Introduction to the Homeland Security Task Force
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Houston field office and FBI Houston have announced the creation of a Homeland Security Task Force in Houston. This task force aims to target the growing threats from transnational criminal organizations in Southeast Texas.
Purpose of the Task Force
The task force was created as a regional component of the national Homeland Security Task Force, which was established by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. The main goal of this task force is to protect the American people from invasion by transnational criminals. The task force’s objective is to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations operating in Southeast Texas through a collaborative, whole-of-government approach.
Responsibilities of the Task Force
The HSTF will conduct intelligence-driven, multijurisdictional investigations targeting various transnational crimes, including:
- Drug trafficking
- Money laundering
- Weapons trafficking
- Human trafficking
- Alien smuggling
- Homicide
- Extortion
- Kidnapping
- Child exploitation
The task force will work closely with state and local partners to identify, investigate, and eliminate violent criminal organizations and associates operating in communities throughout Southeast Texas.
Importance of Collaboration
According to HSI Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz, "As transnational criminal organizations, foreign terrorist organizations, drug cartels, foreign gangs, and other bad actors continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, it’s vital that we work together as a law enforcement community to find transformative ways to confront emerging threats." This is especially true in Southeast Texas, where unique border-related challenges and threats from transnational criminal organizations are present.
Establishment and Operations
The HSTF will be headquartered in Houston and will have a satellite office in Corpus Christi. By establishing this permanently integrated, multiagency task force with dedicated personnel from federal, state, and local law enforcement working side by side with a common mission, the task force will be better postured to detect and respond to any type of threat it might face.
Conclusion
The creation of the Homeland Security Task Force in Houston marks a significant step in combating transnational criminal organizations in Southeast Texas. Through collaboration and intelligence-driven investigations, the task force aims to make communities safer by targeting and eliminating violent criminal organizations. The establishment of this task force demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement agencies to protect the American people from the growing threats of transnational crime.
