WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman John Duarte (CA-13) announced he is co-leading the Integrating New Technologies to Empower Law Enforcement (INTEL) at Our Borders Act, a bipartisan bill which will bring new technology and innovation to provide greater border strategy.
“The latest data for encounters at the southern border in 2023 shows a record 2.47 million encounters, the most in U.S. history,” said Rep. Duarte. Yet, we only have an estimated 19,400 border patrol agents responsible for engaging and processing these encounters, and for securing 6,000 miles of land border.”
“I’m co-leading the INTEL Act to bring much needed updates to our border security technology. We have to do more to stop the flow of fentanyl into our cities and cartel-based crime in our Valley communities. By addressing the technological deficiencies in our current system, we bridge a critical gap often overlooked in discussions about border security, and ensure the continued safety of our communities.”
The INTEL at our Borders bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to not only replace the existing outdated technology but develop a comprehensive strategy to assesses gaps in the technology, evaluate the effectiveness of existing security measures, and explore opportunities for the implementation of emerging technologies.
When combined with his work on the Dignity Act (HR 3599) and American Dream and Promise Act (HR 16), Rep. Duarte reaffirms his commitment to both help Valley families come out of the shadows through immigration reform and protect them by increasing our border security.
