HR 103119th CongressIn Committee

Congressional Border Security Assessment Act

Introduced: Jan 3, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Congressional Border Security Assessment Act would authorize Members of Congress and their staff to have lawful access to certain Indian reservations that contain 50 or more contiguous miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. The access is for the purpose of gathering information to assess national security, public safety, and the security of the international boundary. The bill would apply to roadways and other easements located on Indian country. The term “Indian country” is defined by existing federal law (18 U.S.C. 1151). In short, if a reservation along the U.S.-Mexico border is at least 50 miles long, a Member of Congress and their staff could enter that land to study and evaluate border security-related issues, including access to interior routes and border infrastructure on the reservation.

Key Points

1Allows lawful access for Members of Congress and accompanying staff to eligible Indian reservations.
2Eligibility criterion: reservations that include 50 or more contiguous miles of the U.S.-Mexico international boundary.
3Purpose: to obtain information for assessing national security, public safety, and the security of the international boundary.
4Access scope: extends to any roadways or easements on Indian country.
5Defines Indian country by reference to 18 U.S.C. 1151 (the standard federal definition).

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Members of Congress and Congressional staff conducting border security oversight and assessments.- Indian tribes and reservations along the U.S.-Mexico border that meet the 50-mile criterion.Secondary group/area affected- Federal agencies involved in border security and homeland security (due to oversight access and information gathering).- Local residents and communities on or near eligible reservations, who may experience changes in access or security-focused activities on tribal lands.Additional impacts- Potential sovereignty and governance considerations for tribes, since the bill grants access rights to Congress on tribal lands without detailing consent mechanisms or tribal consultation.- Possible implications for privacy and security of information gathered on Indian lands.- No funding, enforcement provisions, or explicit oversight processes are described, so practical implementation would require further rules or agreements.- The measure is narrowly tailored to reservations with long border segments, limiting scope.Indian country (per 18 U.S.C. 1151): This generally includes lands within the limits of any Indian reservation, any dependent Indian community, and Indian allotments held in trust by the United States for an Indian tribe. The bill uses this existing definition to determine where access may occur.

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