Securing our Border Act
The Securing our Border Act would redirect unobligated funds from a specified federal account tied to IRS enforcement (as referenced in the bill’s source language) to bolster U.S. border security programs. The bill directs one-third of the unobligated balances to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for nonintrusive inspection systems with a goal of achieving a 100 percent nonintrusive scanning rate at all northern and southwest land ports by February 6, 2034. It directs two-thirds of the unobligated balances to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for border wall construction, and requires quarterly reporting on implementation plans and costs. The bill also creates authority to pay recruitment, retention, and relocation bonuses to CBP agents (with specific caps and formal written agreements) and amends immigration procedures for aliens arriving from contiguous territory by making certain the government must either return them to the territory or detain them for credible fear determinations pending asylum proceedings. In short, the bill seeks to accelerate technology-driven border controls, expand wall construction, strengthen CBP staffing incentives, and tighten certain asylum processing rules.
Key Points
- 1Funding reallocation: Reprogram unobligated balances to border security efforts, with one-third to CBP for nonintrusive inspection systems and two-thirds to DHS for border wall construction, through February 6, 2034.
- 2Nonintrusive inspections: Aim to achieve a 100 percent nonintrusive inspection scanning rate at all northern and southwest land ports of entry by February 6, 2034, funded by the redirected balances.
- 3Border wall construction: Funds dedicated to building a border wall system along the southwest border, with quarterly Congressional reporting requirements detailing implementation plans, benchmarks for stemming illegal immigration, and cost estimates.
- 4CBP bonuses: Establish authority to pay recruitment bonuses up to $15,000 for newly hired agents after basic training and after a written agreement; annual retention bonuses up to 15 percent of basic pay; relocation bonuses up to 15 percent of annual pay for transfers with a minimum 3-year service commitment. Bonuses are not treated as basic pay for retirement or leave calculations.
- 5Contiguous-territory asylum policy: Amends Immigration and Nationality Act provisions to require that aliens arriving from contiguous territory be returned to that territory or to a safe third country, or detained for further asylum processing, including credible fear determinations.