Discussions are now underway that could shift the agency responsible for ADIZ security from the U.S. Customs Service to the U.S. Coast Guard, USCG spokesman Lt. Gene Maestas told AVweb yesterday. The Coast Guard would be suited for the job because it has a dual role as a law-enforcement authority as well as a military branch. “The military can’t patrol within U.S borders,” Maestas said, but the USCG can. The change could simplify the chain of command in case of a crisis, and perhaps make it easier for hostile action to be taken against an intruder, according to a recent MSNBC story. Sources in the Department of Homeland Security told MSNBC that the Coast Guard would relocate drug-interdiction helicopters out of the Bahamas to replace the Black Hawk helicopters and Citation jets currently used by customs to patrol the Washington area. Maestas said yesterday that nothing has been decided yet and the discussions will likely last another two to four weeks.
…Enforcement Role Could Change
Key Takeaways:
- Discussions are underway to shift ADIZ security responsibility from the U.S. Customs Service to the U.S. Coast Guard.
- The Coast Guard is deemed suitable due to its dual role as a law enforcement and military branch, allowing it to patrol within U.S. borders and potentially simplifying crisis response.
- This change could involve the Coast Guard relocating drug-interdiction helicopters to replace current Customs Black Hawk helicopters and Citation jets for Washington-area patrols.
- No final decision has been made, with discussions expected to continue for several more weeks.
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