I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1120 
To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a Border Enforce-
ment 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 inves-
tigate transnational criminal organization arms smug-
gling across the international border between the United 
States and Mexico, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Illicit Arms Trafficking 
Security Enforcement Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. BORDER ENFORCEMENT SECURITY TASK FORCE 
UNIT FOR ARMS SMUGGLING. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall, pursuant to section 432 of the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 240), establish, 
in consultation with the National Targeting Center of U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection and the Bureau of Alco-
hol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives of the Department 
of Justice, a Border Enforcement Security Task Force 
unit to investigate transnational criminal organization 
arms smuggling across the international border between 
the United States and Mexico. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The Border Enforcement Security 
Task Force unit established in accordance with subsection 
(a) shall focus on the following: 
(1) Reducing arms smuggling of weapons, 
weapon parts, munitions, explosives, and related 
items from the United States to Mexico. 
(2) Apprehending, or working with relevant law 
enforcement to apprehend, arms smugglers within 
the United States or crossing from the United 
States to Mexico. 
(3) Ensuring coordination with the Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to re-
ceive comprehensive data on seized firearms in Mex-
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ico through an electronic tracing system or a suc-
cessor system. 
(4) Deconflicting arms trafficking investigations 
between the Department of Homeland Security and 
the Department of Justice. 
(c) COMPOSITION.—The Border Enforcement Secu-
rity Task Force unit established in accordance with sub-
section (a) shall be composed of the following: 
(1) U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 
(2) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforce-
ment, led by Homeland Security Investigations. 
(3) Other Department of Homeland Security 
personnel, as appropriate. 
(4) The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, 
and Explosives, with the approval of the Attorney 
General. 
(5) Other Federal, State, local, Tribal, and for-
eign law enforcement agencies, including Mexican 
law enforcement agencies, as appropriate. 
(d) RESOURCES.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Home-
land Security, in coordination with the Attorney General, 
shall submit to Congress a report that identifies tech-
nology, dedicated personnel, and other resources required 
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for the following purposes relating to the establishment 
of the BEST unit in accordance with subsection (a): 
(1) Continuation of Operation Without a Trace 
and related Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, 
and Explosives agency strategy. 
(2) Conducting pilot programs and operations. 
(3) Joint training operations. 
(e) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney 
General shall update the 2009 memorandum of under-
standing between Homeland Security Investigations and 
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives 
relating to improving coordination on efforts to combat il-
legal arms trafficking. 
Æ 
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