Law enforcement components on the northern and southern borders struggle with mission overlap and inadequate information sharing, the DHS inspector general has said in calling on the department to use resources better and facilitate increased data sharing.
It calls on DHS to establish department-level oversight to address operational challenges arising from coordination problems between Customs and Border Protection’s Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
A 2004 memorandum of understanding gives CBP responsibility over cross-border and border-related interdictions while HSI has primary responsibility for investigations, but the two agencies have trouble determining, for example, at what point a matter becomes an investigation, among other difficulties in coordinating their missions.
Despite additional guidance since then, including an addendum intended to facilitate communication, operational challenges remain unresolved, underscoring the importance of developing and maintaining permanent solutions to mitigate conflicts, according to the report OIG-12-39.
