Border Tunnel Task Force Act

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish Border Tunnel Task Forces, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Border Tunnel Task Force Act 2. Border tunnel detection (a) In general Subtitle B of title IV of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 211 420. Border Tunnel Task Forces (a) Establishment The Secretary shall establish Border Tunnel Task Forces in jurisdictions in which such Border Tunnel Task Forces can contribute to border security missions after evaluating— (1) whether the areas in which such Border Tunnel Task Forces would be established are significantly impacted by cross-border threats; and (2) the availability of Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement resources to participate in such Border Tunnel Task Forces. (b) Purpose The purpose of the Border Tunnel Task Forces under subsection (a) is to enhance and integrate border security efforts by addressing and reducing cross-border tunnel related threats and violence by— (1) facilitating collaboration among Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to execute coordinated activities in furtherance of border security and homeland security; and (2) enhancing information-sharing, including the dissemination of homeland security information, among such agencies. (c) Composition and establishment of Border Tunnel Task Forces Border Tunnel Task Forces may be comprised of the following: (1) Personnel from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including the U.S. Border Patrol. (2) Personnel from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including Homeland Security Investigations. (3) Personnel from other Department components and offices, as appropriate. (4) Personnel from other Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies, as appropriate. (5) Other appropriate personnel at the discretion of the Secretary. (d) Duplication of efforts In determining whether to establish a new Border Tunnel Task Force or to expand an existing Border Tunnel Task Force in a given jurisdiction, the Secretary shall ensure that the Border Tunnel Task Force under consideration does not unnecessarily duplicate the efforts of other existing interagency task forces or centers within such jurisdiction. (e) Coordination among components The Secretary shall— (1) establish targets and performance measures for the Border Tunnel Task Forces that include consideration of whether border barriers impact cross-border tunnel threats; (2) direct leadership of each Border Tunnel Task Force to monitor progress on such targets and performance measures for each such task force; and (3) periodically report to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate regarding progress on such targets and performance measures. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 419 the following new item: Sec. 420. Border Tunnel Task Forces. . September 25, 2018 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: Border Tunnel Task Force Act (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish border tunnel task forces in jurisdictions in which such task forces can contribute to border security missions after evaluating: (1) whether the areas in which they would be established are significantly impacted by cross-border threats; and (2) the availability of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement resources to participate in such task forces. The purpose of the task forces is to enhance and integrate border security efforts by addressing and reducing cross-border tunnel related threats and violence by facilitating collaboration among law enforcement agencies and enhancing information sharing among such agencies. DHS shall: ensure that the task forces do not unnecessarily duplicate the efforts of other existing interagency task forces or centers within such jurisdiction, establish targets and performance measures for the task forces that include consideration of whether border barriers impact cross-border tunnel threats, direct leadership of each task force to monitor progress on such targets and performance measures for each such task force, and periodically report to the congressional homeland security committees regarding progress on such targets and performance measures.