Illicit Arms Trafficking Security Enforcement Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 5849 To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a Border Enforce- ment Security Task Force unit to investigate transnational criminal organization arms smuggling across the international border between the United States and Mexico, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 11, 2020 Mr. GALLAGHER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security A BILL To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a Border Enforcement Security Task Force unit to inves- tigate transnational criminal organization arms smug- gling across the international border between the United States and Mexico, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Illicit Arms Trafficking 4 Security Enforcement Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Feb 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5849.IH H5849 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 5849 IH SEC. 2. BORDER ENFORCEMENT SECURITY TASK FORCE 1 UNIT FOR ARMS SMUGGLING. 2 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 3 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 4 Homeland Security shall, pursuant to section 432 of the 5 Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 240), establish, 6 in consultation with the National Targeting Center of U.S. 7 Customs and Border Protection and the Bureau of Alco- 8 hol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives of the Department 9 of Justice, a Border Enforcement Security Task Force 10 unit to investigate transnational criminal organization 11 arms smuggling across the international border between 12 the United States and Mexico. 13 (b) PURPOSES.—The Border Enforcement Security 14 Task Force unit established in accordance with subsection 15 (a) shall focus on the following: 16 (1) Reducing arms smuggling of weapons, 17 weapon parts, munitions, explosives, and related 18 items from the United States to Mexico. 19 (2) Apprehending, or working with relevant law 20 enforcement to apprehend, arms smugglers within 21 the United States or crossing from the United 22 States to Mexico. 23 (3) Ensuring coordination with the Bureau of 24 Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to re- 25 ceive comprehensive data on seized firearms in Mex- 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Feb 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5849.IH H5849 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 5849 IH ico through an electronic tracing system or a suc- 1 cessor system. 2 (4) Deconflicting arms trafficking investigations 3 between the Department of Homeland Security and 4 the Department of Justice. 5 (c) COMPOSITION.—The Border Enforcement Secu- 6 rity Task Force unit established in accordance with sub- 7 section (a) shall be composed of the following: 8 (1) U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 9 (2) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforce- 10 ment, led by Homeland Security Investigations. 11 (3) Other Department of Homeland Security 12 personnel, as appropriate. 13 (4) The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, 14 and Explosives, with the approval of the Attorney 15 General. 16 (5) Other Federal, State, local, Tribal, and for- 17 eign law enforcement agencies, including Mexican 18 law enforcement agencies, as appropriate. 19 (d) RESOURCES.—Not later than 180 days after the 20 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Home- 21 land Security, in coordination with the Attorney General, 22 shall submit to Congress a report that identifies tech- 23 nology, dedicated personnel, and other resources required 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Feb 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5849.IH H5849 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 5849 IH for the following purposes relating to the establishment 1 of the BEST unit in accordance with subsection (a): 2 (1) Continuation of Operation Without a Trace 3 and related Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, 4 and Explosives agency strategy. 5 (2) Conducting pilot programs and operations. 6 (3) Joint training operations. 7 (e) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—Not later 8 than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 9 the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney 10 General shall update the 2009 memorandum of under- 11 standing between Homeland Security Investigations and 12 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives 13 relating to improving coordination on efforts to combat il- 14 legal arms trafficking. 15 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Feb 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H5849.IH H5849 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS