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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5132 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5132
To bolster Department of Homeland Security efforts to combat cross-
border threats posed by transnational criminal organizations, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 1, 2023
Mr. Thanedar (for himself, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mr. Correa, Mr.
Robert Garcia of California, Mr. Magaziner, and Ms. Tokuda) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland
Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and
Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To bolster Department of Homeland Security efforts to combat cross-
border threats posed by transnational criminal organizations, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``United Against Transnational
Criminal Organizations Act''.
SEC. 2. BOLSTERING DHS EFFORTS TO COMBAT CROSS-BORDER THREATS POSED BY
TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS.
(a) DHS Joint Task Force.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding subsection (b)(11) of
section 708 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C.
348), not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, pursuant
to such section, establish a Department of Homeland Security
Joint Task Force to conduct operations using personnel and
capabilities of the Department to combat cross-border threats
posed by transnational criminal organizations operating along
the land borders of the United States for the purpose specified
in clause (i) of subsection (b)(2)(A) of such section. Such
task force shall--
(A) pay particular attention to transnational
criminal organizations that target foreign nationals,
particularly children and families, for smuggling or
trafficking across the land border of the United
States; and
(B) when appropriate, refer to the Attorney General
for prosecution border-related criminal activity.
(2) Priorities.--The task force established in accordance
with paragraph (1) may, when appropriate, refer to the Attorney
General for prosecution border-related criminal activity, and
shall pay particular attention to transnational criminal
organizations that--
(A) target people, particularly children and
families, for smuggling or trafficking across the land
borders of the United States; or
(B) are engaged in the smuggling or trafficking of
fentanyl, fentanyl chemical precursors, or related
equipment and material across the land borders of the
United States.
(3) Performance metrics.--Consistent with subsection (b)(9)
of section 708 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish and submit to
the appropriate congressional committees performance metrics to
evaluate the effectiveness of the Joint Task Force established
pursuant to paragraph (1). Such performance metrics shall
include outcome-based metrics associated with efforts to
achieve the priorities described in paragraph (2), including
information on effectiveness at identifying transnational
criminal organizations engaged in such activity, the sharing of
information regarding such organizations, efforts to dismantle
or disrupt such activity by such organizations, and
investigative contributions to the prosecution of such
organizations.
(4) Quarterly reports to congress.--Not later than four
months after the establishment of the Joint Task Force pursuant
to paragraph (1) and every four months thereafter until such
Joint Task Force is disbanded by the Secretary in accordance
with paragraph (4), the Director of such Joint Task Force shall
report to the appropriate congressional committees on the
activities of such Joint Task Force during the preceding four-
month period.
(5) Disbanding of joint task force.--The Secretary of
Homeland Security shall--
(A) upon establishment of the Joint Task Force
pursuant to paragraph (1), report to the appropriate
congressional committees the criteria to be applied by
the Secretary before making a determination to disband
such Joint Task Force; and
(B) not later than 15 days prior to disbanding such
Joint Task Force, submit to such committees a
justification relating thereto.
(6) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means the committees specified in subparagraph (F) of section
708(b)(6) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
(b) Transnational Criminal Organization Border Screening
Strategy.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall issue a strategy to
improve the effectiveness of the screening of vehicles, persons, and
cargo at land ports of entry that may be at higher risk of being
related to transnational criminal organization activity. Upon issuance
of such strategy, the Secretary shall brief the Committee on Homeland
Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate regarding such
strategy.
(c) Integrated Border Intelligence Analytical Cell.--The Secretary
of Homeland Security shall establish within the National Targeting
Center of U.S. Customs and Border Protection an integrated border
intelligence analytical cell focused on sharing information regarding
potential concentrated surges of migrants arriving at the land borders
of the United States, and smuggling or trafficking that may pose a
border security, homeland security, or other threat to the land borders
of the United States. Such cell shall integrate intelligence
capabilities from across the Department of Homeland Security to carry
out the following:
(1) Develop intelligence products to improve the
Department's ability to track, prepare for, and manage in a
humane and effective manner concentrated surges of migrants
arriving along the land border of the United States.
(2) Report on transnational criminal organizations
exploiting migrating populations and migration routes to
smuggle or traffic fentanyl or other illicit goods across the
land border of the United States.
(3) Support Federal efforts to dismantle or disrupt
smuggling and trafficking routes along the land border of the
United States.
(4) Report on information circulated by transnational
criminal organizations and other malicious actors to encourage
illicit migrant travel to the United States.
(5) Develop other related intelligence products that
support the Department's border security operations.
(d) Strengthening Cross-Border Partnerships.--The Secretary of
Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall
expand partnership efforts with law enforcement entities in Canada,
Mexico, countries in Central America and South America, and other
appropriate countries to combat smuggling and trafficking of people,
fentanyl, fentanyl chemical precursors, or related equipment and
material within such countries, including through the following:
(1) Expansion of transnational criminal investigative units
to identify, disrupt, dismantle, and prosecute transnational
criminal organization activity.
(2) Participation in the Bilateral Human Trafficking
Enforcement Initiative by U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement and the Department of Justice with their Mexican
law enforcement counterparts.
(3) Expansion of advanced training programs for
investigators and prosecutors from Canada, Mexico, countries in
Central America and South America, and other appropriate
countries.
(4) Increase of capacity-building efforts to support
international partners in improving the ability of such
partners to detect and interdict fentanyl, fentanyl chemical
precursors, and related equipment and material originating from
or transiting through their territories.
(e) Fentanyl Interdiction and Supply Chain Disruption.--The
Secretary of Homeland Security shall seek to strengthen intelligence
sharing operations with Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial
agencies involved in prevention, detection, and interdiction of
fentanyl, fentanyl chemical precursors, and other related equipment and
material to enhance efforts to disrupt and dismantle supply chains for
such illicit drugs and equipment and material.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence.
Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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