Blackburn, Cortez Masto Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Law Enforcement Coordination at the U.S. Southern Border

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) reintroduced the Advanced Border Coordination Act. This bipartisan legislation would strengthen border security by improving law enforcement communication and coordination at the U.S. southern border. Representatives David Joyce (R-Ohio) and Susie Lee (D-Nev.) have introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"U.S. Border Patrol agents have been completely overwhelmed by the unprecedented number of illegal aliens arriving at our border, and we need to strengthen border security by improving communication and coordination on the ground," said Senator Blackburn. "By establishing joint operation centers 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."

"Border security shouldn't be a controversial or partisan issue. We need to take commonsense steps to strengthen our border security and make sure our law enforcement officers are working together," said Senator Cortez Masto. "By establishing joint operations centers along the southern border, this bipartisan bill will help us combat transnational crime, from drug trafficking to human trafficking, and keep our communities safe."

"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 for years," said Congressman Joyce. "This bill is a step towards restoring the rule of law and securing our borders by establishing critical joint operations centers to detect drug and human trafficking and disrupt criminal networks. Americans deserve to feel safe, and to actually be safe, and this bill will help accomplish that goal."

"Border Patrol officers need all the help they can get to protect our southern border, and Joint Operation Centers are a proven way to make that happen," said Congresswoman Susie Lee. "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 commonsense legislation like this signed into law."

BACKGROUND:

• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has periodically established joint operations hubs to help federal and local law enforcement work together to strengthen border security and crack down on transnational crime including drug and human trafficking. This bill would expand on this successful interagency cooperation model by establishing joint operations hubs along the southern border.

ADVANCED BORDER COORDINATION ACT:

Specifically, the Advanced Border Coordination Act would:

• Direct DHS to establish at least two joint operations centers along the southern border. These hubs would help law enforcement from multiple federal, state, local, and Tribal agencies work together.
• Establish these centralized hubs to improve field operations, help detect and deter criminal activity like drug and human trafficking, and support training coordination between participating agencies.
• Require an annual report to Congress on the centers' operational activities and recommendations for coordinated federal actions at the southern border.

https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/1/issues/immigration/blackburn-cortez-masto-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-law-enforcement-coordination-at-the-u-s-southern-border