Programs

November 3, 2009 (Updated)

Border Enforcement Security Task Forces

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative agency in the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is charged with enforcing a wide array of laws, including those related to securing the border and combating criminal smuggling.

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 their profits. Law enforcement agencies at the northern border face similar challenges from transnational smuggling organizations.

In response to this trend, ICE has partnered with federal, state, local and foreign law enforcement counterparts to create the Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) initiative, a series of multi-agency teams developed as a comprehensive approach to identifying, disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations posing significant threats to border security.

The teams are designed to increase information sharing and collaboration among the agencies combating this threat on both sides of the border. In select locations, BEST teams have been established at critical seaports to address smuggling and other criminal activity at maritime ports of entry.

BEST teams incorporate personnel from ICE; U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Coast Guard; and the U.S. Attorney's Office along with other key federal, state, local and foreign law enforcement agencies.

In addition, participating in BEST teams on the southwest border is the Mexican law enforcement agency Secretaria de Seguridad Publica. Canada Border Services Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police participate in BEST teams along the northern border.

BEST Locations

There are 17 BEST teams in place, located in

• Arizona (Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma);
• California (Imperial Valley, Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, San Diego);
• Florida (Miami Seaport);
• Mexico (Mexico City);
• Michigan (Detroit);
• New Mexico (Deming, Las Cruces);
• New York (Buffalo, New York/New Jersey Seaport);
• Texas (El Paso, Laredo, Rio Grande Valley); and
• Washington (Blaine).

Results of BEST Operations

This coordinated approach has led to significant successes:

• In fiscal year 2008 (FY08), BEST teams were responsible for a total of 1,000 criminal arrests and 1,256 administrative arrests—a 35 percent increase over the previous year's total. In addition, BEST investigations in FY08 resulted in 401 indictments and 392 convictions. (BEST statistical results for fiscal year 2009 are in the process of being compiled.)
• BEST teams also made significant seizures of drugs and assets in FY08, seizing approximately 1,803 lbs. of cocaine; 52,420 lbs. of marijuana; 121 lbs. o`f methamphetamine; 25 lbs. of crystal methamphetamine; 850 lbs. of ecstasy; 66 lbs. of heroin; 46 lbs. of hashish; 20 lbs. of opium; 432 weapons; 299 vehicles; four boats; four properties; and more than $8.8 million in U.S. currency and monetary instruments.

The BEST initiative has substantially enhanced partnerships between U.S. and foreign law enforcement agencies along the border, as illustrated in the following examples:

• Border-related arms and ammunition smuggling investigations in Texas and Arizona have led to numerous criminal arrests and the seizure of thousands of rounds of ammunition and multiple firearms, including a cache of AK-47 assault rifles destined for Mexico.
• In Buffalo, N.Y., BEST cooperation between U.S. and Canadian authorities in a narcotics investigation led to the identification of a Jamaican drug trafficking organization operating in the region, resulting thus far in 33 arrests; significant seizures of marijuana, Ecstasy pills and firearms; and the forfeiture of more than $228,000 in cash and other assets. The investigation is ongoing.
• A joint investigation between the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport BEST and Australian authorities led to the arrest of three Mexican nationals involved in international cocaine smuggling.

The Future of BEST

ICE will continue to establish new BEST teams 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 and removal.

The goal of the expansion is to strengthen the program's ability to dismantle the leadership and supporting infrastructure of the criminal organizations responsible for perpetrating violence and illegal activity along our borders and in the nation's interior.