Stefanik urges Homeland Security retain customs officers at nation’s northern border

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), co-chair of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus, led a dozen colleagues in requesting that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) maintain improved staffing levels at the U.S.-Canadian border.

“CBP’s consistent inability to attain its statutorily established minimum staffing levels and the reduction of service hours at several land ports of entry along the northern border, coupled with further reduction of staffing due to this deployment will cause excessive delays at crossings, expose the nation to security risks, and highlight key vulnerabilities,” wrote Rep. Stefanik and 12 of her colleagues in a May 3 letter sent to Kevin McAleenan, acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The lawmakers’ letter comes after DHS announced plans to divert CBP officers stationed at the United States’ northern border with Canada to the nation’s southern border with Mexico.
America’s 5,525-mile northern border with Canada is the longest land boundary between two countries in the world, according to Rep. Stefanik, who noted that roughly 400,000 people and more than $1.6 billion in goods cross the border daily through more than 120 ports of entry.

In the letter she and her colleagues sent, they asked McAleenan to “immediately rescind the transfer of the Customs and Border Protection officers to the southern border” due to their concerns that border crossing data shows northern border crossings increase significantly during the summer months.

“We are approaching the heaviest travel months of the year and ports of entry will be facing increased volume,” according to their letter. “The decision to deploy northern border CBP officers to the southern border makes it increasingly more difficult for the agency to meet their core mission requirements at the border which include effectively securing U.S. points of entry and safeguarding and streamlining lawful trade and travel.”

Rep. Stefanik was joined in signing the bipartisan letter with U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY), also co-chair of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus, and 11 other members, including U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI).