Speech #1140091982

I rise in support of H.R. 4780. the Department of Homeland Security Strategy for International Programs Act. I introduced H.R. 4780 to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a comprehensive strategy for the Departments international programs where personnel and resources are deployed abroad for vetting and screening persons who are seeking to enter the U.S. In recent years. the Department has expanded its international footprint through programs such as the Immigration Advisory Program. the Joint Security Program. and the Visa Security Program. In fact. presently. the Customs and Border Protection has. approximately. 800 employees who are posted in 43 countries. and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement has almost 400 employees in 45 countries. DHS personnel who are at overseas locations perform vital vetting and passenger prescreening activities to ensure individuals who are traveling to the U.S. do not pose a threat to our Nations security. Looking ahead. the DHS has announced plans to expand the Preclearance program to 10 new locations in the coming years. and ICE continues to expand its Visa Security Program to additional visaissuing posts abroad. I strongly support these efforts to push out our borders through the expansion of these important homeland security programs. That said. to do it right.