Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act

Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act (S. 850) would revise the existing Northern Border Security Review Act to tighten and regularize how the federal government analyzes threats at the northern border and updates its strategy. The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct threat analyses every three years (with the first due by September 2, 2025) and to include an assessment of changes in apprehensions, including demographic details and sector-level trends. It also mandates that DHS update the Northern Border Strategy by September 2, 2026 and every five years thereafter, incorporating the latest threat analysis. In addition, the act requires classified briefings to Congress within 30 days after each threat analysis, and directs DHS to implement GAO recommendations by developing performance measures for CBP’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) to assess their effectiveness at securing the northern border between ports of entry in air and maritime environments. The bill explicitly states that no new funds are authorized to carry out these amendments.