Luttrell, Correa Introduce Bipartisan Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act to Enhance National Security

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) and Congressman Lou Correa (D-CA), members of the House Committee on Homeland Security, recently re-introduced the bipartisan Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act. This legislation will require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to present a comprehensive plan to Congress aimed at identifying, integrating, and deploying cutting-edge technologies to enhance border security operations. 

The bill followed DHS’ announcement of its “Artificial Intelligence Roadmap” last year. The roadmap details DHS’s 2024 plans, including to test uses of the technologies that deliver meaningful benefits to the American public and advance homeland security, while ensuring that individuals’ privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties are protected.

“As cartels and foreign adversaries grow more sophisticated, the United States must deploy the latest and most advanced technology to disrupt these threats,” said Congressman Luttrell. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Congressman Correa to enhance the ongoing efforts from President Trump, Border Czar Tom Homan, and Secretary Noem to strengthen our border security. I’ll continue fighting for effective solutions that safeguard our country and enforce our laws.”

“Our newest cutting edge technologies need to be deployed to give our hard-working officers the tools they need to keep us safe,” said Congressman Correa. “With this bipartisan effort, Congress will better-understand how our officers can use new technology to stop smugglers, as well as identify and respond when migrants are crossing in remote and deadly conditions, and come to their aid.”

Specifically, the Emerging Innovative Border Technologies Act would: 

• Require the Secretary of Homeland Security, within 180 days, to submit a comprehensive plan to Congress to identify, integrate, and deploy new, innovative, disruptive, or other emerging technologies into border security operations. 
• Authorize one or more Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Innovation Teams to research and adapt commercial technologies that are new, innovative, or disruptive into border security operations to address both capability gaps and urgent mission needs and assess their potential outcomes.
• Require each CBP Innovation Team to have both operating procedures that clarify roles and responsibilities within such team with respect to DHS and non-Federal partners as well as protocols for entering agreements to rapidly transition technologies into new or existing programs of record.