House moves to Protect Borders Monitor Terrorist Travel
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. As Texas continues to struggle with
growing illegal immigration problems and our nation looks to prevent another terrorist attack on U.S. soil t
hese bills hold President Obama and his appointed officials accountable for the safety of all Americans.
Its time this White House steps up to help secure our border and protect us from
those who plan to inflict harm" said
Congressman Kevin Brady after the passage of H.R. 4482 the Southwest Border Security Threat Assessment Act of 2016 and H.R. 4403 the Enhancing Overseas Traveler Vetting Act.
Collectively the bills require the Secretary of Homeland Security to
submit a Southwest Border Threat Analysis and develop an open-source software designed to
screen travelers by checking law enforcement databases and terrorist watch lists.
Background: H.R. 4482 The Southwest Border Security Threat Assessment Act of 2016 directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to submit a southwest border threat analysis that includes an assessment of:
- Terrorism & criminal threats posed by individuals and organized groups seeking to unlawfully enter the United States through the southwest border or seeking to exploit border vulnerabilities along such border;
- Improvements needed at and between ports of entry along such border to prevent terrorists and instruments of terror from entering the United States;
- Gaps in law policy cooperation between state local or tribal law enforcement international agreements or tribal agreements that hinder effective and efficient border security counterterrorism anti-human smuggling and trafficking efforts and the flow of legitimate trade along such border; and
- The current percentage of situational awareness and of operational control of U.S. borders achieved by DHS of the international land and maritime borders of the United States.
H.R. 4403 the Enhancing Overseas Traveler Vetting Act
would authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State to develop open-source software that would be designed to screen travelers by checking law enforcement databases and terrorist watch lists. The software would be shared with foreign governments and multilateral organizations.
The bill would require DHS and the Department of State within 60 days of enactment to submit to the Congress a plan to develop and share such software.
