Submitted by: SACOP

WHEREAS illegal immigration and border security issues directly impact the safety of communities around the world and effective national action is needed to meet this challenge; and,

WHEREAS stronger border security can help reduce crime, protect citizens, and disrupt the activities of organized crime syndicates and,

WHEREAS enhanced border security efforts can also help to identify and apprehend individuals who are engaged in criminal activities and prevent them from entering the country; and,

WHEREAS by controlling and managing the flow of people and goods across national boundaries, effective border security allows a nation to better monitor and regulate who can enter the country and what materials they are transporting; and

WHEREAS these controls help to prevent terrorists from entering a country and also prevents terrorists from obtaining materials or resources they need to carry out their plans; and,

WHEREAS the Terrorist Screening Center plays an integral role in identifying, detecting, monitoring, and preventing terrorists and other national security threat actors from entering the United States; and,

WHEREAS increased border security can help to reduce the flow of illegal goods such as drugs, weapons, and stolen goods across the border which, in turn, can help to reduce costs associated with these crimes, to include higher law enforcement costs and broader societal disruptions; and,

WHEREAS stronger border security can help reduce crime, protect citizens, and disrupt the activities and reduce the illicit proceeds gained by organized crime syndicates and,

WHEREAS stronger border security efforts can help to protect the rights of citizens and immigrants. Increased security can help to ensure that immigrants are not being exploited, as well as ensure that immigrants who are applying for visas and other forms of legal documentation are being treated fairly; now therefore be it,

RESOLVED that the International Association of Chiefs of Police firmly believes that effective border security must play a critical role in all governments’ national security plan; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the International Association of Chiefs of Police firmly believes that, in the strong interest of homeland security and the welfare of the national populace, particularly as it applies to the scourge of organized human and drug trafficking, that immigration policy on all of its territorial borders needs to be enforced in conformance with the existing law and those agencies so tasked need to be supported financially and logistically to effectively carry out this policy; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the International Association of Chiefs of Police calls on the leaders of all nations to continue to invest in the necessary resources and personnel to strengthen border control and to fund other initiatives that can help secure national borders, including by engaging in robust information sharing with entities such as the Terrorist Screening Center; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police also urges all governments to focus on providing a safe and secure environment for all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, or immigration status.