Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Enhance Southern Border Law Enforcement Coordination

Senators Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee reintroduced the Advanced Border Coordination Act to the US Senate on January 9th. This is the third time the bipartisan border law enforcement bill(Southern Border Law Enforcement Coordination Bill) has been implemented. It was first introduced in 2022 and later reintroduced in 2024, but never reached the enactment stage.

In both instances, the bill was sent to three House committees for consideration: the Committee on Homeland Security, the Judiciary Committee, as well as the Ways and Means Committee. However, it was introduced late in both sessions and “died” before ever having a hearing.

On the same day, representatives Susie Lee of Nevada, Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, Juan Ciscomani of Arizona and David Joyce of Ohio introduced companion legislation in the US House of Representatives. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation seeks to strengthen border security at the southern border of the US by improving law enforcement coordination and communication.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has occasionally established joint operations centres to help federal and local law enforcement agencies work together to bolster border security and crackdown on transnational crimes, such as human and drug trafficking. If enacted, the Blackburn Cortez Masto border bill would expand on this successful interagency cooperation by establishing the joint operation centres proposal.

The Advanced Border Coordination Act (Proposed)

This bipartisan border security bill aims to establish joint operation centres along the US-Mexico border, which will serve as centralised operating hubs tasked with coordinating border operations, workforce training and information sharing.

According to the bill, participating agencies would include the DHS, the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, other federal agencies that the DHS Secretary may deem appropriate, as well as state, local and tribal agencies that voluntarily choose to participate.

The Advanced Border Coordination Act proposes to address the southern border crisis by directing DHS to set up at least two joint operations centres along the southern border of the US. The objective is to offer unified coordination hubs where law enforcement agents from Federal, state, local and tribal agencies can collaborate.

These centres are intended to offer centralised operations hubs for:

• Implementing communication and coordination for field operations between participating agencies;
• Coordinating operations across participating agencies, including air, sea, ground or amphibious operations; and
• Supporting and coordinating border operations to deter and detect criminal activities related to illegal border crossings, transnational criminal organisations, seizure of drugs, seizure of weapons, terrorism, seizure of high-value property, drug trafficking, human trafficking and other matters as the DHS Secretary may consider appropriate.

The bill mandates information sharing among participating agencies to ensure effective operations. If enacted, federal agencies will be required to share pertinent information with participating state, local and tribal agencies through the joint operation centres. Federal agencies will also have to notify other participating agencies of operations occurring within their jurisdictions.

Additionally, the bipartisan border security bill would support the development of workforce capabilities by tracking and coordinating the deployment of participating personnel and coordinating training. Lastly, the DHS Secretary would be tasked with issuing annual reports to Congress on the centres’ operational activities and recommendations for coordinated federal actions.

The bill has been endorsed by the National Immigration Forum, the National Border Patrol Council, the Major Cities Chiefs Association and the Texas Border Coalition.

What Cosponsors from Both Sides of the Isle Are Saying

Over the years, Border Patrol officers have been overwhelmed by the unprecedented number of undocumented migrants arriving at the southern border. Therefore, there is a need for bipartisan efforts to strengthen border security by passing legislation that will enhance coordination and communication among federal and local law enforcement agencies.

“By establishing joint operation centres along the southern border, the Advanced Border Coordination Act would improve field operations and better equip Border Patrol to go after transnational gangs and hamper drug and human trafficking,” said Republican Senator Blackburn.

Democrat Senator Cortez Masto expressed similar sentiments, stating: “Border security shouldn’t be a controversial or partisan issue. We need to take common-sense steps to strengthen our border security and make sure our law enforcement officers are working together.”

Members of the political divide agree that the bipartisan border security enforcement bill is a step towards not only securing the southern border, but also restoring the rule of law. The common goal is to help detect and disrupt criminal networks by establishing critical joint operation centres.

During my time as Chairman of the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, I visited the southern border, spoke directly with Border Patrol agents and held hearings to uncover the direct causes of the disastrous border crisis we have experienced over the years,” said Republican Representative Joyce.

Basically, what everyone is saying is that Border Patrol needs help to protect the southern border of the US, and establishing joint operation centres is the best shot at delivering that help.

“I’ve consistently voted to secure the resources and reforms we need to fix our broken immigration system, and this bipartisan bill is a big step in the right direction. I’ll continue working with Republicans and Democrats to keep people safe and get common-sense legislation like this signed into law,” said Democrat Representative Susie Lee.

Preceding Bipartisan Border Security Legislations

There have been numerous bipartisan efforts to address challenges at the northern and southern borders of the US. In May 2023, the Dignity Act was introduced as a bipartisan bill seeking to address infrastructure and security challenges at the border, establish new pathways for asylum, hire additional border patrol agents and create a pathway for citizenship. The bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security on 17th December, 2024.

In September 2024, another bipartisan bill, Improving Coordination for the Northern Border Act, was introduced to compel DHS to establish the Northern Border Coordination Centre to bolster the coordination and implementation of the Northern Border Strategy.

Source:

Senator Blackburn’s Official Website

References:

H.R.285 – Advanced Border Coordination Act of 2025

Congressman Chris Pappas’s Official Website

Further Reading:

President Trump Declares National Emergency at Southern Border

Trump’s Bold Proposal: Canada as the Next US State?

DOJ Sues New York Over Sanctuary Policies

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