Sec. 1299P–4. Actions to improve security conditions in the Northern Triangle
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The Secretary of State shall prioritize security in the Northern Triangle countries by carrying out the following initiatives: Implementing the Central America Regional Security Initiative of the Department of State. Continuing the vetting and professionalization of security services, including the civilian police and military units. Supporting efforts to combat the illicit activities of criminal gangs and transnational criminal organizations, including MS–13 and the 18th Street Gang, through support to fully vetted elements of attorneys general offices, appropriate government institutions, and security services.
Supporting training for fully vetted civilian police and appropriate security services in criminal investigations, best practices for citizen security, and human rights. Providing capacity-building to relevant security services and attorneys general to support counternarcotics efforts and combat human trafficking, forcible recruitment of children and youth by gangs, gender-based violence, and other illicit activities, including trafficking of wildlife, and natural resources. Encouraging collaboration with regional and international partners in implementing security assistance, including by supporting cross-border information sharing on gangs and transnational criminal organizations.
Providing equipment, technology, tools, and training to security services to assist in border and port inspections. Providing equipment, technology, tools, and training to assist security services in counternarcotics and other efforts to combat illicit activities. Continuing information sharing regarding known or suspected terrorists and other individuals and entities that pose a potential threat to United States national security that are crossing through or residing in the Northern Triangle.
Supporting information sharing on gangs and transnational criminal organizations between relevant Federal, State, and local law enforcement and the governments of the Northern Triangle countries. Considering the use of assets and resources of United States State and local government entities, as appropriate, to support the activities described in this subsection. Providing thorough end-use monitoring of equipment, technology, tools, and training provided pursuant to this subsection.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 5-year strategy to prioritize the improvement of security in the Northern Triangle countries by carrying out the initiatives described in subsection (a). In developing the strategy required under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State shall consult with nongovernmental organizations in the Northern Triangle countries and the United States.
The strategy required under paragraph
(1)shall include annual benchmarks to track the strategy’s progress in curbing irregular migration from the Northern Triangle to the United States. The strategy required under paragraph
(1)shall include a public diplomacy strategy for educating citizens of the Northern Triangle countries about United States assistance and its benefits to them, and informing such citizens of the dangers of illegal migration to the United States. Not later than 1 year after the submission of the strategy required under paragraph
(1)and annually thereafter for 4 years, the Secretary of State shall provide the appropriate congressional committees with a written description of progress made in meeting the benchmarks established in the strategy. The strategy required under paragraph
(1)shall be made publicly available on the website of the Department of State. The President, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, and the heads of other relevant Federal departments or agencies, is authorized to enter into bilateral agreements with one or more of the Governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras to provide United States assistance for the purposes of— strengthening the capacity of the justice systems in such countries to protect women and children fleeing domestic, gang, or drug violence and to serve victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, or child abuse or neglect, including by strengthening the capacity of such systems to hold perpetrators accountable; and creating, securing, and sustaining safe communities and schools in such countries, by building on current approaches to prevent and deter violence against women and children in such communities or schools. An agreement under the authority provided by paragraph (1)— shall establish a 3- to 6-year plan to achieve the objectives described in subparagraphs
(A)and
(B)of such paragraph; shall include measurable goals and indicators with respect to such objectives; may not provide for any United States assistance to be made available directly to any of the governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras; and may be suspended or terminated with respect to a country or an entity receiving assistance pursuant to the agreement, if the Secretary of State determines that such country or entity has failed to make sufficient progress towards the goals of the Compact.