§240 Border Enforcement Security Task Force

Summary

Creates a program called the Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) inside the Department. BEST must build units to make border areas safer by cutting down on threats and violence. It must help federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement work together and share homeland security information. BEST units can include people from ICE, CBP, the Coast Guard, other Department staff, other federal agencies, and appropriate state, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement. The Secretary may set up units where they will help, but must consider whether the area faces cross-border threats, whether partners are available, how badly the threats are hurting the area and other places, and whether an Integrated Border Enforcement Team already exists. The Secretary must avoid duplicating other task forces. The Secretary can assign federal staff (with their agency’s OK) and provide money to help with operations, pay, administration, and technology. Within 180 days after BEST is set up, and then once a year for the next 5 years, the Secretary must report to Congress on how well BEST is reducing drug trafficking, arms smuggling, smuggling and trafficking of people, violence, and kidnapping, using crime numbers such as violent deaths, incidents of violence, and drug-related arrests.