U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) enforces a wide array of laws, including those related to securing the border and combating criminal smuggling at land and seaports.
Our nation's southern border has experienced a dramatic surge in cross-border crime and violence in recent years due to intense competition between Mexican drug cartels and criminal smuggling organizations that employ predatory tactics to realize profits. Law enforcement agencies at the northern border and seaports face similar challenges from transnational smuggling organizations.
In response to this trend, HSI has partnered with federal, state, local and foreign law enforcement counterparts to create the Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST), a series of multi-agency teams developed to identify, disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations posing significant threats to border security.
Several international law enforcement agencies serve as key members of the team.
On the southwest border, the participation of the Mexican Secretariat of Public Safety or SSP, is vital. On our country's northern border, Canadian law enforcement agencies like the Canada Border Services Agency, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Niagara Regional Police Service, the Toronto Metropolitan Police, the Windsor Police Service and the Amherstburg Police Service are active members. The Colombian National Police is an active partner with both the San Diego and San Juan BEST units.
Currently, there are 32 BEST Units with locations around the U.S. and in Mexico.
From their inception through July 2012, BEST units have collectively initiated more than 7,700 cases. These actions have resulted in more than:
HSI will continue to establish new BEST units in areas where transnational criminal organizations exploit vulnerabilities along the nation's border and at critical seaports. These new teams will focus on all aspects of the enforcement process, from interdiction to prosecution to removal.
Expanding BESTs will help dismantle the leadership and supporting infrastructure of criminal organizations responsible for perpetrating violence and illegal activity along our borders and in the nation's interior.