SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Border Security, Cooperation, and Act Now Drug War 
Prevention Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings. 
TITLE I—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Sec. 101. Emergency deployment of United States Border Patrol agents. 
Sec. 102. Emergency deployment of DEA agents. 
Sec. 103. Emergency deployment of ATF agents. 
Sec. 104. Elimination of fixed deployment of United States border patrol 
agents. 
Sec. 105. Helicopters and power boats. 
Sec. 106. Control of United States border patrol assets. 
Sec. 107. Motor vehicles. 
Sec. 108. Portable computers. 
Sec. 109. Radio communications. 
Sec. 110. Hand-held global positioning system devices. 
Sec. 111. Night vision equipment. 
Sec. 112. Border armor. 
Sec. 113. Weapons. 
Sec. 114. Uniforms. 
Sec. 115. Task force. 
TITLE II—BORDER RELIEF 
Sec. 201. Border relief grant program. 
Sec. 202. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 203. Enforcement of Federal immigration law. 
Sec. 204. Regulations. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) In 2008, the violence between Mexican drug 
gangs fighting for trafficking routes to the United 
States killed approximately 6,000 people in Mexico, 
including more than 500 police officers and soldiers. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:00 Apr 08, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1900.IH
H1900
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
(2) In the first eight weeks of 2009, more than 
1,000 people were killed as a result of the drug war. 
(3) In March 2009, Mexico sent an additional 
3,200 soldiers to the border, increasing the total 
number of Mexican solders combating drug cartels 
to more than 45,000. 
(4) Over 200 United States citizens have been 
killed in the drug war, either because they were in-
volved in the cartels or were innocent bystanders. 
(5) The drug trade in Mexico include mari-
juana, 
heroin, 
cocaine, 
and 
methamphetamine 
(meth). 
(6) Mexico is the conduit for most of the co-
caine—approximately 90 percent—in the United 
States, the source for much of the heroin consumed 
in this country, and the largest foreign supplier of 
marijuana and meth to other markets. 
(7) Estimates indicate a vast majority of the 
cocaine available in the United States market is 
smuggled by Mexican cartels across the United 
States-Mexico border. 
(8) Cartels are becoming increasingly involved 
in the trafficking of meth because of the large profit 
margins they obtain from controlling the drug from 
manufacture to distribution. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:00 Apr 08, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1900.IH
H1900
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
(9) The drug cartels have criminal earnings in 
excess of $25 billion per year and physically send 
more than $10 billion a year in bulk cash back into 
Mexico from the United States. 
(10) According to the 2009 National Drug 
Threat Assessment, Mexican drug trafficking organi-
zations are the greatest drug trafficking threat to 
the United States. 
(11) Mexico’s cartels have existed for some 
time, but have become increasingly powerful in re-
cent years with the demise of once powerful cartels 
in Colombia and the closure of trafficking routes 
through Florida. 
(12) The Colombian cartels still play a role in 
the United States drug trade. 
(13) The Drug Enforcement Administration 
(DEA) maintains that the Mexican cartels now com-
mand and control the drug trade and show the hall-
marks of organized crime, such as organizing into 
distinct cells with subordinate cells, including gangs, 
which operate throughout the United States. 
(14) Mexican cartels control drug distribution 
in most United States cities, and they are gaining 
strength in markets that they do not yet control. 
The 2009 National Drug Threat Assessment indi-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:00 Apr 08, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1900.IH
H1900
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
cates that Mexican cartels maintain drug distribu-
tion networks or supply drugs to distributors in at 
least 230 United States cities, including in Alaska 
and Hawaii. 
(15) The Federal Government provides States 
and local governments with assistance in covering 
the costs related to the fight against the drug cartels 
and the prosecution of such drug cases, local law en-
forcement along the border is in need of assistance 
in covering expenses. Local law enforcement uses its 
limited resources to combat drug trafficking, human 
smuggling, kidnappings, the destruction of private 
property, and other border security related crimes. 
The United States shares 1,989 miles along its bor-
der with Mexico. Federal assistance is required to 
help local law enforcement. 
TITLE I—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 101. EMERGENCY DEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES 
BORDER PATROL AGENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—If the Governor of a State on an 
international border of the United States declares an 
international border security emergency, including actions 
involving Mexican drug gangs fighting for trafficking 
routes involved in violent drug wars, and requests addi-
tional United States Border Patrol agents from the Sec-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:00 Apr 08, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1900.IH
H1900
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
retary of Homeland Security, the Secretary is authorized, 
subject to subsections (b) and (c), to provide the State 
with up to 500 additional United States Border Patrol 
agents for the purpose of patrolling and defending the 
international border, in order to prevent individuals from 
crossing the international border and entering the United 
States at any location other than an authorized port of 
entry. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall consult with the President upon receipt of 
a request under subsection (a), and shall grant it to the 
extent that providing the requested assistance will not sig-
nificantly impair the Department of Homeland Security’s 
ability to provide border security for any other State. 
(c) COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.—Emergency deploy-
ments under this section shall be made in conformance 
with all collective bargaining agreements and obligations. 
SEC. 102. EMERGENCY DEPLOYMENT OF DEA AGENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—If the Governor of a State on an 
international border of the United States declares an 
international border security emergency and requests ad-
ditional Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents 
from the Attorney General, the Attorney General is au-
thorized, subject to subsections (b) and (c), to provide the 
State with up to 500 additional DEA agents for the pur-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:00 Apr 08, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1900.IH
H1900
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
pose of combating the inflow of drugs along trafficking 
routes to the United States. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—The Attorney General shall 
consult with the President upon receipt of a request under 
subsection (a), and shall grant it to the extent that pro-
viding the requested assistance will not significantly im-
pair the Attorney General’s ability to provide DEA agents 
for any other State. 
(c) COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.—Emergency deploy-
ments under this section shall be made in conformance 
with all collective bargaining agreements and obligations. 
SEC. 103. EMERGENCY DEPLOYMENT OF ATF AGENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—If the Governor of a State on an 
international border of the United States declares an 
international border security emergency and requests ad-
ditional Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explo-
sives (ATF) agents from the Attorney General, the Attor-
ney General is authorized, subject to subsections (b) and 
(c), to provide the State with up to 500 additional ATF 
agents for the purpose of combating the inflow of fire-
arms, explosives, alcohol, and tobacco along smuggling 
routes to the United States. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—The Attorney General shall 
consult with the President upon receipt of a request under 
subsection (a), and shall grant it to the extent that pro-
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:00 Apr 08, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1900.IH
H1900
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
viding the requested assistance will not significantly im-
pair the Attorney General’s ability to provide ATF agents 
for any other State. 
(c) COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.—Emergency deploy-
ments under this section shall be made in conformance 
with all collective bargaining agreements and obligations. 
SEC. 104. ELIMINATION OF FIXED DEPLOYMENT OF UNITED 
STATES BORDER PATROL AGENTS. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure 
that no United States Border Patrol agent is precluded 
from performing patrol duties and apprehending violators 
of law, except in unusual circumstances where the tem-
porary use of fixed deployment positions is necessary. 
SEC. 105. HELICOPTERS AND POWER BOATS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity shall increase by not fewer than 100 the number of 
United States Border Patrol helicopters, and shall in-
crease by not fewer than 250 the number of United States 
Border Patrol power boats. The Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall ensure that appropriate types of helicopters 
are procured for the various missions being performed. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security also shall ensure that 
the types of power boats that are procured are appropriate 
for both the waterways in which they are used and the 
mission requirements. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:00 Apr 08, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1900.IH
H1900
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
(b) USE AND TRAINING.—The Secretary of Home-
land Security shall establish an overall policy on how the 
helicopters and power boats described in subsection (a) 
will be used and implement training programs for the 
agents who use them, including safe operating procedures 
and rescue operations. 
SEC. 106. CONTROL OF UNITED STATES BORDER PATROL 
ASSETS. 
The United States Border Patrol shall have complete 
and exclusive administrative and operational control over 
all the assets utilized in carrying out its mission, includ-
ing, aircraft, watercraft, vehicles, detention space, trans-
portation, and all of the personnel associated with such 
assets. 
SEC. 107. MOTOR VEHICLES. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish 
a fleet of motor vehicles appropriate for use by the United 
States Border Patrol that will permit a ratio of at least 
one police-type vehicle per every 3 United States Border 
Patrol agents. Additionally, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall ensure that there are sufficient numbers 
and types of other motor vehicles to support the mission 
of the United States Border Patrol. All vehicles will be 
chosen on the basis of appropriateness for use by the 
United States Border Patrol, and each vehicle shall have 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:00 Apr 08, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1900.IH
H1900
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
a ‘‘panic button’’ and a global positioning system device 
that is activated solely in emergency situations for the 
purpose of tracking the location of an agent in distress. 
The police-type vehicles shall be replaced at least every 
3 years. 
SEC. 108. PORTABLE COMPUTERS. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure 
that each police-type motor vehicle in the fleet of the 
United States Border Patrol is equipped with a portable 
computer with access to all necessary law enforcement 
databases and otherwise suited to the unique operational 
requirements of the United States Border Patrol. 
SEC. 109. RADIO COMMUNICATIONS. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall augment 
the existing radio communications system so all law en-
forcement personnel working in every area where United 
States Border Patrol operations are conducted have clear 
and encrypted two-way radio communication capabilities 
at all times. Each portable communications device shall 
be equipped with a ‘‘panic button’’ and a global posi-
tioning system device that is activated solely in emergency 
situations for the purpose of tracking the location of the 
agent in distress. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:00 Apr 08, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1900.IH
H1900
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
SEC. 110. HAND-HELD GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM DE-
VICES. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure 
that each United States Border Patrol agent is issued a 
state-of-the-art hand-held global positioning system device 
for navigational purposes. 
SEC. 111. NIGHT VISION EQUIPMENT. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure 
that sufficient quantities of state-of-the-art night vision 
equipment are procured and maintained to enable each 
United States Border Patrol agent working during the 
hours of darkness to be equipped with a portable night 
vision device. 
SEC. 112. BORDER ARMOR. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure 
that every United States Border Patrol agent is issued 
high-quality body armor that is appropriate for the climate 
and risks faced by the individual officer. Each officer shall 
be allowed to select from among a variety of approved 
brands and styles. Officers shall be strongly encouraged, 
but not mandated, to wear such body armor whenever 
practicable. All body armor shall be replaced at least every 
5 years. 
SEC. 113. WEAPONS. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure 
that United States Border Patrol agents are equipped 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:00 Apr 08, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1900.IH
H1900
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
with weapons that are reliable and effective to protect 
themselves, their fellow officers, and innocent third parties 
from the threats posed by armed criminals. In addition, 
the Secretary shall ensure that the Department’s policies 
allow all such officers to carry weapons that are suited 
to the potential threats that they face. 
SEC. 114. UNIFORMS. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure 
that all United States Border Patrol agents are provided 
with all necessary uniform items, including outerwear suit-
ed to the climate, footwear, belts, holsters, and personal 
protective equipment, at no cost to such agents. Such 
items shall be replaced at no cost to such agents as they 
become worn, unserviceable, or no longer fit properly. 
SEC. 115. TASK FORCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a task force 
to be known as the ATF, DEA, and Border Patrol Task 
Force. The task force shall be composed of members ap-
pointed by the President from among representatives of 
the United States Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement 
Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire-
arms, and Explosives. There shall be an equal number of 
representatives from each agency. 
(b) DUTIES.—The task force shall meet not less than 
once per month during a 2-year period in order to monitor 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:00 Apr 08, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1900.IH
H1900
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS