SC New York News

Binghamton, NY – With illegal crossings at the northern border at an all-time high, a Peruvian gang leader living in Broome County, and New York’s 19th Congressional District becoming the epicenter of the opioid epidemic, U.S. Reps. Marc Molinaro (R-NY-19), Chris Pappas (D-NH-1), and Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24) today announced the introduction of the Improving Coordination for the Northern Border Act.

Rep. Molinaro's bipartisan bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a Northern Border Coordination Center to strengthen its Northern Border Strategy. This strategy utilizes partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement to stop drug trafficking as well as terrorist and criminal threats. The Center will serve as a training location for DHS personnel, as testing grounds for new border security technologies, and help coordinate all northern border security initiatives.

Rep. Molinaro said, “Record illegal crossings, record overdose deaths, terrorists crossing regularly, and a Peruvian gang leader captured in Endicott, NY. We can’t afford to just focus on securing our southern border – we have to look north. This bipartisan bill will create a central hub to implement a Northern Border Strategy that prevents drugs and criminals from making it across the northern border and into our communities.”

Rep. Pappas said, “Strengthening operations at our northern border is critical to drug interdiction efforts and keeping dangerous substances out of our communities. The Coordination Center will provide a central hub for implementing the Northern Border Strategy, including enforcing our immigration laws and stemming illicit drug trafficking while supporting coordination efforts between U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel, local law enforcement, and other partners. I thank Representatives Tenney and Molinaro for partnering with me on this bill, and I will continue fighting to pass legislation that supports and invests in border security, law enforcement, and anti-smuggling technology.”

Rep. Tenney said, “There has been an unprecedented spike in illegal crossings at our Northern Border, including an 846% increase in one sector alone, putting our national security and community safety at risk. Additionally, 85% of suspected terrorists that have illegally crossed our borders have done so over the Northern Border. By establishing a Northern Border Coordination Center, we can enable the Department of Homeland Security to effectively implement the Northern Border Strategy to enhance training and information sharing among federal, state, local, and international partners and secure our Northern Border to help keep our Northern Border communities safe."