GAO Report on Northern Border Finds Major Security Gaps

Press Release

Top members of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee released a new report Tuesday that found alarming security vulnerabilities on the 4,000 mile long northern border between the United States and Canada where, according to the Department of Homeland Security, illegal crossings by terrorists are more likely than they are across the southern border.

The report evaluating northern border security was produced by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) upon the request of Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., Ranking Member Susan Collins, R-Me., Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., Oversight of Government Management Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, and Senator Jon Tester, D-Mont.

According to the report, the Border Patrol was aware of all illegal border crossings on only 25 percent of the border, or 1,007 out of 4,000 miles. The Border Patrol was aware of all illegal crossings and was able to make an immediate arrest on less than 1 percent or 32 miles of the 4,000 mile border. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) views the likelihood of terrorist crossing to be higher than they are at the southern border given the large expanse of area with limited law enforcement coverage and the presence of Islamist extremists in Canada.

"The numbers speak for themselves," Lieberman said. "These findings should sound a loud alarm to the Department of Homeland Security, the Canadian government, and our Committee. The American people are grossly under-protected along our northern border. We've got to work together with our neighbors in Canada to raise our guard. We should at the very least be able to detect all illegal entries from Canada into the U.S. so we can get this information into the hands of law enforcement agencies that are well situated to make the necessary arrests."

Collins said: "The fact that the Border Patrol has full situational awareness of only approximately one-quarter of the miles along the northern border is cause for concern. This report concludes that the Border Patrol, together with its Canadian and state and local law enforcement partners, does not have the ability to detect illegal crossings and to intercept these individuals along the vast majority of the border with Canada. These illegal crossers include individuals seeking to illegally immigrate, criminals trafficking humans and smuggling drugs and, potentially, terrorists. One of my top priorities has been to ensure that our border is open to our friends but closed to those who would do us harm."

Levin said: "I have serious concerns that lack of coordination between Immigration and Customs Enforcement Personnel and Border Patrol personnel is hindering border security in Detroit. Any failure to coordinate efforts between agencies that weakens security on the northern border is totally unacceptable. I have asked representatives from the Detroit offices of ICE and CBP to meet with me at my Detroit office within two weeks."

Akaka said: "This report reveals that northern border security continues to be hindered by poor federal coordination with state, local, tribal, and Canadian law enforcement partners. According to GAO, in fiscal year 2010, DHS spent over $2.9 billion to secure the northern border, yet only achieved an acceptable level of security for 32 miles out of the 4,000 mile northern border. A more coordinated, efficient response that leverages all law enforcement resources along the northern border is needed to protect taxpayers' money and to keep Americans safe."

Tester said: "This report tells us what folks in Montana already know-that Homeland Security's effort to secure the northern border has earned a grade of 'incomplete.' DHS has to develop strategies that maximize resources so taxpayers are getting the most bang for their buck. We need to make smarter use of technology, because we don't need or want the border overloaded with federal agents. And we've got to keep working to make state and local law enforcement a part of the team to make our country stronger and our communities safer."

According to GAO, DHS believes the risk of terrorist activity across the northern border is higher than across the southern border because there are active Islamist extremist groups in Canada that are not in Mexico, it is easier to cross the northern border because it is twice as long as the southern border, and DHS has a fraction of the law enforcement officers and surveillance assets on the northern border than it has in the south. The border with Canada is also dotted with large population centers and criss-crossed by numerous highways and roads, making it harder to detect illegal activities amid the large volume of legitimate trade and travel between Canada and the U.S. that is so important to both countries.