Bill Summary
The "Border Workforce Improvement Act" is a proposed piece of legislation aimed at assessing the staffing needs of key agencies (Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)) at the southern border of the United States.
Key provisions of the bill include:
1. **Assessment Requirement**: Within 90 days of enactment, the Secretary of Homeland Security must conduct a comprehensive study to evaluate current staffing levels and methodologies for deploying personnel at the southern border.
2. **Focus Areas**: The assessment will examine:
- Existing staffing models and the reliance on overtime and temporary details to fill gaps.
- External and internal factors impacting workloads and staffing challenges.
- Identification of critical gaps in human resources, technology integration, and risk management systems.
3. **Reporting**: A report detailing the findings and recommendations from the assessment must be submitted to relevant congressional committees within 180 days after the assessment is completed.
This legislation aims to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security can effectively address staffing issues and improve border security operations.
Possible Impacts
The "Border Workforce Improvement Act" could affect people in several ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Increased Border Security and Efficiency:**
The assessment of staffing needs at the southern border may lead to the identification of gaps in personnel and resources. If the findings of the assessment result in increased staffing levels for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), this could enhance border security and improve the efficiency of processing individuals at the border. As a result, travelers, migrants, and local communities may experience shorter wait times and more effective law enforcement, potentially fostering a sense of safety in border regions.
2. **Impact on Migrants and Asylum Seekers:**
The evaluation of staffing and operational methodologies may lead to changes in how migrants and asylum seekers are processed. If the assessment identifies inefficiencies that contribute to delays in processing, the recommendations could lead to more streamlined procedures. This could positively affect migrants seeking asylum by reducing waiting times for hearings and decisions, but it could also raise concerns among advocacy groups about the adequacy of protections and due process for these individuals if rushed procedures are implemented.
3. **Resource Allocation and Employment Opportunities:**
The report produced after the assessment could lead to recommendations that result in reallocating resources or hiring additional personnel for CBP, ICE, and USCIS. This could create employment opportunities for individuals in border communities, potentially providing economic benefits to those areas. However, it may also spark debates regarding the appropriate use of federal funds and the broader implications of increased enforcement presence on local populations and immigrant communities.
Overall, the legislation could have significant implications for border security, migration processes, and economic opportunities in affected regions.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1930 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1930
To require an assessement of CBP and ICE staffing at the southern
border, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 6, 2025
Ms. Johnson of Texas (for herself, Mr. Case, Mr. Levin, Mr. Veasey, and
Mr. Stanton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on the
Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require an assessement of CBP and ICE staffing at the southern
border, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Border Workforce Improvement Act''.
SEC. 2. ASSESSMENT ON DHS STAFFING NEEDS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER.
(a) Study.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with
the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the
Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the
Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS),
shall conduct an assessment of staffing needs at the southern border of
the United States.
(b) Elements.--The assessment under subsection (a) shall include
the following:
(1) Reviews of existing staffing models and methodologies
for deploying personnel of CBP, ICE, and USCIS at the southern
border and across the country, and the effect of continuously
relying on details and overtime to temporarily fill staffing
gaps.
(2) Factors within and outside of the control of the
Department of Homeland Security that are affecting workloads
and exacerbating staffing challenges to identify solutions CBP,
ICE, and USCIS can accomplish, as well as solutions that
require congressional action.
(3) An identification of critical capability gaps in human
resources, new technology integration, and streamlined risk
management systems across CBP, ICE, and USCIS.
(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which the
assessment under subsection (a) is complete, the Secretary of Homeland
Security shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
report that includes the following:
(1) The findings of such assessment.
(2) A description of how the Secretary, the Commissioner of
CBP, the Director of ICE, and the Director of USCIS should
implement the recommendations contained in such assessment.
(d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee of Homeland Security and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committee of Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
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