Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017”.
Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2017
A BILL
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to reauthorize the Border Enforcement Security Task Force program within the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Modified instructions
Updated considerations for the establishment of units— Section 432(c)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 240(c)) is amended—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “shall consider” and inserting “shall apply risk-based criteria that takes into consideration”;
in subparagraph (A), by inserting “, including threats posed by transnational criminal organizations” before the semicolon at the end;
in subparagraph (C), by striking “and” at the end;
in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(E) the extent to which the BEST unit would advance the Department’s homeland and border security strategic priorities and related objectives; and
“(F) whether departmental Joint Task Force operations established pursuant to section 708 and other joint cross-border initiatives would be enhanced, improved, or otherwise assisted by the BEST unit.”
Port security— Section 432(c) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the end the following:
“(4) Port security BEST units—A BEST unit established pursuant to paragraph (2) with a port security nexus shall be composed of at least 1 member of each of the following:
“(A) The Coast Guard Investigative Service.
“(B) The geographically responsible Coast Guard Sector Intelligence Office.”
Updated report elements— Section 432(e) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 240(e)) is amended to read as follows:
“(e) Report—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, and annually thereafter for the following 5 years, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes—
“(1) a description of the effectiveness of BEST in enhancing border security, disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations, and reducing drug trafficking, arms smuggling, child exploitation, illegal alien trafficking and smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across the international borders of the United States, as measured by crime statistics, including violent deaths, incidents of violence, and drug-related arrests;
“(2) an assessment of how BEST enhances information-sharing, including the dissemination of homeland security information, among Federal, State, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agencies, as well as BEST capability gaps relating to intelligence coordinating and sharing efforts;
“(3) a description of how BEST advances the Department’s homeland and border security strategic priorities and effectiveness of BEST in achieving related objectives; and
“(4) an assessment of BEST’s joint operational efforts with departmental Joint Task Force operations established pursuant to section 708 and other joint cross-border initiatives;.
“(5) An assessment of whether additional authorities are needed to accomplish the BEST mission;
“(6) An assessment of whether additional Memos of Understanding are needed to address intelligence and coordination gaps; and
“(7) An assessment of whether funding has an impact on the overall mission of BEST operations to assist in advancing the Department’s homeland and border security priorities and related objectives.”
Sec. 3 Authorization of danger pay allowance for ICE agents stationed in dangerous areas
Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that providing personnel danger pay to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who are assigned to dangerous overseas posts will—
help modernize ICE’s overseas workforce compensation system; and
place ICE on equal footing with the law enforcement agencies of the Department of Justice.
Authorization— Section 5928 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting “The Secretary of State may not deny a request by the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to authorize a danger pay allowance under this section for any employee of any such agency.” after the first sentence.
Conforming amendment— Section 151 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 (Public Law 101–246) is repealed.
Reporting requirement— Not later than 30 days after the date on which regulations are issued pursuant to subsection (d), the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives that specifies—
the overseas posts that have been designated by the Director as locations at which ICE agents will receive a danger pay allowance; and
the justification for each such designation.