Congressman Lawler Introduces Legislation Along With More than a Dozen Colleagues to Require Biden to Secure the Northern Border

On Friday, June 14,Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) joined Nick Langworthy (NY-23) and more than a dozen colleagues in introducing the Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act (H.R. 8734) to address escalating security concerns at the U.S.-Canada border, ensuring enhanced oversight and accountability from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

“In the first seven months of Fiscal Year 2024, nearly twice as many individuals on the Known or Suspected Terrorist list were apprehended at our northern border than our southern border," Congressman Lawler states. "Enough fentanyl has been seized at the northern border to kill over 270 million Americans. In total, nearly twice as many individuals have been apprehended at the northern border so far in 2024 than at the same point in 2023. Yet, despite these disturbing statistics, the crisis at our porous northern border has been even more egregiously overlooked than the crisis at our southern border. That’s why I’ve joined my fellow New Yorker Nick Langworthy and a dozen of our colleagues to introduce the Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act. Border security is national security, and we must move swiftly to secure both our nation’s land borders.”

The Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act will Mandate DHS to conduct and submit a Northern Border Threat Analysis annually, ensuring up-to-date assessments of security risks. It will also require DHS to update its Northern Border Strategy within 90 days following the annual threat analysis and submit a justification if no updates are needed. In addition, the DHS will be obligated to provide classified briefings to Congress within 30 days after the threat analysis submission. The Act will also instruct DHS to develop performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of Air and Marine Operations (AMO) in securing the northern border.

This legislation was introduced with support from additional cosponsors Representatives Mike Kelly (PA-16), Ryan Zinke (MT-01),  Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), Kelly Armstrong (ND), Lisa McClain (MI-09), Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07), John Moolenaar (MI-02), Pete Stauber (MN-08), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Tom Tiffany (WI-07), Randy Weber (TX-14), Chris Smith (NJ-04), Carol Miller (WV-01), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), and Elise Stefanik (NY-21). 

“The Biden border crisis isn’t just impacting our southern border; it’s also overwhelming our northern border as a record number of illegals and deadly drugs pour over. Joe Biden has turned every state into a border state,” said Congressman Tom Tiffany.

“The crisis at America’s borders has had a devastating effect on the United States. While the Department of Homeland Security ignores the obvious catastrophes, our northern border is seeing an unprecedented number of illegal crossings and thousands of pounds of fentanyl being trafficked. The Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act will produce a comprehensive threat analysis that will give Congress a better ability to protect the United States from outside threats,” said Congresswoman Carol Miller.