DHS Mandates New Strategy to Track and Respond to 'Ghost Gun' Threats, Including Cross-Border Smuggling Analysis

The new “Bolstering Security Against Ghost Guns Act” isn't about creating new gun laws for individuals; it’s a major internal restructuring of how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) handles unserialized, privately made firearms, often called “ghost guns.” Essentially, the bill tells DHS to stop operating in silos and create a unified, comprehensive plan to prevent, prepare for, and respond to threats—like terrorism or targeted violence—linked to these weapons.

The DHS Strategy Overhaul: What’s Changing?

This act mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to roll out a detailed, department-wide strategy within one year. Think of it as a comprehensive playbook. This strategy has to spell out exactly how different DHS components—like the Secret Service, TSA, and ICE—will coordinate internally, and how DHS will improve collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement, including fusion centers. For the average person, this means that the intelligence and threat assessments related to these specific firearms should become more organized and flow more efficiently to local police departments.

Targeting Cross-Border Smuggling

One of the most immediate and specific mandates is directed at border security. Within 180 days, the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, along with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), must deliver a threat assessment focused squarely on cross-border dangers. This isn't just a general report; it specifically requires looking at how transnational criminal organizations are using ghost guns or their components sourced from the U.S. to threaten the border. Furthermore, ICE is tasked with analyzing data (from the ATF and other sources) on U.S.-sourced firearms, including ghost guns, that are recovered in Mexico. They have to develop a way to share this summarized data and create metrics to measure how effective their investigations are at stopping this illicit flow. If you live or work near the border, this means federal law enforcement will be intensifying their focus on the flow of unserialized firearm components heading south.

New Guidance for Targeted Violence

The U.S. Secret Service, using its National Threat Assessment Center, is required to research and issue public reports within one year. These reports will offer guidance on how to prevent and respond to acts of terrorism or targeted violence linked to ghost guns. This is aimed at providing actionable advice—not just for federal agents, but presumably for schools, workplaces, and community organizations—on recognizing and addressing threats where these weapons might be involved.

What the TSA Will Be Tracking

For anyone who flies regularly, there's a new layer of transparency coming to airport security. Starting within one year and continuing annually, the TSA Administrator must report to Congress on firearm violations at passenger checkpoints. This report has to break down the numbers, specifically noting how many violations involved a ghost gun, how many were repeat offenses, and how many happened during expedited screening (like TSA PreCheck). If you’ve ever wondered how often people try to bring guns through security, this bill mandates that the TSA not only track the total but also highlight the specific threat posed by unserialized weapons at checkpoints.