News: Our Canadian Border is Weak-----Senator Lieberman

Briefing Capitol Hill, Washington D.C

February 01, 2011

Williams Ekanem

Senator Joe Lieberman, the United States Senate Committee chairman on Border Security says the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on northern border is alarming.

Addressing the congressional press reporters today, security at the northern border with Canada is weak and ineffective.

With more Islamic extremists in Canada, increasing trafficking of illicit drugs and other contraband activities, the findings of the GAO should act as a wake-up call to all agencies to tighten border security at the northern border.

While not advocating for the reduction of resources for border patrol in the south with Mexico, Lieberman said he is calling for same level of attention and investment in the northern border.

In her contribution, another member of the Border Committee, Senator Susan Collins said that the United States is currently very vulnerable as a result of the relaxed security in the northern border.

According to her, as it is today, the Customs and Border Protection, CBP lack the ability to effectively check illegal crossers of the border from individuals engaged in illegal activities as well as criminals.

CBP has reported many threats on and vulnerabilities of the northern border related to illegal cross-border activity.

Overall, according to CBP, a transportation infrastructure exists across much of the northern border that facilitates ease of access to, and egret from, the border area. CBP also reports that the maritime border on the Great Lakes and rivers is vulnerable to use of small vessels as a conduit for potential exploitation by terrorists, alien smuggling, trafficking of illicit drugs and other contraband and criminal activities.

To help ensure that the Directorate of Homeland Security (DHS), is maximizing the benefits of its coordination efforts with the northern border partners through interagency forums, documented agreements and its resource planning process, the GAO recommends in their report to Congressional Requesters that DHS be provided with level guidance and overall and oversight for interagency forums established or sponsored by its components to ensure that the missions and locations are not duplicative.

In its 56 page report, the GAO also recommends that there should be a regular DHS-level oversight of Border Patrol and ICE compliance with the provisions of the interagency MOU, including evaluation of outstanding challenges and planned corrective actions.

Lastly there is also the recommendation that direct CBP to develop policy and guidance necessary to identify, assess, and integrate the available partner resources in northern border sector security assessments and resource planning documents.