Title: New Homeland Security Task Force to Boost Border Security in Northern Mariana Islands
Announcement of New Partnership to Enhance Border Enforcement
On February 10, 2023, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) launched a new border enforcement safety task force (BEST) in collaboration with the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The announcement was made in Honolulu, HI, in a bid to strengthen border security and combat transnational crimes.
Participants in the Announcement
- Jerry Templet, HSI Assistant Director
- John F. Tobon, HSI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge
- David Apatang, Lt. Gov. of CNMI
- Joshua Tenorio, Lt. Gov. of Guam
Strengthening Border Security in the Northern Mariana Islands
Templet stated that the formation of the task force bolsters border security by disrupting the efforts of criminal organizations seeking to exploit the strategic locations of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam. He also mentioned that HSI special agents, who are now part of BEST, bring increased expertise and unique law enforcement authorities to the partnership.
Tenorio added that the Mariana Islands Border Enforcement Safety Task Force is a critical collaboration between local and federal law enforcement agencies, helping protect the islands against threats such as drug trafficking and human smuggling.
Participating Law Enforcement Agencies
- CNMI Customs and Quarantine
- CNMI Department of Public Safety
- Guam Customs and Quarantine
- Guam Airport Police
- Guam Police Department
- U.S. Coast Guard
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- HSI
Vulnerabilities and Threats in the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam
As geographically isolated islands in the Western Pacific, the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam rely on sea and air transportation for most goods. This makes them attractive transit points for transnational criminal organizations, which involve themselves in various illicit activities, including:
- Murder
- Narcotics and weapons trafficking
- Human smuggling
Goals of the BEST Task Force
The BEST task force aims to address the vulnerabilities and threats presented by these transnational criminal organizations. It focuses on enhancing investigations at transportation and port facilities and helping dismantle organizations that exploit global commerce and infrastructure through imports and exports processed at U.S. seaports and airports.
The Jaime Zapata BEST Act
The Jaime Zapata BEST Act, signed into law in 2012, authorized the Secretary of Homeland Security to formally establish the BEST program and assign federal personnel to tasks forces. It also enables the Secretary to provide financial assistance for operational, administrative, and technical costs associated with participation.
Role of HSI
HSI is the primary investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, tasked with investigating transnational crimes and threats, specifically those related to international trade, travel, and finance. HSI has a workforce of over 8,700 employees and is stationed in 237 cities across the United States and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. This represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad.