Combating human smuggling across international borders, transnational criminal enterprises and mass immigration takes a group effort, was the U.S. message at a recent virtual meeting with representatives from North, Central and South America.
Senior representatives from U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) participated in "High-Level International Conference on Border Security in the Americas," a virtual event organized by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), on Sept. 14, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced at the time. DHS Deputy Secretary John Tien requested the meeting "to discuss the broad collaboration underway regarding border management and irregular migration in the Western Hemisphere," according to the announcement.
“The fight against human smuggling, the campaign to crack down on transnational criminal organizations, and the effort to tackle the root causes of irregular migration cannot succeed through any single country’s individual policies," Tien said in the statement. "These tasks are a collective responsibility, and we must lead this vital and urgent work together.”
In his remarks, Tien both emphasized the participating countries' mutual efforts to coordinate efforts and take action on "irregular migration," according to the statement, and asked participants "think deeply, as a community," on ways to use international organizations to support regional approaches to mitigating border challenges.
Patrick McElwain, HSI deputy executive associate director, also spoke at the virtual conference, DHS reports. McElwain said HSI's fight against international crime "starts abroad" by working with law enforcement around the world.
“International law enforcement must work together to investigate transnational criminal organizations from root to branch," McElwain said.
McElwain called the virtual conference "important because it brings leaders from dozens of law enforcement agencies from around the world to discuss and find common solutions to crime problems that affect all members.”
The meeting is part of the Biden-Harris administration's approach to mitigate irregular migration and human smuggling, according to the report. DHS is spending more than $50 million and has added more than 1,300 staff to the U.S.-Mexico border and into Central and South American nations, efforts that have resulted in 5,000 arrests and the seizure of more than 7,600 kilograms of narcotics, DHS reports.
"DHS collaborates on a daily basis with our international partners to bring the swift hand of justice down on these criminal organizations," the DHS states.
