HR 915 RFS 
(ICE) a program known as a Border Enforcement Secu-
rity Task Force (referred to as ‘‘BEST’’). 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the BEST program 
is to establish units to enhance border security by address-
ing and reducing border security threats and violence by— 
(1) facilitating collaboration among Federal, 
State, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement 
agencies to execute coordinated activities in further-
ance of border security, and homeland security; and 
(2) enhancing information-sharing, including 
the dissemination of homeland security information 
among such agencies. 
(c) COMPOSITION AND DESIGNATION.— 
(1) COMPOSITION.—BEST units may be com-
prised of personnel from— 
(A) United States Immigration and Cus-
toms Enforcement; 
(B) United States Customs and Border 
Protection; 
(C) the United States Coast Guard; 
(D) other Federal agencies, as appropriate; 
(E) appropriate State law enforcement 
agencies; 
(F) foreign law enforcement agencies, as 
appropriate; 
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HR 915 RFS 
(G) local law enforcement agencies from 
affected border cities and communities; and 
(H) appropriate tribal law enforcement 
agencies. 
(2) DESIGNATION.—The Secretary of Home-
land Security, acting through the Assistant Sec-
retary for ICE, is authorized to establish BEST 
units in jurisdictions where such units can con-
tribute to the BEST program’s missions, as appro-
priate. Prior to establishing a BEST unit, the As-
sistant Secretary shall consider the following factors: 
(A) Whether the area where the BEST 
unit would be established is significantly im-
pacted by cross-border threats. 
(B) The availability of Federal, State, 
local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement re-
sources to participate in the BEST unit. 
(C) The extent to which border security 
threats are having a significant harmful impact 
in the jurisdiction in which the BEST unit is 
to be established, and other jurisdictions of the 
country. 
(D) Whether or not an Integrated Border 
Enforcement Team already exists in the area 
where the BEST unit would be established. 
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(d) OPERATION.—After making a designation under 
subsection (c)(2), and in order to provide Federal assist-
ance to the area so designated, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security may— 
(1) obligate such sums as are appropriated for 
the BEST program; 
(2) direct the assignment of Federal personnel 
to the BEST program, subject to the approval of the 
head of the department or agency that employs such 
personnel; and 
(3) take other actions to assist State, local, 
tribal, and foreign jurisdictions to participate in the 
BEST program. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the establishment of the BEST program under sub-
section (a) and annually thereafter, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall submit to Congress a report on 
the effectiveness of the BEST program in enhancing bor-
der security and reducing the drug trafficking, arms 
smuggling, illegal alien trafficking and smuggling, vio-
lence, and kidnapping along and across the international 
borders of the United States as measured by crime statis-
tics, including violent deaths, incidents of violence, and 
drug-related arrests. 
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(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Home-
land Security $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 
through 2016 to— 
(1) establish and operate the BEST program, 
including to provide for operational, administrative, 
and technological costs to Federal, State, local, trib-
al and foreign law enforcement agencies partici-
pating in the BEST program; and 
(2) investigate, apprehend, and prosecute indi-
viduals engaged in drug trafficking, arms smuggling, 
illegal alien trafficking and smuggling, violence, and 
kidnapping along and across the international bor-
ders of the United States. 
Passed the House of Representatives May 30, 2012. 
Attest: 
KAREN L. HAAS, 
Clerk. 
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