration Issues in the 108th Congress [Updated May 22, 2003]

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"Enhancing border security has emerged as a significant policy issue after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Prior to the terrorist attacks, the priorities for border security policy were beginning to shift from immigration-related issues to issues related to facilitating legitimate cross-border commerce. Several bills have been introduced in the 108th Congress (S. 539/H.R. 1096 and S. 6) that would authorize funding for increased personnel and technological improvements. S. 539/H.R. 1096 would require ongoing training for immigration personnel on how to use the new technology, an update of a port infrastructure assessment study, and demonstration projects on new technology at ports of entry, among other things. Another piece of legislation (H.R. 853) would establish a northern border coordinator within the Directorate of Border and Transportation Security in the Department of Homeland Security, among other things. The northern border coordinator would serve as a liaison to the Canadian government on border security-related issues. Although the 107th Congress enacted several pieces of legislation that dealt with enhancing immigration-related border security, legislation to strengthen the nations borders had been enacted as early as the 104th Congress. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA; P.L. 104-208) contained several immigration-related border security provisions that addressed illegal immigration and the smuggling of humans into the United States through the southwest border. IIRIRA also contained a provision that required the electronic tracking of every alien arriving in and departing from the United States."

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Seghetti, Lisa M.

2003-05-22
U.S.-Canadian Border Security: Lessons Learned from Denmark's Experience with the Schengen Convention

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From the thesis abstract: "This thesis examines U.S.-Canadian border threats and defenses and compares the U.S.-Canadian situation with the European Schengen Convention (SC). The Department of Homeland Security coordinates U.S. security with representatives from law enforcement, military and civilian entities. Public Safety Canada coordinates defense in Canada. Prior to the 9/11 attack, the U.S.-Canadian relationship was similar to the SC, focusing on securing external borders while opening shared borders. Some experts, especially in the U.S., argue that border security needs to be tightened further while others contend increased U.S.-Canadian border security is unnecessary and harms commerce. In 2011, Denmark decided to increase internal border security, rejecting the SC tenets requiring common security of external border of the larger Schengen area and open internal zones. The increase represented a case study of unilateral border relations. Although never completed, the lessons of this brief experiment in increased border security are that homeland security decisions are based more on arguments of sovereignty and politics, rather than on objective determinations of threats and security. More broadly, this thesis argues that the U.S. and Canada can benefit from returning to an open border and push the threat as far away as possible."

Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)

Kreutzer, Richard C. L.

2014-03
Border Security: Despite Progress, Weaknesses in Traveler Inspections Exist at Our Nation's Ports of Entry, Statement of Richard M. Stana, Director Homeland Security and Justice Issues, Testimony before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives

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"U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for keeping terrorists and other dangerous people from entering the country while also facilitating the cross-border movement of millions of travelers. CBP carries out this responsibility at 326 air, sea, and land ports of entry. In response to a congressional request, GAO examined CBP traveler inspection efforts, the progress made, and the challenges that remain in staffing and training at ports of entry, and the progress CBP has made in developing strategic plans and performance measures for its traveler inspection program. To conduct its work, GAO reviewed and analyzed CBP data and documents related to inspections, staffing, and training, interviewed managers and officers, observed inspections at eight major air and land ports of entry, and tested inspection controls at eight small land ports of entry. GAO's testimony is based on a report GAO issued November 5, 2007. GAO made recommendations aimed at enhancing internal controls in the inspection process, mechanisms for measuring training provided and new officer proficiency, and a performance measure for apprehending inadmissible aliens and other violators. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) concurred with GAO's recommendations. DHS said that CBP is taking steps to address the recommendations."

United States. Government Accountability Office

Stana, Richard M.

2008-01-03

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