Central ND News

The United States and Canada share a 5,525-mile border, the longest international boundary in the world. This extensive border is vital for both nations, supporting nearly $1 trillion in bilateral trade. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plays a crucial role in ensuring the security and efficiency of this shared border by updating the Northern Border Threat Analysis every three years and the Northern Border Strategy every five years.

However, the last Northern Border Threat Analysis was completed in 2017 and has not been updated since then. In response to this gap, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), along with Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), have introduced the Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act. This legislation aims to strengthen DHS efforts by mandating an updated threat analysis every three years and an updated strategy every five years. It also requires sector-level reviews of changes in apprehensions at the northern border.

The bill further instructs DHS to follow a recommendation from the U.S. Government Accountability Office by developing performance measures within 180 days to evaluate the effectiveness of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations in securing the northern border.

Senator Cramer emphasized that "with the United States and Canada sharing the world’s longest border, our economic and national security interests are intertwined," highlighting that "national security threats are not restricted to the southern border."

Senator Hassan stated, "Strengthening security of our Northern border is vital to keeping both New Hampshire and our country safe," noting that "this bipartisan legislation will require regular assessments of our Northern border security to prevent criminal activity."

Senator Collins remarked on recent challenges faced by Customs and Border Protection agents due to increased unauthorized crossings, calling it "a commonsense, bipartisan measure" designed to provide federal law enforcement with better data and strategic direction.

Lastly, Senator Gillibrand pointed out that "our border security policies must address the unique challenges along the U.S.-Canada border," stressing that improved data collection would enhance coordination and resource allocation for effective protection.