Levin calls for strengthened security at northern border
Sen.
Jul 31, 202074.4K Shares1.6M Views
Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) is calling for increased security at the northern border after a Government Accountability Office report found that less than one percent of the U.S. – Canada border has an acceptable level of security.
The GAO reportsaid that Customs and Border Patrol does not have the ability to detect illegal activity across most of the northern border because it is mostly remote and inaccessible by traditional patrol methods.
“„DHS reports that the terrorist threat on the northern border is higher [than on the southern border], given the large expanse of area with limited law enforcement coverage. There is also a great deal of trade and travel across this border, and while legal trade is predominant, DHS reports networks of illicit criminal activity and smuggling of drugs, currency, people, and weapons between the two countries.
“„DHS reported spending nearly $3 billion in its efforts to interdict and investigate illegal northern border activity in fiscal year 2010, annually making approximately 6,000 arrests and interdicting approximately 40,000 pounds of illegal drugs at and between the northern border ports of entry.
“I have serious concerns that lack of coordination between Immigration and Customs Enforcement Personnel and Border Patrol personnel is hindering border security in Detroit,” Levin said in a statement. “Any failure to coordinate efforts between agencies that weakens security on the northern border is totally unacceptable.”
Levin said that he has asked representatives from the Detroit offices of ICE and CBP to meet to meet with him in Detroit within two weeks.
Paula M. Graham
Reviewer
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