Subterranean Border Defense Act

# Summary of the Subterranean Border Defense Act (HR 495) **What the bill does:** The Subterranean Border Defense Act would require U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to submit yearly progress reports on their strategy to detect and stop illegal border tunnels. Currently, CBP only has to report once, within one year of creating their tunnel-prevention plan.

This bill changes that to require ongoing, annual updates on how well the plan is working. **Who it affects:** The bill primarily affects CBP and other federal border security agencies, which would need to track and report on their tunnel-detection efforts each year. It also indirectly concerns border communities and people involved in cross-border activities, since it relates to enforcement against smuggling tunnels. **Current status:** The bill passed the House of Representatives and is part of the 119th Congress. It now awaits consideration in the Senate.