DHS unveils new Northern Border Strategy for border security

The guidelines to direct US policy and intelligence-driven operations along the US border with Canada, known as DHS Northern Border Strategy (NBS), has been released for the first time by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano.

DHS’s strategy for the Northern border aims to enhance security and lawful trade and travel with mutual reinforce between Canada and US while focusing on deterring and preventing terrorism, smuggling, trafficking, and illegal immigration.

"The Northern Border Strategy provides a unifying framework for the Department’s work focused on enhancing the security and resiliency along our northern border while expediting legitimate travel and trade with Canada," Napolitano said.

In addition to ensuring community resiliency before, during, and after attacks and other disasters, the NBS will aid in efficient flow of lawful trade, travel, and immigration with safeguards.

DHS will also strengthen resources in a bid to accomplish its goals for enhanced information sharing and analysis within the department and also with key partners.

To aid joint security efforts, the Department will also deploy technologies for joint interdictions and investigations along the border which also improve infrastructure to facilitate travel and trade and enhance US-Canada coordination.

The US-Canada officials will expedite lawful travel and trade processing and will prevent illegal crossings and activities by separating higher-risk traffic from lower-risk traffic, utilising advance information as well as inspecting people and goods.

The DHS will work in cooperation with the federal, state, local, tribal, and private sector partners as well as Canadian counterparts to assist security, resiliency, and management of Northern border.

The NBS will also support the US President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s vision formulated in Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness.