House Republicans are pushing forward a new bill aimed at revamping security measures and addressing significant staffing shortages at the US-Canadian border, especially as the northern border isn’t getting as much attention compared to the southern border.
On Tuesday, House GOP leader Ellis Stefanik (NY) collaborated with Reps. Pete Stauber (R-MN) and Nick Langworthy (R-NY) to introduce the Border Security and Staffing Reform Act.
Lawmakers noted that the last comprehensive threat analysis for the northern border was carried out back in 2017, and the strategy for this border has remained largely unchanged since 2018, even amidst rising concerns.
Currently, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is short by approximately 5,800 officers. Committee member Troy Miller has pointed out that last year, projections from the House of Representatives’ Homeland Security Budget Subcommittee indicated a startling 400% increase in expected officer retirements by 2028.
At least 2,220 officers are anticipated to retire by 2028, significantly more than the average of around 500 retirements per year, according to CBP.
The proposed legislation mandates that if enacted, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must conduct a new threat analysis for the northern border within 180 days, with follow-up analyses required every five years. These future assessments will include evaluations on staffing and plans to tackle existing personnel challenges.
Additionally, the bill aims to create a council to ensure CBP responds proactively to the staffing crisis and the potential impact of retirements.
Stefanik, also a member of both the Northern Border Caucus and the Northern Border Security Caucus, expressed her commitment to protecting residents of upstate New York and the North Country from various threats.
She stated, “I’m collaborating with DHS to refresh the Northern Border Threat Analysis and tackle the staffing issues that have left certain states vulnerable to illegal immigration, including potential terrorists and drug traffickers.”
Stauber remarked that while concerns at the southern border seem to have reached historic lows, persistent issues on the northern border hinder achieving similar success.
“The northern border, often overlooked, faces understaffing, exposing Minnesota and the nation to risks linked to illegal immigration,” he added. “This legislation seeks a data-driven approach to resolve these issues and bolster security at the northern border.”
He continued, “We’re proud to jointly lead this crucial bill to improve security along the northern border. With an outdated threat assessment and an impending staffing crisis in northern ports, urgent action is necessary to safeguard our communities and our country.”
“The Northern Border hasn’t had a thorough threat analysis since 2017, and the strategy has not seen updates in over six years,” he remarked. “CBP is already confronting a shortage of nearly 6,000 officers and a spike in retirements anticipated by 2028.”
“Our region is continuously striving to ensure it receives the necessary resources and strategic attention it requires.”
