Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) introduced the Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act, which would make Innovation Teams at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) permanent. In 2018, the CBP Commissioner created an Innovation Team to quickly deliver new and effective technologies to strengthen law enforcements’ ability to combat human and drug trafficking at the border.
“Technology continues to improve our everyday lives, and it’s just common sense that we look for ways innovative technologies can help keep our border communities secure,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I am committed to helping CBP continue developing the tools they need to improve border security operations.”
“President Trump secured the southern border in his first 30 days. Let’s secure the border forever by using new technology,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Let’s stop fentanyl from flowing into our country.”
Investments in border security technology will strengthen CBP’s detection and response time to cases of trafficking and illicit border crossings in remote areas. In order to improve upon the development of these Innovation Teams, this legislation would make them a more permanent and long-lasting part of CBP operations, with included Congressional oversight.
The Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act will guarantee that these enhanced technologies continue to be developed and implemented by:
- Authorizing the CBP Commissioner to maintain one or more CBP Innovation Teams to research and adapt commercial technologies to assist in border security operations and urgent mission needs;
- Requiring DHS to submit a plan to Congress that assesses the performance parameters and security impacts of potential technologies, as well as the deactivation of former CBP technology;
- Requiring CBP Innovation Teams to make standard operating procedures; and
- Requiring DHS to submit information to Congress that describes CBP Innovation Team activities and operating procedures.
Read the full bill here. A similar version of this legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Lou Correa (D-Calif.-46) and Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas-08).
Senator Cortez Masto has been working to crack down on cross-border crime since she was first elected Attorney General, when she worked with Nevada’s Republican governor, law enforcement, and Mexican officials to combat the rise of methamphetamine manufacturing and cross-border drug trafficking. In the Senate, she has authored legislation to combat drug trafficking online that was signed into law, and passed critical legislation to eliminate illegal fentanyl supply chains. She has also introduced legislation to crack down on the deadly fentanyl additive xylazine.
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