CBP Directed to 'Accelerate' Reallocation of Southern Border Port Personnel, Consider Additional Reassignments

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen directed CBP's Office of Field Operations to "accelerate its planned reallocation of up to 750 officers to Border Patrol Sectors," DHS said in an April 1 news release. CBP is also directed to consider further shifts in the agency's port personnel to help handle illegal Southern border crossings. Nielsen's memo to CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan follows a March 27 CBP announcement that it would be redirecting 750 officers from Ports of Entry, which likely will result in slowed trade processing along the border (see 1903290035).

CBP was told to explore raising that 750-officer target and is "authorized to exceed it, and shall notify the Secretary if reassignments are planned to exceed 2,000 personnel," DHS said. “The crisis at our border is worsening, and DHS will do everything in its power to end it,” Nielsen said. “We will not stand idly by while Congress fails to act yet again, so all options are on the table. We will immediately redeploy hundreds of CBP personnel to the border to respond to this emergency. We will urgently pursue additional reinforcements from within DHS and the interagency."

The changes already are affecting port operations. CBP's Tucson, Arizona, field office announced that it would stop Sunday service for commercial truck processing at the Port of Nogales, a local Tucson station reported on March 31. In a March 29 information bulletin, the field office explained that to "lessen the impact" of the reassigned CBP officers, "ports are realigning their workforce and limiting or discontinuing some services." CBP didn't immediately comment.

Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the information bulletin.