I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1867 
To authorize additional resources for the Department of Homeland Security 
to enhance security activities along the international border with Mexico, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 2, 2009 
Mrs. KIRKPATRICK of Arizona (for herself and Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Homeland Security 
A BILL 
To authorize additional resources for the Department of 
Homeland Security to enhance security activities along 
the international border with Mexico, and for other pur-
poses. 
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 ‘‘Border Violence Pre-
vention Act of 2009’’. 
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SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF BORDER SECURITY OPERATIONS 
ALONG SOUTHWEST BORDER. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall expand 
border security operations along the southwest border be-
tween the United States and Mexico, including the south-
bound inspection and investigation of vehicles, to— 
(1) reduce the potential for border violence; 
(2) enhance border security; and 
(3) prevent the illicit flow of arms and bulk 
cash across such southwest border. 
SEC. 3. UNITED STATES CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTEC-
TION. 
(a) ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out section 2, the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, acting through the Commis-
sioner of United States Customs and Border Protection, 
shall— 
(1) increase southbound border security infra-
structure and inspection capabilities at ports of 
entry located on the southwest border between the 
United States and Mexico; 
(2) acquire and deploy at least two x-ray mobile 
inspection units to such southwest border; 
(3) acquire and deploy at least ten dual detec-
tion canine teams to such southwest border; 
(4) equip with license plate readers the out-
bound lanes at ports of entry located on such south-
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west border, as determined appropriate by the Sec-
retary; 
(5) acquire and equip United States Customs 
and Border Protection personnel with body armor; 
and 
(6) take any other related actions or activities 
required under section 2 to expand border security 
operations on such southwest border. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Home-
land Security $70,000,000 to carry out the border security 
operations required under subsection (a). 
SEC. 4. UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS EN-
FORCEMENT. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) United States Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement’s 
Border 
Enforcement 
Security 
Taskforce (BEST) units operate within the Depart-
ment of Homeland Security to enhance border secu-
rity and reduce cross-border violence by coordinating 
the enforcement and information sharing activities 
of Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies along the 
southwest border between the United States and 
Mexico. 
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(2) The Department of Homeland Security, 
through United States Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement’s ‘‘Armas Cruzadas’’, coordinates key 
enforcement and intelligence personnel to address 
the border security threat represented by the illegal 
export of weapons from the United States into Mex-
ico. 
(3) An increase in United States Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement resources along such 
southwest border will help prevent cross-border vio-
lence by helping to reduce the illicit flow of narcotics 
into the United States and arms and bulk cash into 
Mexico. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out section 2, the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, acting through the Assistant 
Secretary of United States Immigration and Customs En-
forcement, shall— 
(1) hire and deploy at least 100 additional 
United States Immigration and Customs Enforce-
ment personnel to be assigned to Border Enforce-
ment Security Taskforce units involved in efforts to 
reduce southwest border violence over the number of 
such personnel so assigned as of the date of the en-
actment of this Act; 
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(2) improve existing Border Enforcement Secu-
rity Taskforce facilities and acquire new space for 
Border Enforcement Security Taskforce units along 
such southwest border locations; 
(3) increase resources and personnel for Oper-
ation Armas Cruzadas over the resources obligated 
and personnel so assigned as of the date of the en-
actment of this Act; and 
(4) take any other related actions or activities 
required under section 2 to expand border security 
operations on such southwest border. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Home-
land Security $30,000,000 to carry out the border security 
operations required under subsection (b). 
SEC. 5. COORDINATION. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall coordinate 
with the heads of other relevant Federal, State, local, and 
tribal agencies, as appropriate, to carry out in a com-
prehensive manner the border security operations required 
under this Act. 
Æ 
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