Working to strengthen border security, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on Tuesday introduced a bill that would establish joint operation hubs along the southern border of the country to improve law enforcement coordination.
The legislation would direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to expand on what is considered a successful interagency cooperation model by creating at least two joint operations centers along the southern border. These hubs would help law enforcement from multiple federal, state, local, and Tribal agencies work together to address transnational criminal activity like drug and human trafficking.
“Amid an unprecedented number of illegal immigrants arriving at the southern border, our Border Patrol agents are completely overwhelmed. Establishing multiple joint operation centers along the southern border will allow local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to work together in a cohesive fashion,” Sen. Blackburn said.
The senator signed on as the original cosponsor of the Advanced Border Coordination Act, S. 3104, which was sponsored by U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV).
“The Advanced Border Coordination Act will also equip Border Patrol with the necessary tools to combat transnational gangs and hamper drug and human trafficking,” Sen. Blackburn added.
Aside from establishing more centralized hubs to improve field operations amongst law enforcement, the bill also requires an annual report to Congress on the operational activities of the centers and for recommendations for better coordinated federal actions at the southern border, a bill summary said.
The Senate bill, which is under consideration in the Senate Homeland and Governmental Affairs Committee, is endorsed by the National Border Patrol Council, the National Immigration Forum, the Texas Border Coalition, and the Major Cities Chiefs Association.
“From local sheriffs to Border Patrol and other federal law enforcement, our officers along the southern border are working every day to keep our communities safe, and we need to make it as easy as possible for them to work together,” Sen. Cortez Masto said.