Tren de Aragua Southwest Border Security Threat Assessment Act
Impact
The bill's provisions require that the threat assessment must include an identification of the gang's origins, strategic aims, tactical methods, funding sources, leadership structure, and its historical presence in the United States. Following this assessment, a strategic plan is to be submitted by the Secretary, outlining efforts to combat the identified threats, enhance border security measures, and foster collaboration among federal and state law enforcement entities. This framework aims to strengthen national security by proactively addressing the dangers posed by transnational criminal organizations.
Summary
House Bill 9752, titled the 'Tren de Aragua Southwest Border Security Threat Assessment Act,' aims to address security concerns related to the Tren de Aragua gang and its activities along the southwest border of the United States. The bill mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with relevant federal agencies, to conduct a thorough threat assessment on Tren de Aragua within 180 days of the bill's enactment. This assessment is to identify both current and potential criminal threats posed by members of the gang as they seek to unlawfully penetrate U.S. borders or exploit vulnerabilities in border security.
Contention
While the bill is largely focused on ensuring national security and mitigating criminal threats associated with Tren de Aragua, there may be points of contention surrounding civil rights and the balance between security measures and personal freedoms. Critics may raise concerns about potential overreach by federal authorities in their efforts to combat threats, particularly in relation to local law enforcement practices and community safety. Thus, the effectiveness and implications of the bill will likely be analyzed in terms of both its security benefits and its impacts on local governance and civil liberties.
Security First ActThis bill reauthorizes the Operation Stonegarden program from FY2025 through FY2028 and addresses other border security issues. (Operation Stonegarden provides grants to enhance the border security capabilities of state, local, and tribal governments.)From FY2025 through FY2028, the money from unreported monetary instruments seized from individuals crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and transferred into the Department of the Treasury general fund shall be made available without further appropriation to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to fund Operation Stonegarden.DHS must report to Congress on (1) DHS hiring practices from 2018 to 2024, and (2) whether certain criminal gangs and Mexican drug cartels meet the criteria to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations. DHS must also periodically report to Congress about the technology needed to secure the U.S.-Mexico land border.
Relating to measures to address public safety threats in this state presented by transnational criminal activity, including by establishing a Texas Homeland Security Division, and to compensate persons affected by those threats.
Office of Homeland Security; transferring the Office of Homeland Security from the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management to the Department of Public Safety. Emergency.
Relating to homeland security, including the creation of the Texas Homeland Security Division in the Department of Public Safety, the operations of the Homeland Security Council, the creation of a homeland security fusion center, and the duties of state agencies and local governments in preparing for, reporting, and responding to cybersecurity breaches; providing administrative penalties; creating criminal offenses.
State government; creating the Targeted Violence Prevention Act; authorizing the Department of Homeland Security and Oklahoma Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center to collect, analyze, and disseminate certain information to law enforcement and public safety agencies; codification; emergency.