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• 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
• U.S. Ports of Entry: Update on CBP Public-Private Partnership Programs

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  From the Document: "On a daily basis in fiscal year 2020, over 650,000 passengers and pedestrians and nearly 78,000 truck, rail, and sea containers carrying goods worth approximately $6.6 billion entered the United States through 328 U.S. land, sea, and air ports of entry (POE), according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Within the DHS, CBP is the lead federal agency charged with a dual mission of keeping terrorists and their weapons, criminals and their contraband, and other inadmissible individuals out of the country while facilitating the flow of legitimate international travel and trade through the nation's POEs. CBP's Office of Field Operations is responsible for conducting passenger and cargo processing activities related to security, trade, immigration, and agricultural inspection at the nation's POEs. Since 2013, CBP has entered into public-private partnerships with stakeholders, such as port authorities or local municipalities that own or manage the ports or private companies that conduct business through the ports, under its Reimbursable Services Program (RSP) to cover CBP's cost of providing certain services at POEs[...] This fourth annual report updates key information from our January 2020 report by examining the status of CBP public-private partnership program agreements, including the purposes for which CBP has used the funds and donations from these agreements in 2020."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2021-01-28
• DHS Has Not Effectively Implemented the Prompt Asylum Pilot Programs

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  From the Highlights: "In recent years, the United States has experienced a surge in migrants crossing the southern border to seek asylum. In October 2019, DHS began pilots of the Prompt Asylum Claim Review (PACR) and Humanitarian Asylum Review Process (HARP) programs to quickly process migrants with claims of credible fear. We conducted this review to evaluate DHS' effectiveness to date in implementing the programs. This interim report is based on observations from our visit to the El Paso, TX border sector. We made six recommendations to improve PACR and HARP program implementation."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General

  Burns, Amy; Eide, Lorraine; Mellies, Carie . . .

  2021-01-25
• Kazakhstan [Updated January 25, 2021]

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  From the Overview: "Kazakhstan, a U.S. partner in areas such as counterterrorism, regional security, and nuclear nonproliferation, is a strategically situated country with significant hydrocarbon and mineral resources. It shares long borders with Russia to the north and China to the east. Although sparsely populated, Kazakhstan is the world's ninth largest country by land area. Previously a republic of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan became independent in 1991. Since then, the country's authoritarian government has introduced significant market reforms, developed the energy sector, and moved to diversify its economy. Kazakhstan pursues a 'multi-vector' foreign policy, seeking to balance relations with major powers while actively participating in international organizations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Blackwood, Maria A.

  2021-01-25
• H. Doc. 117-10: Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Southern Border of the United States, January 21, 2021

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  From the Document: "On February 15, 2019, by Proclamation 9844, I declared a national emergency concerning the southern border of the United States to deal with the border security and humanitarian crisis that threatens core national security interests. The ongoing border security and humanitarian crisis at the southern border of the United States continues to threaten our national security, including by exacerbating the effect of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. The executive branch has taken steps to address the crisis, but further action is needed to address the humanitarian crisis and to control unlawful migration and the flow of narcotics and criminals across the southern border of the United States. For these reasons, the national emergency declared on February 15, 2019, and the measures adopted on that date to respond to that emergency, must continue in effect beyond February 15, 2021. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Proclamation 9844 concerning the southern border of the United States."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021-01-21
• Executive Order 13993: Revision of Civil Immigration Enforcement Policies and Priorities

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  From the Document: "Immigrants have helped strengthen America's families, communities, businesses and workforce, and economy, infusing the United States with creativity, energy, and ingenuity. The task of enforcing the immigration laws is complex and requires setting priorities to best serve the national interest. The policy of my Administration is to protect national and border security, address the humanitarian challenges at the southern border, and ensure public health and safety. We must also adhere to due process of law as we safeguard the dignity and well-being of all families and communities. My Administration will reset the policies and practices for enforcing civil immigration laws to align enforcement with these values and priorities. [...] Executive Order 13768 of January 25, 2017 (Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States), is hereby revoked."

  United States. Office of the Federal Register

  Biden, Joseph R., Jr.

  2021-01-20
• Mexico: Evolution of the Mérida Initiative, 2007-2021 [Updated January 13, 2021]

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  From the Document: "Congress remains concerned about the effects of organized-crime-related violence in Mexico on U.S. security interests and U.S. citizens' safety in Mexico. Homicides in Mexico have reached record levels in each of the last four years as criminal groups have fought for control of smuggling routes into the United States. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is under pressure to improve his security policy. Congress has increased oversight of bilateral efforts since the November 2019 killing of an extended family of dual citizens near the Arizona border in Mexico. U.S. arrests of a former Mexican public security minister (December 2019) and a former defense minister (October 2020) on drug trafficking-related charges have raised congressional concerns about endemic corruption in Mexico. This product provides an overview of the roughly $3.3 billion appropriated for the Mérida Initiative and assesses Mexico's security strategy and bilateral security efforts."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Seelke, Clare Ribando

  2021-01-13
• Mexico: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated January 7, 2021]

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  From the Introduction: "Congress has maintained interest in Mexico, a neighboring country and top trading partner with which the United States has a close but complex relationship. In recent decades, U.S.-Mexican relations have improved as the countries have become close trade partners and worked to address crime, migration, and other issues of shared concern. Nevertheless, the history of U.S. military and diplomatic intervention in Mexico and the asymmetry in the relationship has continued to provoke periodic tension. For example, the U.S. investigation into and October 2020 arrest of Mexico's former defense minister damaged trust between the two governments. Congress remains concerned about the effects of organized-crime-related violence in Mexico on U.S. security interests and about U.S. citizens' safety in Mexico, and it has increased oversight of U.S.-Mexican security cooperation. Congress may continue to appropriate foreign assistance for Mexico and oversee bilateral efforts to address illegal drug flows, unauthorized migration, environmental issues, and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement (USMCA) and its labor commitments, Mexico's treatment of U.S. energy firms, and border environmental and water issues may receive oversight attention. This report provides an overview of political and economic conditions in Mexico, followed by overviews of selected issues of congressional interest in Mexico: security and foreign aid, extraditions, human rights, trade, migration, energy, border environmental, water, and health."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Seelke, Clare Ribando

  2021-01-07
• Public Law 116-299: Securing America's Ports Act

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  From the Document: "An Act [t]o require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a plan to increase to 100 percent the rates of scanning of commercial and passenger vehicles and freight rail entering the United States at land ports of entry along the border using large-scale, non-intrusive inspection systems to enhance border security, and for other purposes." This Act requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a plan of action within 180 days, to be fully implemented over the next 6 years, with a biennially report to Congress.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021-01-05
• H. Rept. 116-720: Legislative and Oversight Activities of the Committee on Homeland Security, 116th Congress, January 2, 2021

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  From the Overview: "The Committee on Homeland Security met on January 30, 2019, for an organizational meeting for the 116th Congress under the direction of Chairman Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi. The Committee Membership was set at 31 Members with 18 Democrats and 13 Republicans. Subsequently, the Committee Membership was updated to 32 Members with 18 Democrats and 14 Republicans. The Committee established six subcommittees: The Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations; the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation; the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery; the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism; the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability; and the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021-01-02
• Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for 2021, Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, February 26, February 27, March 10, 2020

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  This document includes the February 26, February 27, and March 10, 2020 hearings on "Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for 2021," held before a House Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations. It is divided into the following four hearings: Department of Homeland Security, Members' Day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and United States Coast Guard. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Chad Wolf, Mark A. Morgan, Karl Schultz, and Matthew T. Albence.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Southwest Border: DHS and DOJ Have Implemented Expedited Credible Fear Screening Pilot Programs, but Should Ensure Timely Data Entry, Report to Congressional Requesters

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  From the Highlights: "Individuals apprehended by DHS and placed into expedited removal proceedings are to be removed from the U.S. without a hearing in immigration court unless they indicate a fear of persecution or torture, a fear of return to their country, or express an intent to apply for asylum. Asylum officers conduct such 'fear screenings,' and EOIR [Executive Office for Immigration Review] immigration judges may review negative USCIS [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services] determinations. In October 2019, DHS and DOJ [Department of Justice] initiated two pilot programs to further expedite fear screenings for certain apprehended noncitizens. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review DHS's and DOJ's management of these pilot programs. This report examines (1) actions DHS and EOIR took to implement and expand the programs along the southwest border, and (2) what the agencies' data indicate about the outcomes of individuals' screenings and any gaps in such data."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2021-01
• Children in CBP Custody: Examining Deaths, Medical Care Procedures, and Improper Spending, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, July 15, 2020

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  This is the July 15, 2020 hearing on "Children in CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] Custody: Examining Deaths, Medical Care Procedures, and Improper Spending", held before the House Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Bennie G. Thompson: "The committee is convening today to examine 3 critical related and deeply troubling issues: The terrible death of young children in the custody of Customs and Border Protection; CBP's failure to consistently implement the revised medical screening procedures it adopted after children died in its custody; and CBP's improper expenditure of the emergency funds appropriated by Congress for the care of migrants." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Fiona S. Danaher, Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., Joseph V. Cuffari, and Rebecca Gambler.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• H. Doc. 117-15: Termination of Emergency with Respect to the Southern Border of the United States and Redirection of Funds Diverted to Border Wall Construction, February 15, 2021

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  This document is a Congressional communication from President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on the "Termination of Emergency with Respect to the Southern Border of the United States and Redirection of Funds Diverted to Border Wall Construction." From the Proclamation: "Like every nation, the United States has a right and a duty to secure its borders and protect its people against threats. But building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution. It is a waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security. My Administration is committed to ensuring that the United States has a comprehensive and humane immigration system that operates consistently with our Nation's values. In furtherance of that commitment, I have determined that the declaration of a national emergency at our southern border in Proclamation 9844 of February 15, 2019 (Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Southern Border of the United States), was unwarranted. It shall be the policy of my Administration that no more American taxpayer dollars be diverted to construct a border wall. I am also directing a careful review of all resources appropriated or redirected to construct a southern border wall."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Examining DHS's Management of Trusted Traveler Programs, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, September 30, 2020

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  This is the September 30, 2020 hearing on "Examining DHS's Management of Trusted Traveler Programs," 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: "We are convening today in our continued effort to understand why this committee received inaccurate and misleading testimony from the DHS regarding its decision to ban residents of New York State from Trusted Traveler Programs like Global Entry." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Robert E. Perez.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Oversight of ICE Detention Facilities: Examining ICE Contractors' Response to COVID-19, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, July 13, 2020

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  This is the July 13, 2020 hearing on "Oversight of ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] Detention Facilities: Examining Ice Contractors' Response to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]," 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: "Today this subcommittee meets to examine the response to COVID-19 by 4 of the private contractors responsible for managing facilities in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention network. As coronavirus cases continue to spike Nation-wide, we must ensure that the contractors our Government relies on are taking every step they can to minimize the spread of COVID-19 among workers and detainees. For fiscal year 2020, Congress appropriated approximately $3.1 billion for more than 45,000 single adults and family ICE detention beds and other custody operations. Over 80 percent of these beds are operated daily by private contractors, some of whom are at this hearing today. That is a large amount of taxpayer money, which is funding a historically high number of detention beds, and it demands oversight and accountability." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Damon T. Hininger, George C. Zoley, Scott Marquardt, and Rodney Cooper.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Enhancing Border Security: Addressing Corruption in Central America, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, June 11, 2021

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  This is the June 11, 2021 hearing on "Enhancing Border Security: Addressing Corruption in Central America," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of J. Luis Correa: "This hearing will explore how weak governing systems are exploited by corrupt actors to stifle development and maintain the status quo. Corruption diverts aid money away from those that need it the most while obscuring the government's actions through layers of red tape and unclear policy. The effects are felt by everyone." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Shannon O'Neil, J. Welby Leaman, Claudia Umana Araujo, and Matthew M. Rooney.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Unaccompanied Children at the Border: Federal Response and the Way Forward, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, June 10, 2021

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  This is the June 10, 2021 hearing on "Unaccompanied Children at the Border: Federal Response and the Way Forward," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Nanette Diaz Barragan: "The subcommittee is meeting to hear Federal Government perspectives on addressing the challenge of unaccompanied children arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border. Today's hearing is a follow-up to this subcommittee's April hearing. We examined the care of unaccompanied children in Federal custody and received recommendations from non-governmental stakeholders on the way forward." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: David Shahoulian, Benjamine "Carry" Huffman, Katherine Dueholm, and Patrick J. Lechleitner.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Unaccompanied Children at the Border: Stakeholder Perspectives on the Way Forward, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, April 27, 2021

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  This is the April 27, 2021 hearing on "Unaccompanied Children at the Border: Stakeholder Perspectives on the Way Forward," held before the House Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Nanette Diaz Barragan: "The challenge posed by children arriving at our border is not new. Unaccompanied children from Mexico, Central America, and elsewhere have long sought refuge in the United States. This is also not the first time we have seen increased numbers of unaccompanied children at our Southern Border. There were similar increases in 2014 and 2019. [...] Migrant children are undertaking the arduous, dangerous journey because conditions at home are so dire. Many hope to reunite with family living in the United States. [...] The increased number of child migrants is certainly a challenge, but the U.S. Government must provide these children with protections guaranteed to them under law." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Robert Garcia, Jennifer Podkul, and Lora Ries.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Border Security--2019, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session, April 4, April 9, June 26, July 17, July 30, and November 13, 2019

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  This is the April 4, April 9, June 26, July 17, July 30 and November 13, 2019 hearings on "Border Security--2019," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. From the opening statement of Gary C. Peters: "I appreciate the Chairman's focus on obtaining accurate, timely data on migration and border security. Certainly, few issues that we face today are as complex as this one or as controversial. Far too often, harmful rhetoric drowns out reasonable dialogue, and I hope that this hearing can cut through that rhetoric and let us focus on the facts. The situation on our Southern Border, in Mexico, and throughout the Northern Triangle is dynamic. [...] The reality is that much of our current infrastructure was built to address the challenges of the 1990s and early last decade when the majority of unauthorized border crossings were single men seeking economic opportunity. That is not what the statistics show us today, and it is not what our staff saw during a bipartisan delegation to the Southern Border last month. Overwhelmingly, they saw families from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. They saw parents with children. They saw children who had made the journey to the border without their parents. They saw our hardworking law enforcement officers, public servants, volunteers, and civic leaders doing their best to manage what is certainly a very difficult situation." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mark A. Morgan, John Daniel Davidson, Andrew Selee, Rodolfo Karisch, Randy Howe, Timothy Tubbs, Jonathan White, Greg Cherundolo, Brian S. Hastings, Gregory Nevano, Karen Tandy, Jayson Ahern, Leon Fresco, Sharon W. Cooper, Jennifer L. Costello, Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, Derek N. Benner, and James McHenry.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• State of Diversity and Inclusion in Europe: Race, Rights, and Politics, Hearing Before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session, September 11, 2019

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  This is the September 11, 2019 hearing on "State of Diversity and Inclusion in Europe: Race, Rights, and Politics," held before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. From the opening statement of Gwen Moore: "This hearing today, in context, is taking place at a time when we are receiving numerous reports from Europe of hate crimes and acts of extremism, racial profiling in cities and at borders, and discrimination at work and in the schools. The OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] has reported close to 6,000 hate crimes in Europe over the past year[.] [...] Americans are also impacted by disparate treatment and related violence in Europe. For years we've received reports that our diverse military and diplomats serving in Europe, students studying abroad, and tourists have all been the targets of discrimination, from being refused service in restaurants, or in the worst cases being the tragic victims of hate crimes.[...] [I]ncreasingly, citizens in our democracies are turning against one another and people from other places simply because they look, pray, love, or think differently than someone else. And it's critical that we reaffirm democratic values by challenging rising prejudice and violence with strategies for inclusion." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, Romeo Franz, Evin Incir, Samira Rafaela, Alfiaz Vaiya, Domenica Ghidei Biidu, Irene Appiah, Daniele Obono, and Olivier Serva.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Review of the Department of Justice's Planning and Implementation of Its Zero Tolerance Policy and Its Coordination with the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services

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  From the Executive Summary Introduction: "On April 6, 2018, then Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ, Department) had adopted a 'zero tolerance policy' for immigration offenses involving illegal entry and attempted illegal entry into the United States. The policy required each U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) on the Southwest border to prosecute all referrals for illegal entry violations, including misdemeanors, referred by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 'to the extent practicable, and in consultation with DHS.' [...] In July 2018, multiple members of Congress requested that the DOJ Office of the Inspector General (OIG) review the Department's role in the creation and implementation of the zero tolerance policy. The OIG conducted this review to assess the Department's planning for and implementation of the zero tolerance policy, including its internal coordination with the Southwest border USAOs, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and with DHS and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Consistent with the Inspector General Act of 1978, this review does not substitute the OIG's judgment for the judgments made by DOJ leadership regarding the substantive merits of the zero tolerance policy."

  United States. Department of Justice. Office of the Inspector General

  2021-01
• Way Forward on Homeland Security, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, March 17, 2021

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  This is the March 17, 2021 hearing on "The Way Forward on Homeland Security," held before the House Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Bennie G. Thompson: "Just as President Trump made DHS less able to carry out its mission, his failed policies also made the homeland less secure. He downplayed the threat of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], despite the warnings of doctors and scientists, left States to fend for themselves to obtain testing supplies and PPE [personal protective equipment], and failed to implement a National vaccine distribution plan. He sided with Putin and Russia over our own intelligence community, even though our adversary meddled in our elections and hacked into our computer systems. He helped fuel the rise of domestic terrorism in America and incited right-wing violent extremists to attack the United States Capitol. Americans continue to pay the price for these failures, with over half a million dead from COVID-19, experts struggling to understand the scope of the SolarWinds hack, and an unprecedented surge in domestic terrorism. Secretary Mayorkas and the 240,000 dedicated, hard-working men and women of DHS are left to deal with the mess the last administration left behind. This will be no easy task, and Congress should be focused on ensuring the Department has the resources and authorities to do so. [...] Clearly, more will have to be done to respond to this situation while upholding our values. What we must not do is return to the morally bankrupt policies of the last administration toward children. [...] For its part, the Biden administration is working to rebuild DHS, reform our Nation's homeland security policy, and address the situation at the border while upholding our values. However, it cannot be expected to repair in a matter of weeks everything President Trump destroyed over 4 years." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Alejandro Mayorkas.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Review of the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Request for the Department of Homeland Security, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, June 17, 2021

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  This is the June 17, 2021 hearing on "A Review of the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Request for the Department of Homeland Security," held before the House Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Bennie G. Thompson: "Overall, the Biden administration is requesting $52 billion for DHS, roughly equal to the fiscal year 2021 funding level. Though there is always room for improvement, the administration's request would provide the Department with the resources necessary to meet its diverse and ever-evolving mission. The request prioritizes funding to improve Federal cybersecurity, respond to heightened domestic terrorism threats, and enhance border capabilities. It invests in creating a fairer and more equitable immigration system, preparing local communities for the effects of natural disasters, and revitalizing the Department's research and development capabilities. It further seeks to strengthen National resiliency in these critical areas. Many of these homeland security priorities were all but ignored by the last administration. I am pleased the Biden administration is giving these matters the attention and resources they demand." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Alejandro N. Mayorkas.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2020, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session, May 2, 2019

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  This is the May 2, 2019 hearing on "Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2020," held before the Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations. From the opening statement of Shelly Moore Capito: "We are holding this hearing in the wake of yesterday's request for supplemental appropriations to address the security and humanitarian crisis at the Southwest border. I know that the number of apprehensions of illegal border crossers continues to climb. Customs and Border Protection took more than 100,000 individuals into custody in the month of March, and we expect that number to be dramatically higher for April. Despite some who tried to call this a manufactured crisis, these are undeniably historic numbers. Yesterday's request included a $1.1 billion for the Department of Homeland Security to help address this crisis. It suggested additional resources that may be needed to humanely process and detain those who are crossing our border illegally, and to support the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security as they surge to address this crisis." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Kevin McAleenan, and Chip Fulghum.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021?
• Lawsuits Against the Federal Government: Basic Federal Court Procedure and Timelines [Updated December 22, 2020]

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  From the Document: "Many federal laws and policy initiatives are challenged in court. In recent years, for instance, plaintiffs have brought cases challenging the Department of Homeland Security's rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, the Secretary of Commerce's decision to include a citizenship question on the 2020 Census, and the President's decision to expend certain funds to construct a 'border wall.' Because the defendant in these cases is the United States or an executive official, the cases generally proceed in federal court. By understanding the procedures governing federal court litigation, legislators can consider potential outcomes, estimate timelines, and appreciate the importance of a court's ruling at a particular stage. This In Focus reviews the most common procedures that govern civil suits against the federal government, tracing the path from federal district court to the Supreme Court."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lampe, Joanna R.

  2020-12-22
• S. Rept. 116-322: Southwest Border Security Technology Improvement Act of 2020, Report to Accompany S. 4224, December 14, 2020

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  From the Purpose and Summary: "The purpose of S. 4224, the Southwest Border Security Technology Improvement Act of 2020, is to analyze the technology used along the southwest border and provide Congress a better understanding of how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) makes technology decisions and what other technological solutions may be needed to improve border security, both at ports of entry and between ports of entry. If enacted, this bill will provide a comprehensive assessment of available technological advancements and how they can be better leveraged to address DHS' needs with respect to combating illegal activity and facilitating lawful trade and travel."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2020-12-14
• S. Rept. 116-312: Securing America's Borders Act of 2019, Report to Accompany S. 2162, December 14, 2020

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  From the Purpose and Summary: "This bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to hire at least 600 Border Patrol agents above attrition levels each year until the number of Border Patrol agents reaches and sustains 26,370 agents. This bill also allows CBP to hire additional support staff for Border Patrol and to utilize special hiring authorities and pay incentives for CBP officers in rural and remote locations, and requires CBP to provide Congress with quarterly reporting on Border Patrol workforce metrics. In addition, CBP must update and submit the comprehensive staffing analysis for Border Patrol mandated in the Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2014."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2020-12-14
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Powers and Limitations: A Brief Primer [December 9, 2020]

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  From the Document: "U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), enforces federal customs and immigration laws at or near the international border and at U.S. ports of entry. Congress has established a comprehensive framework enabling CBP officers to inspect, search, and detain individuals to ensure their entry and any goods they import conform to these governing laws. That authority is not absolute. The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits government searches and seizures that are not reasonable. While the government has broader latitude to conduct searches at the border than in the interior of the United States, these searches must still satisfy Fourth Amendment requirements. This Legal Sidebar briefly explains CBP's customs and immigration enforcement powers and the constitutional limitations to that authority."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Smith, Hillel R.

  2020-12-09
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Strategy 2021-2026

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  From the Executive Summary: "The updated 'CBP [Customs and Border Protection] Strategy 2021-2026' introduces new Mission and Vision statements that describe our commitment to a safer and more prosperous nation and a set of Enduring Mission Priorities that describe our core missions in a succinct and meaningful way. The Strategy remains committed to a set of twelve Strategic Objectives as the key areas where CBP will focus its efforts and lays out specific activities and outcomes that must be achieved. [...] The 'CBP Strategy 2021-2026' also introduces the Enduring Mission Priorities which describe the reasons CBP exists as an agency and how we prioritize our responsibilities. The events driving the creation of the Department of Homeland Security led to the inclusion of 'Countering Terrorism,' and one of CBP's primary missions will always be protecting the Homeland from future terrorist attacks. A more recent focus of CBP, which increases in prominence every year, is 'Combat Transnational Crime.' CBP will also continue to focus on its core functional missions of 'Securing the Border,' 'Facilitating Travel' and 'Facilitating Trade and Protecting Revenue.'"

  U.S. Customs and Border Protection

  2020-12