I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1120 

To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a Border Enforcement Security Task Force unit to investigate transnational criminal 

organization arms smuggling across the international border between 

the United States and Mexico, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 18, 2021 

Mr. GALLAGHER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Homeland Security 

A BILL 

To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish 

a Border Enforcement Security Task Force unit to investigate transnational criminal organization arms smuggling across the international border between the United 

States and Mexico, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Illicit Arms Trafficking 

5 Security Enforcement Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. BORDER ENFORCEMENT SECURITY TASK FORCE 

2 UNIT FOR ARMS SMUGGLING. 

3 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 

4 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 

5 Homeland Security shall, pursuant to section 432 of the 

6 Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 240), establish, 

7 in consultation with the National Targeting Center of U.S. 

8 Customs and Border Protection and the Bureau of Alco9 hol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives of the Department 

10 of Justice, a Border Enforcement Security Task Force 

11 unit to investigate transnational criminal organization 

12 arms smuggling across the international border between 

13 the United States and Mexico. 

14 (b) PURPOSES.—The Border Enforcement Security 

15 Task Force unit established in accordance with subsection 

16 (a) shall focus on the following: 

17 (1) Reducing arms smuggling of weapons, 

18 weapon parts, munitions, explosives, and related 

19 items from the United States to Mexico. 

20 (2) Apprehending, or working with relevant law 

21 enforcement to apprehend, arms smugglers within 

22 the United States or crossing from the United 

23 States to Mexico. 

24 (3) Ensuring coordination with the Bureau of 

25 Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to re26 ceive comprehensive data on seized firearms in MexVerDate Sep 11 2014 16:08 Mar 13, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1120.IH H1120

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1 ico through an electronic tracing system or a suc2 cessor system. 

3 (4) Deconflicting arms trafficking investigations 

4 between the Department of Homeland Security and 

5 the Department of Justice. 

6 (c) COMPOSITION.—The Border Enforcement Secu7 rity Task Force unit established in accordance with sub8 section (a) shall be composed of the following: 

9 (1) U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 

10 (2) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforce11 ment, led by Homeland Security Investigations. 

12 (3) Other Department of Homeland Security 

13 personnel, as appropriate. 

14 (4) The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, 

15 and Explosives, with the approval of the Attorney 

16 General. 

17 (5) Other Federal, State, local, Tribal, and for18 eign law enforcement agencies, including Mexican 

19 law enforcement agencies, as appropriate. 

20 (d) RESOURCES.—Not later than 180 days after the 

21 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Home22 land Security, in coordination with the Attorney General, 

23 shall submit to Congress a report that identifies tech24 nology, dedicated personnel, and other resources required 


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1 for the following purposes relating to the establishment 

2 of the BEST unit in accordance with subsection (a): 

3 (1) Continuation of Operation Without a Trace 

4 and related Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, 

5 and Explosives agency strategy. 

6 (2) Conducting pilot programs and operations. 

7 (3) Joint training operations. 

8 (e) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—Not later 

9 than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

10 the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney 

11 General shall update the 2009 memorandum of under12 standing between Homeland Security Investigations and 

13 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives 

14 relating to improving coordination on efforts to combat il15 legal arms trafficking. 

Æ 


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