Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) introduced the Improving Coordination for the Northern Border Act to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish the Northern Border Coordination Center to strengthen the implementation and coordination of the Northern Border Strategy, which includes training, information sharing, intelligence, and engagement with federal, state, Tribal, local, and international government partners.
Tenney led this bill alongside Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01).
This bill would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish the Northern Border Coordination Center, to be collocated with an existing U.S. Border Patrol sector headquarters, the U.S. Border Patrol Northern Border Coordination Center, an Air and Marine Operations Branch, and a U.S. Coast Guard air station. The Center would support the implementation of the Northern Border Security Strategy, help to track Northern Border security metrics, serve as a training location for DHS personnel, and as a testing grounds for new border security technologies. The legislation also requires Air and Marine Operations to maintain quick reaction capabilities at the Center to support the border security mission along the Northern Border, including against the rising threat of illegal cross-border drone activity.
“There has been an unprecedented spike in illegal crossings at our Northern Border, including an 846% increase in one sector alone, putting our national security and community safety at risk,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “Additionally, 85% of suspected terrorists that have illegally crossed our borders have done so over the Northern Border. By establishing a Northern Border Coordination Center, we can enable the Department of Homeland Security to effectively implement the Northern Border Strategy to enhance training and information sharing among federal, state, local, and international partners and secure our Northern Border to help keep our Northern Border communities, including NY-24, safe."
“Strengthening operations at our northern border is critical to drug interdiction efforts and keeping dangerous substances out of our communities,” said Congressman Pappas. “The Coordination Center will provide a central hub for implementing the Northern Border Strategy, including enforcing our immigration laws and stemming illicit drug trafficking, while supporting coordination efforts between U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel, local law enforcement, and other partners. I thank Representative Tenney for partnering with me on this bill, and I will continue fighting to pass legislation that supports and invests in border security, law enforcement, and anti-smuggling technology."
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), today announced that she has joined the newly formed "Northern Border Security Caucus." The caucus is a coalition of 28 members of Congress who are concerned about the increased human and drug trafficking along the U.S.-Canada border.
The Northern Border Security Caucus, which all House Republicans and Democrats were invited to join, is supported by House Republican Leadership and the National Border Patrol Council, among other groups and organizations.
The U.S.-Canada border is the longest international border in the world. Recent news reports, along with data compiled over the past two years, show a surge in illegal migrant crossings and drug trafficking across the Northern border. Specifically, in the North Country sector of the border, there has been an 846% increase in illegal border crossings. As the national security threat at our Northern Border continues to grow exponentially, there has been no corresponding increase in U.S. Border Patrol staffing, which is still at the same level as it was in Fiscal Year 2009.
“There’s been an unprecedented surge in illegal crossings at our Northern Border, including an 846% increase across the North Country alone," said Congresswoman Tenney. "Under President Biden’s failed leadership, our borders are less secure, and our communities are at risk. The Northern Border Security Caucus is needed now more than ever for members of Congress to come together with one voice to advocate against Joe Biden’s reckless policies and to focus on delivering the resources needed by our brave Border Patrol agents at our Northern Border to do their jobs effectively.”
NORTHERN BORDER FAST FACTS:
Drug smuggling has increased by 596% along the Northern border since Fiscal Year 2021, including a 26% increase in fentanyl.
Since President Biden took office nearly two years ago, there has been an almost 15 times increase in Northern land border encounters.
There were only 997 Northern land border encounters in January 2021. But that number has increased each month since. In the month of October 2022, there were 15,938 Northern land border encounters. In FY2020, there were 32,376 border encounters. In FY2022, there were 109,535 encounters.
Border Patrol staffing has remained flat since FY 2009. Since FY09, staffing levels along the Northern border sectors have been between 1,887 and 2,263 personnel. FY2020 Northern border sector staffing was 2,019.
The longest international border in the world, measuring 5,525 miles, the U.S. Northern border has only 115 ports of entry with no performance measures to assess security between ports.
