September 9, 2025
By Staff
House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik issued a statement Sept. 8 in full support of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s expansion of the Joint Task Force (JFT) Alpha to combat border smuggling and human trafficking.
“Thank you, Attorney General Pam Bondi for expanding Joint Task Force Alpha to cover our Northern Border,” said Chairwoman Stefanik, who has advocated for and worked toward stronger measures to combat human smuggling and drug trafficking into the nation. “For many years, I have been working with President Trump to lead the fight to secure the Northern Border by delivering more manpower, technology, and funding.
“While Gov. Kathy Hochul and Far Left Democrats put the interests of illegal immigrants over hardworking Americans, I will continue fighting for the safety of our families by returning to the successful border security policies of President Trump, who created the most secure border in history.”
BACKGROUND
In 2021, JTF Alpha was established as a joint effort by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security to improve U.S. enforcement against human smuggling and trafficking operations operating across the Southern Border. In 2024, its mission expanded to include Colombia and Panama. Now the Trump administration will expand it again to include the Northern Border.
Stefanik has been a leader in securing the Northern Border. In June, Stefanik co-sponsored the Northern Border Security and Staffing Reform Act that mandates modernization of border strategy. In June 2024, Stefanik voted for the DHS Appropriations Act, which focused on enhancing both northern and southern border security. In 2023, Stefanik introduced the Border Airport Enhancement Act, designating Plattsburgh as a Port of Entry and exempting certain CBP hires from polygraph requirements.
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