Hillsborough Sun

On May 19, 2023, Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01), Young Kim (CA-40), Michael Guest (MS-03), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) introduced the Comprehensive Southern Border Strategy Act.

Currently under federal law, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has completed a comprehensive Northern border strategy, but no law exists to require DHS to create a strategy to secure our Southern border. This bipartisan bill directs DHS to submit a comprehensive strategy within 12 months of enactment to the House Committee on Homeland Security and Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. 

“For months I urged the Biden Administration to properly plan for the end of Title 42 and present a plan to Congress that would prevent a crisis at our border,” said Congressman Pappas. “Political inaction in Washington has contributed to the broken immigration system, and it is time for us to work together across the aisle on solutions. This bipartisan legislation would compel DHS to develop a comprehensive overview of the security risks at our border and review the technology and tools we should implement to prevent drug trafficking. We must ensure operational control at the border and give border agents the resources they need to humanely and expeditiously process migrant claims.”

“Under the Biden administration, the border crisis has reached unprecedented levels, straining our resources, emboldening cartel organizations, turning a blind eye to illegal immigration, and undermining legal immigration. As Title 42 comes to an end, the Biden administration must take the border crisis seriously and Congress must act to secure our border,” said Congresswoman Kim. “We cannot kick the can down the road any longer. Border security is national security, and I am proud to work in a bipartisan way to ensure that our federal government –regardless of who is leading the administration –makes border security a priority and evaluates how we can best secure operational control of every mile of our border.”

“For over two years, the Biden Administration has avoided taking the steps necessary to secure our southern border. We are now on the precipice of an even worse crisis due to the President being either unwilling or unable to address the issues on our southwest border. I’m proud to join Congresswoman Kim in this legislation to require the Administration to submit a comprehensive plan to secure our border,” said Congressman Guest.

"We've seen the successes of a comprehensive border strategy at our northern border, and it's critical that we establish one at our southern border," said Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez. "This is a commonsense, measured approach to help protect our country's national and economic security, and I'd like to thank my colleagues for working together in a bipartisan way on this issue."

Specifically, the bill requires that a comprehensive strategy include:

An overview of the current security risks at the Southern border;

A review of DHS’s tools used to combat drug trafficking with a focus on fentanyl and related substances;

A detailed account of which type of physical barrier, technology or other device DHS believes is best to maintain operational control for each mile of the Southern border and why;

A per mile cost calculation for each mile of the Southern border for which type of security device used; and,

Cost justifications for each time a more expensive device was chosen.

Original source can be found here.