I voted Yes on the Senate Amendment to H.R. 915, the Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act.

This bill is an amended version of H.R. 915, which was originally approved by the House on May 30, 2012.  It establishes within Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) a Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) program to foster coordinated efforts among federal, state and local border and law enforcement officials to protect cities and communities from crime along our international borders.  The program would specifically focus on violence associated with drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal alien trafficking and smuggling, violence and kidnapping. 

The legislation is named after ICE agent Jaime Zapata, who was killed in the line of the duty while serving on a BEST team in Mexico in February 2011.  Our nation faces threats along our borders every day, and the establishment of a BEST program will help to provide enhanced protection for our northern and southern borders.

The bill was approved by a vote of 397 – 1.