Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2022”.
Border Enforcement Security Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2022
A BILL
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to reauthorize the Border Enforcement Security Task Force program of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Updated considerations for the establishment of BEST units
in general— Paragraph (2) of section 432(c) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 240(c)) is amended—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “the Secretary shall consider” and inserting “the Secretary shall apply risk-based criteria that takes into consideration”;
in subparagraph (A), by inserting before the semicolon the following: “, including threats posed by transnational criminal organizations”;
in subparagraph (C), by striking “and” after the semicolon;
in subparagraph (D), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
“(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— Subsection (c) of section 432 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 240(c)) is amended by—
redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph:
“(3) Port security BEST units—A BEST unit established pursuant to paragraph (2) with a port security nexus shall be composed of at least one member of each of the following:
“(A) The Coast Guard Investigative Service.
“(B) The geographically-responsible Coast Guard Sector Intelligence Office.”
Updated considerations for operation— Paragraph (2) of section 432(d) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 240(d)) is amended by inserting “salary reimbursement,” before “operational”.
Updated report elements— Subsection (e) of section 432 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (620 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 section and annually there after for the following five years, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that includes the following:
“(1) A description of the effectiveness of BEST in enhancing border security, disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations, and reducing drug trafficking, arms smuggling, 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.
“(3) A description of how BEST advances the Department’s homeland and border security strategic priorities and effectiveness of BEST in achieving related objectives.
“(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.”
Technical amendment— Section 432 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (620 U.S.C. 240) is amended by striking “tribal” each place such term appears and inserting “Tribal”.