Joyce, Ciscomani, Lee, Pappas Re-Introduce Bill to Strengthen Law Enforcement Operations at the Southern Border
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representatives Dave Joyce (OH-14), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Susie Lee (NV-03), and Chris Pappas (NH-01) re-introduced the bipartisan Advanced Border Coordination Act to strengthen law enforcement operations and collaboration along the southern border. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the companion bill in the Senate.
This legislation would establish Joint Operation Centers along the southern border to serve as centralized operating hubs tasked with coordinating border operations, information sharing, and workforce training. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has periodically established joint operations hubs to help multiple law enforcement agencies work together to strengthen border security and crack down on transnational criminal activity.
“During my time as Chairman of the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, I visited the southern border, spoke directly with Border Patrol agents, and held hearings to uncover the direct causes of the disastrous border crisis we have experienced for years,” said Congressman Joyce. “This bill is a step towards restoring the rule of law and securing our borders by establishing critical joint operations centers to detect drug and human trafficking and disrupt criminal networks. Americans deserve to feel safe, and to actually be safe, and this bill will help accomplish that goal.”
“The crisis at the southern border continues to hurt communities in my district, and across the nation,” said Congressman Ciscomani. “As we kick off this new session of Congress, securing our border and supporting our frontline agents and officers remains a top priority. This is why I am proud to co-lead this critical legislation to establish Joint Operations Centers that will enhance cooperation between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to combat illicit activity and keep our communities safe.”
“Border Patrol officers need all the help they can get to protect our southern border, and Joint Operation Centers are a proven way to make that happen,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “I’ve consistently voted to secure the resources and reforms we need to fix our broken immigration system, and this bipartisan bill is a big step in the right direction. I’ll continue working with Republicans and Democrats to keep people safe and get commonsense legislation like this signed into law.”
“It’s critical we strengthen border operations coordination to combat illegal drug trafficking, enforce our immigration laws, and keep our communities safe. That’s why I’m helping introduce the Advanced Border Coordination Act,” said Congressman Pappas. “This bipartisan bill would establish hubs along the southern border to centralize and coordinate border operations between Border Patrol personnel and federal, state, and local law enforcement. I’ll continue working with colleagues to secure our borders and support the work of our law enforcement.”
“U.S. Border Patrol agents have been completely overwhelmed by the unprecedented number of illegal aliens arriving at our border, and we need to strengthen border security by improving communication and coordination on the ground,” said Senator Blackburn. “By establishing joint operation centers along the southern border, the Advanced Border Coordination Act would improve field operations and better equip Border Patrol to go after transnational gangs and hamper drug and human trafficking.”
“Border security shouldn’t be a controversial or partisan issue. We need to take commonsense steps to strengthen our border security and make sure our law enforcement officers are working together,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “By establishing joint operations centers along the southern border, this bipartisan bill will help us combat transnational crime, from drug trafficking to human trafficking, and keep our communities safe.”
The Advanced Border Coordination Act would help address these national security concerns by:
- Directing DHS to establish at least two joint operations centers along the southern border. These hubs would help law enforcement from multiple Federal, State, local and Tribal agencies coordinate their efforts and better work together.
- Requiring these centralized hubs to serve as resources to improve field operations and intelligence sharing, help detect and deter criminal activity like drug and human trafficking, and support workforce development and training coordination between participating agencies.
- Directing the DHS Secretary to issue an annual report to Congress on the centers’ operational activities and recommendations for coordinated federal actions at the southern border.