[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1867 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1867

   To authorize additional resources for the Department of Homeland 
Security to enhance security activities along the international border 
                  with Mexico, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 2, 2009

     Mrs. Kirkpatrick of Arizona (for herself and Mr. Thompson of 
 Mississippi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Homeland Security

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To authorize additional resources for the Department of Homeland 
Security to enhance security activities along the international border 
                  with Mexico, 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 ``Border Violence Prevention Act of 
2009''.

SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF BORDER SECURITY OPERATIONS ALONG SOUTHWEST BORDER.

    The Secretary of Homeland Security shall expand border security 
operations along the southwest border between the United States and 
Mexico, including the southbound inspection and investigation of 
vehicles, to--
            (1) reduce the potential for border violence;
            (2) enhance border security; and
            (3) prevent the illicit flow of arms and bulk cash across 
        such southwest border.

SEC. 3. UNITED STATES CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION.

    (a) Activities.--In carrying out section 2, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, acting through the Commissioner of United States 
Customs and Border Protection, shall--
            (1) increase southbound border security infrastructure and 
        inspection capabilities at ports of entry located on the 
        southwest border between the United States and Mexico;
            (2) acquire and deploy at least two x-ray mobile inspection 
        units to such southwest border;
            (3) acquire and deploy at least ten dual detection canine 
        teams to such southwest border;
            (4) equip with license plate readers the outbound lanes at 
        ports of entry located on such southwest border, as determined 
        appropriate by the Secretary;
            (5) acquire and equip United States Customs and Border 
        Protection personnel with body armor; and
            (6) take any other related actions or activities required 
        under section 2 to expand border security operations on such 
        southwest border.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Homeland Security $70,000,000 to carry 
out the border security operations required under subsection (a).

SEC. 4. UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement's 
        Border Enforcement Security Taskforce (BEST) units operate 
        within the Department of Homeland Security to enhance border 
        security and reduce cross-border violence by coordinating the 
        enforcement and information sharing activities of Federal, 
        State, local, and tribal agencies along the southwest border 
        between the United States and Mexico.
            (2) The Department of Homeland Security, through United 
        States Immigration and Customs Enforcement's ``Armas 
        Cruzadas'', coordinates key enforcement and intelligence 
        personnel to address the border security threat represented by 
        the illegal export of weapons from the United States into 
        Mexico.
            (3) An increase in United States Immigration and Customs 
        Enforcement resources along such southwest border will help 
        prevent cross-border violence by helping to reduce the illicit 
        flow of narcotics into the United States and arms and bulk cash 
        into Mexico.
    (b) Activities.--In carrying out section 2, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, acting through the Assistant Secretary of United 
States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, shall--
            (1) hire and deploy at least 100 additional United States 
        Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel to be assigned to 
        Border Enforcement Security Taskforce units involved in efforts 
        to reduce southwest border violence over the number of such 
        personnel so assigned as of the date of the enactment of this 
        Act;
            (2) improve existing Border Enforcement Security Taskforce 
        facilities and acquire new space for Border Enforcement 
        Security Taskforce units along such southwest border locations;
            (3) increase resources and personnel for Operation Armas 
        Cruzadas over the resources obligated and personnel so assigned 
        as of the date of the enactment of this Act; and
            (4) take any other related actions or activities required 
        under section 2 to expand border security operations on such 
        southwest border.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Homeland Security $30,000,000 to carry 
out the border security operations required under subsection (b).

SEC. 5. COORDINATION.

    The Secretary of Homeland Security shall coordinate with the heads 
of other relevant Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies, as 
appropriate, to carry out in a comprehensive manner the border security 
operations required under this Act.
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