Securing our Border Act
Securing our Border Act
Plain Language Summary
# Securing our Border Act - Summary **What the Bill Does:** The Securing our Border Act would redirect unused IRS funds (originally designated for tax enforcement activities like collecting taxes and investigating financial crimes) to border security projects. Specifically, it would use these funds to install inspection systems at both the northern and southern U.S. borders and to construct a border wall along the southwest border. The bill would also allow U.S.
Customs and Border Protection to offer recruitment and retention bonuses to agents—for example, paying up to 15% of an agent's salary as a relocation bonus if they agree to work at a new border location for at least three years. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily affects border security operations and the immigration system. It would impact CBP agents (potentially making jobs more attractive through bonuses), federal tax enforcement efforts (by reducing IRS funding), and immigration-related policies. Indirectly, it affects anyone involved in cross-border commerce, travel, and immigration processes. **Current Status:** As of now, the bill remains in committee and has not been voted on or passed. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced it in the 119th Congress, meaning it is still in the early legislative stage.
CRS Official Summary
Securing our Border ActThis bill addresses issues concerning border security and immigration, including by transferring unobligated funds from the Internal Revenue Service to certain border-related projects.Specifically, the bill transfers certain unobligated funds previously appropriated for tax enforcement activities (e.g., collecting owed taxes and conducting criminal investigations) to fund (1) nonintrusive inspection systems along the northern border and southwest border of the United States, and (2) the construction of a border wall system along the southwest border.The bill also authorizes the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to pay recruitment, retention, and relocation bonuses, subject to various requirements and limitations. For example, a relocation bonus may not exceed 15% of the agent's annual basic bay and must be conditioned on the agent agreeing to serve for at least three years at the new duty station.The bill also modifies the treatment of non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) arriving by land from a country next to the United States. Specifically, if such an individual is not clearly entitled to admission into the United States, the Department of Justice must (1) return the individual to that neighboring country or a safe third country while removal proceedings are pending, or (2) detain the individual while the individual's asylum application is under consideration. (Current law authorizes DOJ to return the individual to the neighboring country but does not require such action or detention.)
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.