Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act
H.R. 5517, the Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act, would tighten and regularize how the federal government analyzes threats and plans for security along the U.S.-Canada northern border. It moves up and formalizes the threat-analysis cadence, requires timely updates to the northern border strategy after each threat analysis, mandates classified briefings to Congress on the analysis, and directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create performance measures for the Air and Marine Operations (AMO) of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to assess security between ports of entry in air and maritime environments. The bill also requires DHS to adopt implementing steps for GAO recommendations within six months of enactment. Overall, it aims to increase accountability, transparency, and measured performance in northern-border security planning. Note: The bill is introduced in the 119th Congress (House) and is sponsored by Rep. Langworthy and several co-sponsors. It amends the existing Northern Border Security Review Act (Public Law 114-267).
Key Points
- 1Threat analysis schedule changed: The previous deadline of 180 days after enactment is replaced with a first due date of September 2, 2026, and analyses will be conducted biennially thereafter.
- 2New requirement for updating the northern border strategy: Not later than 90 days after each threat analysis submission, DHS must update the Department’s northern border strategy. If DHS determines no update is needed, it must notify the appropriate congressional committees.
- 3Classified briefings to Congress: Within 30 days after each threat analysis submission, DHS must provide a classified briefing to the appropriate congressional committees detailing the threat analysis.
- 4Implementation of GAO recommendations: Within six months of enactment, DHS (through CBP’s AMO Executive Assistant Commissioner) must develop performance measures to assess AMO’s effectiveness in securing the northern border between ports of entry in air and maritime environments.
- 5Scope and terminology: The changes affect threat analysis, strategy planning, and security operations in air and maritime contexts outside traditional land border crossings.