Northern Border Security Review Act

Northern Border Security Review Act

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to submit a northern border threat analysis of:

• current and potential terrorism and criminal threats posed by individuals and organized groups seeking to enter the United States through the northern border or to exploit vulnerabilities along such border;
• improvements needed at and between ports of entry along the northern border to prevent terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the United States and to reduce criminal activity, as measured by the total flow of illegal goods, illicit drugs, and smuggled and trafficked persons moved across such border;
• gaps in law, policy, cooperation between state, local, and tribal law enforcement, international agreements, or tribal agreements that hinder effective and efficient border security, counterterrorism, anti-human smuggling and trafficking efforts, and the flow of legitimate trade along the northern border; and
• whether additional preclearance and pre-inspection operations by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection at ports of entry along the northern border could help prevent terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the United States.

For such analysis, DHS must consider and examine:

• technology needs and challenges;
• personnel needs and challenges;
• the role of state, local, and tribal law enforcement in general border security activities;
• the need for cooperation among federal, state, local, tribal, and Canadian law enforcement entities relating to border security; and
• the terrain, population density, and climate along the northern border.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov