WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, the House Committee on Homeland Security advanced legislation to direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to address threats on U.S. soil from the violent transnational gang and foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA), enhance U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) efforts in foreign countries to thwart international drug trafficking and human smuggling, and enhance CBP’s canine support operations.

“Under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ open-borders policies, members of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which is now a designated terror group, were able to illegally cross our borders and wreak havoc on our communities. Representative Knott’s bill helps ensure DHS can stay ahead of the threats posed by this sadistic transnational criminal organization on U.S. soil,” Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) said. “The work of DHS does not end at our land borders, though. CBP Air and Marine Operations personnel work around the clock to combat international drug trafficking and human smuggling. The Committee advanced Chairman Guest’s bill to enable CBP to partner with other nations to effectively detect and thwart criminal activity before it reaches our doorstep. In the wake of the worst border crisis in history, Representative Gonzales’ bill will empower CBP to adopt dogs from local animal shelters and train them to support the mental health of frontline law enforcement.I’m proud of the Committee’s work to advance this important legislation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to swiftly get these commonsense bills to President Trump’s desk.” 

Legislation advanced out of the Committee includes:

• H.R. 3965, the “PEARL Act” introduced by Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX)
• H.R. 4070, the “Tren de Aragua Border Security Threat Assessment Act” introduced by Rep. Brad Knott (R-NC)
• H.R. 4071, “Combatting International Drug Trafficking and Human Smuggling Partnership Act of 2025” introduced by Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS) 
• H.R. 4057, the “CBP Canine Home Kenneling Pilot Act” introduced by Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA)
• H.R. 4058, the “Enhancing Stakeholder Support and Outreach for Preparedness Grants Act” introduced by Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY)
   

Read highlights from the markup below:

Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Michael Guest (R-MS) delivered remarks on his bill, H.R. 4071, the “Combatting International Drug Trafficking and Human Smuggling Partnership Act of 2025”:

“[Air and Marine Operations] conducts extended border operations to detect and disrupt the illegal flow of immigrants, drugs, and contraband well before it reaches the shores of the United States…This legislation authorizes AMO to partner with other nations and will allow AMO and other designated CBP personnel to continue these successful bilateral agreements with partner nations to provide training, increase capacity, and conduct joint operations to facilitate the apprehension of human smugglers and drug smugglers. Air and Marine Operations partnerships enhance operational capabilities and coordinated efforts, making the region more secure and making the American people safer.”

Representative Brad Knott (R-NC) delivered remarks on his bill, H.R. 4070, the “Tren de Aragua Border Security Threat Assessment Act”:

“TdA specifically exploited the Biden-era parole programs and lax border security policies to infiltrate our country and to destabilize our communities via a barrage of criminal activity…This legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a comprehensive border threat assessment that would identify the criminal threats posed by TdA members and their criminal subsets who have entered our country…This legislation further mandates that DHS develop a strategic plan using all levels of existing law enforcement to mitigate the threats and to prevent TdA from continuing to proliferate into this country. Law enforcement and their intelligence counterparts need to employ a unified and focused strategy, one that recognizes the constantly evolving tactics of this organization…[W]hile I am disappointed that no one on the other side of the aisle signed on as a sponsor to this legislation, I look forward to hopefully securing your support as this bill leaves the committee and hopefully goes to the Senate and then to the White House.”

Representative Tony Gonzales (R-TX) delivered remarks on his bill, H.R. 3965, the “Providing Emotional Assistance with Relief and Love Act” or the “PEARL Act”:

“It is clear that the past four years have been some of the most challenging and stressful for our men and women on the frontlines. With that, we all know that dogs have a special effect in helping calm stress. This is part of what CBP is aiming to achieve with the Support Canine Program, to bring support dogs to every Border Patrol sector to help facilitate conversations about some of the heavy issues that our frontline agents have to process. I commend CBP’s broader efforts to address low morale and the mental health of our Border Patrol agents. My legislation would help expand this successful program while providing second opportunities for our many canines at local animal shelters.”

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