Southern Border and Approaches Campaign

The Southern Border and Approaches Campaign is a unified approach to improve how the Department protects the homeland across our borders. The campaign harnesses and more effectively coordinates the assets and personnel of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and other resources of the Department.

The goal is effective enforcement and interdiction across land, sea, and air; to degrade transnational criminal organizations; and to do these things while still facilitating the flow of lawful trade, travel, and commerce across our borders.

The Task Forces And Their Commanders

DHS SBA Coordinator

The DHS Coordinator is responsible for the implementation of the Joint Task Force models and serves as the primary coordinator on behalf of the Secretary. Thomas P. Smith serves as DHS Coordinator.

Joint Task Force-East

JTF East is responsible for our Southeast maritime approaches.  Joint Task Force-East is led by Vice Admiral Scott A. Buschman.

Joint Task Force-West

JTF-West is responsible for our southwest land border.  Joint Task Force-West is led by Manuel Padilla Jr.

Joint Task Force for Investigations

JTF Investigations supports the work of the other two Task Forces and focus on investigations throughout the nation and with our foreign partners. This Task Force is led by ICE-HSI Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala.