September 22, 2025
By Jeff Chudzinski
Legislation proposed by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik would allow Canadian officers to be stationed in the U.S. to enable joint enforcement operations.
The bill would also allow the U.S. “to deploy personnel” to Canada.
It’s not clear at this time how Canadians will receive the legislation, but the bill would expand powers for border authorities.
The Integrated Cross Border Law Enforcement Operations Expansion Act gives the Coast Guard the ability to operate jointly with Canadian officers.
Those rights would be extended to Border Patrol if the legislation were successful.
Expanded integrated aerial, land and maritime operations would also be included, along with expanded legal protections for designated Canadian officers working alongside U.S. personnel.
The legislation would also allow DHS and Customs and Border Protection to pay liability claims arising in foreign countries connected to U.S. enforcement operations, “closing a gap in operational support.”
Finally, the legislation would permit the U.S. to deploy personnel to Canada and to accept Canadian officers stationed in the U.S. to enable joint enforcement operations.
The Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act would include biennial threat analyses, requiring the Department of Homeland Security to submit a threat analysis of the northern border every two years beginning Sept. 2, 2026.
The legislation would also require strategy updates within 90 days of each analysis, with DHS updating the northern border strategy or notify Congress in writing that no updates were needed.
Classified briefings would also be required of DHS to provide updates to Congress within 30 days of each threat analysis.
Within six months of enactment, DHS would also be required to develop performance measures for Air and Marine Operations (AMO) to evaluate effectiveness in securing the border between ports of entry in air and maritime environments.
Stefanik also took jabs at Governor Kathy Hochul in the release, saying Hochul “welcomed” illegals to the state “under her very dangerous sanctuary state policies that incentivize illegal immigration, overrun social services, drive up housing costs, and reduce wages for hardworking New York families.”
Many consider Stefanik to be the front runner to oppose Hochul in next year’s race for governor, though Stefanik has yet to formally announce her candidacy.
The legislation is yet another step to address concerns at the northern border following the announcement last week that Task Force Alpha would be placing assets in the North Country as well.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Boni announced resources would be sent to the northern border, including ATF, DEA and FBI agents, to combat drug, weapon and human trafficking.
JTFA utilizes “investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras,” according to the Justice Department’s website.
In 2024, efforts were expanded to also combat smuggling and trafficking in Columbia and Panama, according to the DOJ.
“JTFA is made possible by substantial law enforcement investment from Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, and Border Patrol, along with support from the FBI, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshals, and U.S. Coast Guard,” federal officials said.
