SCHUMER DEMANDS RELEASE OF OVERDUE NORTHERN BORDER COUNTERNARCOTICS STRATEGY; OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY MISSED DEADLINE WHILE RECENT REPORTS SHOW SERIOUS GAPS IN NORTHERN BORDER SECURITY
In Personal Letter to Director Of Office of National Drug Control Policy, Schumer Demands Release of Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy; Plan to Outline Strategy Against Illegal Trafficking of Drugs Across Northern Border
Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act of 2010 Required Strategy Within 180 Days of Passage; With Deadline In The Rear View Mirror, Schumer Urges Response Within Next 7 Days
Every Day Without Counternarcotics Strategy Leaves Open Dangerous Gaps in Northern Border
Yesterday, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer demanded that the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) release its Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy, which was due on July 5, 2011. The Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act (NBCSA), passed on January 4th, required the ONDCP to set forth a northern border strategy for preventing the illegal trafficking of drugs across the international border between the United States and Canada, within 180 days of passage. In a personal letter to Director of ONDCP R. Gil Kerlikowske, Schumer asks the director to quickly release the Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy within 7 days of receiving his letter, or provide a written explanation as to the cause of the delay, and an adjusted timetable for releasing the Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy. In light of a late 2010 GAO report which found that a wide swath of the northern border needs additional attention to prevent illegal cross border activity, Schumer states that a delay in Strategy is unacceptable, and must be corrected as quickly as possible.
"When it comes to shutting down drug smugglers, people living near the northern border don't want to hear 'the dog ate our homework' - this report needs to be presented now. Law enforcement in communities along the northern border must be assured that an efficient strategy and appropriate resources are on the way to stop the flow of drugs across the northern border," Schumer said. "I urge the Office of National Drug Control Policy to promptly release the Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy, due on July 5th, because each day of delay means dangerous gaps in security and communities left exposed to illegal drug trafficking coming across the northern border."
In December 2010, the Senate passed the Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act of 2010 which aimed to help law enforcement officials along the northern border stem the flow of illegal drugs coming into their communities. The bill required federal law enforcement to develop a comprehensive and coordinated plan to blunt the illegal drug trade in a Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy. Schumer expressed his frustration with the Office of National Drug Control Policy's (ONDCP) delay in developing and submitting a Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy as required by law, as it leaves gaps open for illegal drugs, such as ecstasy and cocaine, to pass through the expansive border. Currently, no strategy has been issued, and there does not appear to be a clear date as to when a strategy can be expected to be released. In a personal letter, Schumer urged the Director of ONDCP, R. Gil Kerlikowske, to release the Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy within 7 days of receiving his letter, or provide a written explanation as to the cause of the delay, and an adjusted timetable for the releasing the Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy
On November 18, 2010, the Government Accountability Office released a report entitled Border Security: Additional Actions Needed to Better Ensure a Coordinated Federal Response to Illegal Activity on Federal Lands. This report, requested by Senator John Tester (D-MT), indicated that a wide swath of the northern border needs additional attention to prevent illegal cross border activity. The Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act of 2010 was passed shortly after, in response to these results.
The northern border of the United States is hard to monitor due to its length and geography and is often exploited by a diverse array of traffickers. Consequently, it is extremely important that the limited resources at the northern border are employed in the most coordinated and efficient manner possible. Increasingly, international traffickers use Indian reservations as a staging ground for narcotic operations throughout the country. Drug trafficking has become an increasing problem in Northern New York as international drug smugglers seek every available route to bring their products into the United States. For example, America's northern border is now the lead gateway for ecstasy to enter the U.S. Since 2005, seizures of ecstasy coming across the northern border has been eight times greater than seizures in our country's southwest border. Schumer cites this data in his fight for a Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy, which he states must be developed within 7 days of receiving his letter.
Schumer's push to secure a prompt presentation of the northern border anti-trafficking strategy is just the latest in a series of initiatives to secure the northern border. In February, Schumer joined colleagues from other states along the northern border in a letter to Secretary Napolitano, asking that DHS begin utilizing military-grade radar technology along the border in order to detect low-flying planes that are commonly used to smuggle drugs. Schumer cited a report detailing the 24,000 drug-related arrests of adults in 2010 as well as an increase in the number of drugs being seized at border checkpoints as clear evidence that more must be done to combat this alarming problem. Last month, Napolitano said she intended to improve our ability to catch low-flying aircraft by integrating military radar feeds used by Canada with our Air and Marine Operations Command Center. At a May hearing on border security chaired by Schumer, Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner Alan Bersin stated that the radar feed should be operational by November 2011, greatly enhancing our ability to detect and stop low-flying planes that might be loaded down with drugs.
Schumer also helped create a Massena-based border security enforcement team in neighboring St. Lawrence County. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement operates a series of Border Enforcement Security Task Forces (BEST). The teams will consist of personnel from ICE, CBP, tribal police, local, state, and Canadian law enforcement working in concert to improve overall border security. Given the success of the BEST team in the Buffalo/Niagara region, Schumer pushed for and successfully secured DHS' commitment to establish a BEST team to be based in Massena, NY. At a hearing on Northern Border issues, Schumer asked ICE Director Morton to establish the team as quickly as possible, given the growing drug abuse problem in Upstate New York. In response to Schumer's request, the Director stated that ICE plans to have implemented the team by October of 2011.
A copy of Senator Schumer's letter to Director R. Gil Kerlikowske, of the Office of National Drug Control Policy appears below:
July 12, 2011
The Honorable R. Gil Kerlikowske
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Executive Office of the President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Director Kerlikowske:
As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security, I am responsible for directing the Senate's oversight of the immigration enforcement functions of the federal government with regard to our borders. I write in this capacity to express my deep frustration with the Office of National Drug Control Policy's (ONDCP) delay in developing and submitting a Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy as required by law.
On January 4, 2011, the Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act (NBCSA) of 2010 was enacted, which required ONDCP to set forth the strategy of the federal government for preventing the illegal trafficking of drugs across the international border between the United States and Canada. The Act required the strategy to be published "not later than 180 days after the date of enactment,"--which would have been Tuesday, July 5, 2011. As of today, no strategy has yet been issued, and there does not appear to be a clear date as to when a strategy can be expected to be released.
I wrote the NBCSA to require of all our federal agencies along the northern border to work together to more effectively to combat the scourge of drug trafficking that is affecting our communities along the border. The delay in developing and releasing this strategy is discouraging because it means that our agencies are not yet working together in their most optimal coordinated capacity to stop smugglers from bringing drugs into our communities.
I therefore ask that you release the strategy, as required by law, as expeditiously as possible. Additionally, if you do not expect the strategy to be released within the next seven (7) days, I ask that you provide me with a written explanation as to the cause of the delay, the effect of the delay on operational coordination along the northern border, and the expected timetable for the release of the strategy.
I thank you for your attention to this important matter, and hope we can work together to assist you in your mission of protecting America.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator