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• U.S. Border Security: An Integrated Approach

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  From the thesis abstract: "This paper examines growing U.S. security concerns along the U.S. -- Mexican border due to the crime and violence brought on by the drug trade. Analysis of the drug trade and its impacts on security indicate that the Merida/Beyond Merida Initiative by itself is not increasing security along the southern border. This paper identifies an integrated approach along three lines of effort (LOE) as a more effective means of increasing security on the border. LOE 1 examines Mexican institutions; LOE 2 examines the flow of weapons and money to drug trafficking organizations; while LOE 3 examines U.S. drug demand. The paper goes on to explains how each LOE contributes to the integrated approach and provides recommendations along each LOE to increase its effectiveness and improve border security."

  Naval War College (U.S.). Joint Military Operations Department

  Gaertner, Barry A.

  2011-10-28
• Decision: Office of Management and Budget and U.S. Department of Homeland Security--Pause of Border Barrier Construction and Obligations

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  From the Digest: "Congress has appropriated funds to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) specifically for constructing fencing or barrier system at the southern border of the United States, commonly referred to as the border wall. On January 20, 2021, the President issued a Proclamation directing a pause in the construction of the border wall and a pause in obligation of funds for the wall. DHS has almost fully obligated funds appropriated in previous fiscal years for border fence or barrier construction projects, and suspended work on some projects. DHS has not yet obligated funds appropriated in fiscal year 2021. We conclude that delays in the obligation and expenditure of DHS's appropriations are programmatic delays, not impoundments. DHS and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have shown that the use of funds is delayed in order to perform environmental reviews and consult with various stakeholders, as required by law, and determine project funding needs in light of changes that warrant using funds differently than initially planned. As explained below, because the delay here is precipitated by legal requirements, the delay is distinguishable from the withholding of Ukraine security assistance funds."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2021-06-15
• Preserving the Integrity of Social Security Numbers and Preventing Their Misuse by Terrorists and Identity Thieves: Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Social Security of the Committee on Ways and Means and the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims of the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives One Hundred Seventh Congress First Session, September 19, 2002

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  On September 19, 2002, the House of Representatives holds a Joint Hearing before the Subcommittee on Social Security of the Committee on Ways and Means and the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims of the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives on the subject of "Preserving the Integrity of Social Security Numbers and Preventing Their Misuse by Terrorists and Identity Thieves". The witnesses are James Lockhart III of the Social Security Administration, Charisse Phillips of the US State Department, Robert Bond of the US Secret Service, Grant Ashley of the FBI, James Huse of the Social Security Administration, Matthew Hames Reindle of Stylecraft Interiors Inc., and Chris Jay Hoofnagle of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. "The Subcommittees will examine: the role SSN fraud plays in crime and terrorist activities and methods by which criminal fraud is accomplished utilizing stolen SSNs; the integrity of the SSA's enumeration and wage crediting process; Federal agency coordination and cooperation, including data sharing, to verify identification documents, and to detect and prevent fraud; and recommended legislative proposals aimed at combating SSN misuse and protecting privacy."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2002-09-19
• Secure Border Initiative: SBInet Expenditure Plan Needs to Better Support Oversight and Accountability

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  "In November 2005, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established the Secure Border Initiative (SBI) program to secure U.S. borders and reduce illegal immigration. One element of SBI is SBInet, the program responsible for developing a comprehensive border protection system. By legislative mandate, DHS developed a fiscal year 2007 expenditure plan for SBInet to address nine legislative conditions, including a review by GAO [Government Accountability Office]. DHS submitted the plan to the Appropriations Committees on December 4, 2006. To address the mandate, GAO assessed the plan against federal guidelines and industry standards and interviewed appropriate DHS officials. GAO recommends that DHS (1) ensure that future expenditure plans include explicit and measurable commitments relative to the capabilities, schedule, costs, and benefits associated with individual SBInet program activities; (2) modify the SBInet contract to include a maximum quantity or dollar value; and (3) reexamine the level of concurrency and appropriately adjust the acquisition strategy. DHS concurred with the first and third recommendations, but not the second. DHS stated that the contract already contains a maximum quantity. GAO disagrees and believes DHS needs to modify the contract to ensure compliance with regulations."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2007-02
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 1864, Department of Homeland Security Border Security Metrics Act of 2015

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  This is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Cost Estimate as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on July 29, 2015. From the Document: "S. 1864 would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), within 120 days of the bill's enactment, to develop and use various metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of security measures at the United States border and to evaluate the operations of the Office of Air and Marine in DHS. The bill would direct the department to submit annual reports to the Congress on the new measurement methods and would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to submit biannual reports to the Congress on the suitability and validity of the metrics used by DHS. In recent years, DHS has made considerable planning and operational efforts to secure U.S. borders, including the use of selected metrics to gauge the success of those efforts. Based on information from DHS, CBO estimates that it would cost less than $500,000 annually for the department to meet the bill's reporting requirements and deadlines. Based on the cost of similar activities, we estimate that it would cost GAO less than $500,000 every other year (beginning in 2017) to prepare reports as required by the bill. Thus, CBO estimates that implementing S. 1864 would cost a total of about $2 million over the 2016-2020 period; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2015-08-24
• Border Security: Joint, Coordinated Actions by State and DHS Needed to Guide Biometric Visas and Related Programs, Joint Statement of Jacquelyn L. Williams-Bridgers, Managing Director, International Affairs and Trade, and Randolph Hite, Director of Information Technology Architecture and Systems Issues, Testimony Before the Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives

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  "Since September 11, 2001, the U.S. government has made a concerted effort to strengthen border security by enhancing visa issuance policies and procedures, as well as expanding screening of the millions of foreign visitors who enter the United States annually. Consistent with the 9/11 Commission report that recommends a biometric entry-exit screening system for travelers, the Department of State's biometric program complements the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) program--a government wide program to better control and monitor the entry, visa status, and exit of visitors. GAO was asked to present the findings of its report on State's Biometric Visa Program, as well as discuss other aspects of visa processing and border security that require coordinated, joint actions by State and DHS. [...] GAO has recommended that DHS and State develop and provide guidance to consular posts on how to use information from the biometric program to adjudicate visas. In other reports, GAO has made recommendations to DHS and State to improve US-VISIT, as well as several aspects of the nonimmigrant visa process. The agencies generally agreed and are taking actions to implement our recommendations."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2004-09-09
• Remarks by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Attorney General Mukasey at a Briefing on Immigration Enforcement and Border Security Efforts [February 22, 2008]

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  In their remarks, Secretary Chertoff and Attorney General Mukasey discuss border security and immigration enforcement reforms, metrics technology, border fencing, P28 technology deployment, border apprehensions, operation streamline, ICE arrests, E-Verify system, and future enforcement plans. A question and answer session with the media is also included.

  United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2008-02-22
• Department of Homeland Security Directive System 252-08: Maximum Age for Appointment to the Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection Officer Positions

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  "The purpose of this Directive is to establish policy concerning the maximum age at which an original appointment or a reappointment to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection Officer positions may occur. [...] This Directive applies to appointment to Customs and Border Protection Officer positions within the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP)."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2008-05-17
• DHS Announces $12 Million for Operation Stonegarden to Support Local Border Security Efforts [December 15, 2006]

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  This press release announces $12 million in grant awards to the four Southwest border states in support of ongoing local law enforcement efforts at the border. The funding, as part of Operation Stonegarden, assists local authorities with operational costs and equipment purchases that contribute to border security.

  United States. Department of Homeland Security. Press Office

  2006-12-15
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Progress and Challenges in Recruiting, Hiring, and Retaining Law Enforcement Personnel, Statement of Rebecca Gambler, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives

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  From the Document, "CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] is responsible for securing U.S. borders and employs nearly 45,000 law enforcement officers across its three operational components at and between U.S. ports of entry, in the air and maritime environment, and at certain overseas locations. In recent years, CBP has not attained target staffing levels for its law enforcement positions, citing high attrition rates in some locations, a protracted hiring process, and competition from other law enforcement agencies. This statement addresses CBP's efforts to (1) recruit and more efficiently hire law enforcement applicants, and (2) retain law enforcement officers."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  Gambler, Rebecca

  2019-03-07
• New Wild West: Military Support in Border Security Operations

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  From the thesis abstract: "Since 2006, more than 30,000 Mexican citizens have died in drug-related violence. With the threat of this violence escalating and spilling across the border into the United States, it is necessary to employ the full range of assets and options available for the U.S. government to defeat or neutralize a growing national security threat to the safety and sovereignty of the United States. The Department of Defense possesses equipment and personnel with critical skills necessary to augment civil authorities' efforts to secure the U.S. border with Mexico. In this thesis, the researcher seeks to answer the questions of what role the Department of Defense should play in securing America's borders and which assets are best suited to Defense Support to Civil Authorities in border security operations."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College

  Power, Paul A.

  2012-06-08
• CRS Issue Statement on Border Security [January 12, 2010]

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  From the Document: "The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, launched an intense and extended examination of the nation's policies designed to defend against non-state threats to the homeland. Border security is a component of the nation's homeland security strategy. This strategy involves a series of activities that apply a layered approach to securing the homeland by deterring, detecting, and preventing terrorist attacks at the earliest possible stages; protecting or 'hardening' critical infrastructure against attacks; and preparing for and responding to attacks. Border security activities include not only those activities that take place at U.S. ports of entry, but also encompass extra-border activities, such as targeting and pre-inspection of U.S.-bound people and cargo in ports around the world; cross-border efforts between ports of entry; and intra-U.S. enforcement activities."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lake, Jennifer E.

  2010-01-12
• Future of the Homeland Security Missions of the Coast Guard, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, February 4, 2014

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  This is from the February 4, 2014 hearing on the "Future of the Homeland Security Missions of the Coast Guard" held before the House Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security. From the statement of Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr.: "For more than two centuries, the U.S. Coast Guard has safeguarded the Nation's maritime interests on our rivers and ports, in coastal regions, on the high seas, and around the world. The Coast Guard is at all times an armed service, a federal law enforcement agency, a humanitarian service, and a member of the Intelligence Community charged with significant safety, security, and stewardship responsibilities in the maritime domain. Every day the Coast Guard conducts search and rescue, escorts vessels carrying dangerous cargoes, interdicts drug and migrant smugglers, patrols our ports and waterways, enforces fisheries laws, responds to oil and hazardous material spills, maintains aid to navigation, screens commercial ships and crews entering U.S. ports, inspects U.S. flagged vessels, examines cargo containers, investigates marine accidents, trains international partners, and supports Overseas Contingency Operations. This diverse mission set and authorities are vital to the safety and security of our Nation's maritime transportation system and essential to our Nation's economic growth. With 223 years of experience as the nation's first responder, the Coast Guard provides tremendous value and service to the public." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Candice Miller and Robert J. Papp, Jr.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• Northern Northern Border: Homeland Security Priorities in the Arctic, Part I, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session, September 19, 2019

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  This is the September 19, 2019 hearing titled "Northern Northern Border: Homeland Security Priorities in the Arctic, Part I," held before the House Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of J. Luis Correa: "Today's hearing will discuss a changing Arctic and U.S. strategic interests in that region, specifically, priorities for securing the homeland. A change in climate has already led to diminishing sea ice, opening up parts of the Arctic for increased economic and maritime activity. Sadly, our Government is ill-prepared for this new reality. I am concerned that the aggressive actions of other nations, mainly Russia and China, threaten to undermine the international order. Russia has expended its military installations and footprint in the Arctic, investing heavily in a large icebreaker fleet of more than 50 icebreakers, reviving Cold War bases and deepwater ports and, of course, solidifying infrastructure in the region as well." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Michael Sfraga, Abbie Tingstad, Victoria Hermann, and Luke Coffey.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2020
• Northern Northern Border: Homeland Security Priorities in the Arctic, Part II, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, February 5, 2020

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  This is the February 5, 2020 hearing on "Northern Northern Border: Homeland Security Priorities in the Arctic, Part II," held before the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Maritime Security of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the Opening Statement of J. Luis Correa: "Today, we will discuss the U.S. Homeland Security priorities in the Arctic following a productive hearing with non-Government issues on this witness in September. We have seen the Arctic climate changing with diminishing ice openings and with maritime activity increasing in parts of the world that were essentially unnavigable and untouched in years before. It seems that we are ill-prepared for the changes brought about by a warmer climate in the Arctic. I am very concerned about the number of aggressive actions of other nations in the region, especially China and Russia. We in the United States, we have had a long history of supporting an internal rules-based order in order to foster a spirit of cooperation in the Arctic states. But in recent years, we have seen Russia expand its military installation in the area and expand its activities in the Arctic." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Charles W. Ray, Michael J. Murphy, and Marie A. Mak.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2020
• Viewpoints in Homeland Defense and Security: India's Border Security Challenges [video]

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  From the Video Description: "In this Viewpoints R.K. Arora, Commandant and Secretary for Sardar Patel University of Police Security and Criminal Justice and Diana Wuegar, Faculty Associate for Research at the Center on Contemporary Conflict in the National Security Affairs Department at the Naval Postgraduate School discuss border security challenges. India and the United States grapple with land and sea border security, using technology, personnel, and interagency cooperation to meet the current and emerging threats of our time. Tackling these issues with creative approaches and learning from best practices assists government agencies in making strategic decisions for their country." The duration of the video is 19 minutes and 13 seconds.

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security

  Arora, R.K., Dr.; Wuegar, Diana

  2017-09-14
• Secure Border Initiative Fiscal Year 2008 Expenditure Plan Shows Improvement, but Deficiencies Limit Congressional Oversight and DHS Accountability

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  "The Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act required DHS to submit to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees an expenditure plan for the department's efforts to establish a security barrier along the borders of the United States, including pedestrian and vehicle fencing as well as other forms of tactical infrastructure and technology. This plan was to address 15 legislative conditions and was submitted to Congress on March 31, 2008.4 As required by the act, we reviewed the plan and on April 7 and April 10, 2008, briefed staff of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees, respectively, on our results. This correspondence transmits these results and the full briefing is reprinted in enclosure I. To determine whether the SBI fiscal year 2008 expenditure plan satisfied 15 legislative conditions as required by the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, we analyzed the SBI March 2008 expenditure plan and supporting documentation. We also interviewed cognizant program officials at CBP headquarters in Washington, D.C. We determined that the financial, staffing, and fencing data provided by DHS were sufficiently reliable for purposes of this product. We based our decision on an assessment for each respective area by questioning cognizant DHS officials about the source of the data and policies and procedures to maintain the integrity of these data. We conducted this performance audit from January 2008 to June 2008, in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the work to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our objectives. We believe that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our objectives."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  Cochran, Thad; Price, David E.; Byrd, Robert C.

  2008-06-26
• Visa Security and Passenger Pre-Screening Efforts in the Wake of Flight 253, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Second Session, March 11, 2010

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  From the opening statement of Henry Cuellar: "The Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Terrorism-- Counterterrorism is meeting today to receive testimony on visa security, passenger pre-screening efforts in the wake of Flight 253. Today the subcommittee is meeting to examine the visa security and passenger pre-screening efforts in the wake of the Flight 253 incidence--you know, happened around Christmas day of last year. […] Now that we have an understanding of the failures that left us vulnerable to attack, the subcommittee is examining as to what steps DHS, the State Department and the Federal and international partners are taking to address those vulnerabilities. Along with other Members of this committee I recently had the opportunity to view some of those efforts first-hand. Last week I visited--we visited the Customs Border Protection National Targeting Center and was briefed by immigration and customs enforcement about the Visa Security Program. I am encouraged by much of what has happened since that and, of course, what we have learned. Security in our skies starts with what we do on the ground." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Henry Cuellar, Mark E. Souder, Bennie G. Thompson, Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., Thomas S.Winkowski, and David T. Donahue.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2011
• Privacy Act of 1974; Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Customs and Border Protection (DHS/CBP)- 022 Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) System of Records

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  "In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to establish a new DHS system of records titled, 'Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Customs and Border Protection--DHS/CBP-022 Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) System of Records.' At the same time, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(j) and (k), DHS proposes to claim certain exemptions for this system. At the same time, in accordance with Privacy Act of 1974, DHS proposes to claim certain exemptions for this system. This system of records will allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to collect and maintain records on nonimmigrant aliens who hold a passport that was issued by an identified country approved for inclusion in the EVUS program and have been issued a U.S. nonimmigrant visa of a designated category seeking to travel to the United States. The system of records will also cover records of other persons, including U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, whose name is provided to DHS as part of a nonimmigrant alien's EVUS enrollment. Requiring aliens holding passports of identified countries containing U.S. nonimmigrant visas of a designated category with multiple year validity will allow DHS/CBP to collect updated information. The system is used to ensure a visa holder's information remains current. The information is also used to separately determine whether any admissibility issues may need to be addressed outside the EVUS enrollment process by vetting the information against selected security and law enforcement databases at DHS, including the use of CBP's TECS (not an acronym) (DHS/CBP-011 U.S. Customs and Border Protection TECS, December 19, 2008, 73 FR 77778) and the Automated Targeting System (ATS) (DHS/CBP-006 Automated Targeting System, May 22, 2012, 77 FR 30297)."

  United States. Office of the Federal Register

  2016-09-01
• Secretary Napolitano Announces Secure Communities Deployment to All Southwest Border Counties, Facilitating Identification and Removal of Convicted Criminal Aliens [August 10, 2010]

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  "As part of the Obama administration's ongoing commitment to smart, effective border security, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced that the Secure Communities program has been deployed to all 25 U.S. counties along our Southwest border. Secure Communities allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to use biometric information to identify criminal aliens in state prisons and local jails--part of the Department's focus on identifying and removing convicted criminal aliens who pose a public safety threat to American communities. 'Over the past year and a half, this administration has pursued a new border security strategy through unprecedented investments in personnel, technology and infrastructure and historic partnerships with Mexico and state and local law enforcement,' said Secretary Napolitano. 'Secure Communities gives ICE the ability to work with our state and local law enforcement partners to identify criminal aliens who are already in their custody, expediting their removal and keeping our communities safer.' The Secure Communities technology, made possible through collaboration between DHS, the Department of Justice, and state and local law enforcement agencies, enables digital fingerprints collected during the booking process to be checked against FBI criminal history records and DHS immigration records. By identifying any immigration record matches in our jails and prisons, ICE can quickly and responsibly begin removal proceedings--ultimately expediting the removal of criminal aliens from the United States without any additional cost or changes to their booking process."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security. Press Office

  2010-08-10
• Border Security Analysis Between Ports of Entry

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  "We discuss the application of systems analysis tools and techniques to the development of counters to WMD smuggling across borders between legal ports of entry. This specific problem space is a mixture of threats, terrain, defensive technologies, and both smuggler and border enforcement tactics -- all of which are subject to analysis. Various analytic techniques have been combined into a set applicable to border enforcement operations. This analysis leads to selection of specific Border Security solution sets which are then tested in a virtual test bed. We show an example illustrating employment of these techniques on a segment of the Iraq-Iran border."

  Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  Hibbard, Wilthea J.; Greenwalt, Robert; Henderer, Bruce D.
• DHS Border Barrier Funding [Updated September 6, 2019]

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  From the Introduction: "Congress and the Donald J. Trump Administration are debating enhancing and expanding barriers on the southwest border. The extent of these barriers, and how construction of these barriers will be funded has become a central part of the interactions between Congress and the Trump Administration on border security and funding legislation for the broader federal government. An authoritative compilation of data on the details of federal investment in border barriers is missing from the debate. [...] This report briefly contextualizes the history of U.S. enforcement of the U.S.-Mexico border, before turning to funding for border barriers within the contemporary period, accounting for changing appropriations structures."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Painter, William L.; Singer, Audrey

  2019-09-06
• Serial No. 108-19: Impact of the Drug Trade on Border Security and National Parks, Hearing before the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources of the Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eighth Congress, First Session, March 10, 2003

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  The purpose of these hearings is to examine the impact of the drug trade on border security and national parks. Subcommittee Chairman Mark Souder made the following remarks in his opening statement, "The subcommittee has focused particular attention on the effectiveness of the Federal law enforcement agencies entrusted with protecting and administering our Nation's borders and ports of entry. Last summer the subcommittee released a comprehensive report on these issues, but our study continues. This is the report that was just released. It is a little over 100 pages, it is the most comprehensive study in the history of the government on the border. Today's hearing is intended to focus on the problem of illegal drug smuggling across the southern border, and the related crime and damage caused by that smuggling. This hearing is not intended to focus on the related problem of illegal immigration, which is a much larger and even more contentious issue. We understand, of course, that the issue of illegal immigration is bound to come up today as it is so deeply intertwined with the problem of narcotics smuggling along the southern border." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: David Aguilar, Edward D. Manuel, Fern Salcido, Augustine Toro, Ben Anderson, Jennifer Allen, Reverend Robin Hoover, Dom Ciccone, Joseph Delgado, Robin Hoover, Mark E. Souder, William Wellman, Hugh Winderweedle, and James Woolley.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2003
• Department of Homeland Security 'U.S. Customs and Border Protection' Budget Overview (Fiscal Year 2019 Congressional Justification)

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  From the Document: "U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for securing America's borders to protect the United States against terrorist threats and prevent the illegal entry of inadmissible persons and contraband, while facilitating lawful travel, trade, and immigration. Along over 5,000 miles of border with Canada; 1,900 miles of border with Mexico; and approximately 95,000 miles of shoreline, CBP is responsible for preventing the illegal movement of people and contraband. The FY 2019 President's Budget provides $16.7B in total budget authority to support CBP's mission. This represents an increase of $362.9M over the FY 2018 President's Budget."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security
• Report of Proceedings 6th Sovereign Challenge Conference: Borders & Security: Similarities, Differences, and Shared Affinities 7-10 November 2010, El Paso, Texas

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  From the Preface: "The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) hosted 103 Foreign Defense and Military Attachés, Law Enforcement Attachés, and Diplomats representing 67 countries at the 6th Sovereign Challenge Conference in El Paso, Texas from 7-10 November 2010. The conference theme was 'Borders & Security: Similarities, Differences, and Shared Affinities.' In keeping with the theme, this conference explored a wide range of topics to include border control/management, trust, corruption/transnational crime, development of public support for education, a whole-of-government/whole-of-nation approach, and dealing with the unique challenges a border 'ecosystem' presents. This year's event is ground-breaking in that more law enforcement and legal attachés attended than ever before. A 'hands-on' border visit and briefing hosted and conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol certainly contributed to the success of the Sovereign Challenge program. Hallmarked by open and honest discussion, this conference stimulated participants to voice personal insights, perceptions, and as expected, cordial disagreements."

  Joint Special Operations University (U.S.)

  2011
• Unmanned Aerial Systems: DHS's Review of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Use and Compliance with Privacy and Civil Liberty Laws and Standards, Briefing for Staff of the Subcommittees on Homeland Security, U.S. Senate and House Committees on Appropriations

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  From the Document: "In its review, DHS reported that CBP [Customs and Border Protection] has an oversight framework and procedures that help ensure compliance with privacy and civil liberty laws and standards. DHS's review contains information on CBP procedures on collecting, retaining, storing, and disseminating images from UAS [Unmanned Aerial Systems], among others, to help ensure compliance with privacy and civil liberty laws and standards. DHS's review did not address the extent to which CBP had institutionalized these procedures in written policies. However, we found that CBP has taken steps to document these procedures and has issued or plans to issue policies to institutionalize the procedures that help protect privacy and civil liberties."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2014-09-30
• Alien Smuggling: DHS Needs to Better Leverage Investigative Resources and Measure Program Performance along the Southwest Border

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  "Alien smuggling along the southwest border is a threat to the security of the United States and Mexico. Within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Office of Investigations (OI)--part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)--is the primary federal agency responsible for investigating alien smuggling along the southwest border. As requested, this report addresses, for the southwest border, (1) OI's efforts to counter alien smuggling since 2005, and opportunities, if any, for ICE to use its resources more effectively; (2) the progress DHS has made in seizing alien smugglers' assets since fiscal year 2005 and any promising techniques that could be applied to seize smugglers' assets; and (3) the extent to which ICE has objectives related to alien smuggling and measures to assess progress. GAO [Government Accountability Office] interviewed officials in all four OI offices along the southwest border and analyzed data on OI's cases and seizures, from fiscal years 2005 through 2009."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2010-05
• Fact Sheet: Border Security and Immigration Reform Agreement Overcomes 1986 Mistakes [May 22, 2007]

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  From the Document: "The 1986 Act failed because it gave a complete pardon (amnesty) to 3 million illegal immigrants as part of an automatic path to citizenship, did not provide the resources necessary to secure the borders adequately, relied on an employer verification system with only limited capability to detect ID [identification] fraud, provided inadequate penalties for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, and made no provisions to meet future labor needs of U.S. employers in a growing economy. In Contrast, The Bipartisan Border Security And Immigration Reform Agreement: Does not offer amnesty to illegal immigrants already here; Contains much tougher border security triggers that must be in place and operational before the Z visa and temporary worker programs take effect; Requires that a sophisticated Employment Eligibility Verification System (EEVS) capable of rooting out fraud be ready to process all new hires before the Z visa and temporary worker programs take effect; Substantially increases penalties on employers for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants; and Creates a temporary worker program to relieve pressure on the border and provide a lawful way to meet our economic needs."

  United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary

  2007-05-22
• Serial No. 109-24: Securing our Borders: What Have We Learned from Government Initiatives and Citizen Patrols? Hearing before the Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, May 12, 2005

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  From the opening statement of Tom Davis: "Ensuring the integrity of our Nation's borders has always been important, but since September 11, 2001, it has become essential. The primary obligation of any government is the safety and security of its citizens, and to fulfill that obligation, we must first be able to prevent those individuals who seek to do us harm from entering the United States. Our concern is not naive or misplaced. In addition to the ongoing threat of criminals engaged in human or drug trafficking, recent congressional testimony from the Department of Homeland Security [DHS], has highlighted intelligence reports suggesting that al Qaeda is considering using the southwest border to infiltrate the United States… Officials within DHS have repeatedly stated that we are moving in the right direction, and I have no doubt that we are. The concern of this committee, and many others in Congress, and the American public, is the pace and the efficiency of the effort to make progress. We need to move beyond broad policy statements and get down to the facts. How will we know when we have achieved operational control of our borders? How many boots on the ground and cameras in the sky will it take to get there? What are the funding requirements going to be? Congress needs to hear the hard truths about the state of the border so that we know what we must do to achieve our mission." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Tom Davis, Robert C. Bonner, T.J. Bonner, Daryl Schermerhorn, Chris Simcox, Janice Kephart, Ginny Brown-Waite, Chris Cannoon, Elijah E. Cummings, Darrell E. Issa, Dennis J. Kucinich, Patrick T. McHenry, Jon C. Porter, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Linda T. Sanchez, Mark E. Souder, Chris Van Hollen, and Lynn A. Westmoreland.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2005
• Fact Sheet: Securing Our Nation's Borders [June 29, 2006]

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  This fact sheet describes steps being taken to secure United States borders. Through the Secure Border Initiative (SBI) and other efforts, DHS is strengthening security along our northern and southern borders through the integrated use of increased manpower and infrastructure, cutting-edge technology, enhanced immigration enforcement, and cooperation with our state, local, and international partners. This includes: expanding infrastructure and building a virtual fence; increasing manpower and assets along the borders; enhancing immigration enforcement; launching joint operations; supporting state and local partners; deploying the National Guard to provide support; and overcoming significant obstacles blocking immigration enforcement.

  United States. Department of Homeland Security. Press Office

  2006-06-29