Bill Summary
The "Securing our Border Act" is a legislative proposal aimed at enhancing U.S. border security by reallocating unobligated funds from the IRS enforcement account. The Act includes several key provisions:
1. **Nonintrusive Inspection Funding**: One-third of the unobligated funds will be directed to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to improve nonintrusive inspection technologies at border ports of entry, with the goal of achieving 100% scanning of vehicles by February 6, 2034.
2. **Border Wall Construction**: Two-thirds of the unobligated funds will be allocated to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the construction of a border wall system along the southwest border, accompanied by quarterly reporting requirements on implementation and costs.
3. **Recruitment and Retention Bonuses**: The Act authorizes bonuses for newly hired CBP agents, including recruitment, retention, and relocation bonuses, to enhance staffing levels at U.S. border facilities.
4. **Changes to Immigration Procedures**: The legislation amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the return or detention of aliens arriving from contiguous territories pending asylum proceedings, thereby tightening immigration enforcement.
Overall, the Act addresses border security through technological upgrades, infrastructure development, and workforce incentives, reflecting concerns over drug trafficking, illegal immigration, and overall safety at the border.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Securing our Border Act" could affect people:
1. **Increased Border Security and Drug Trafficking Control**: The reallocation of funds to enhance nonintrusive inspection technologies at border crossings aims to reduce the flow of illicit drugs, such as fentanyl, into the U.S. This could potentially decrease drug overdose deaths, impacting families and communities suffering from the opioid crisis. If successful, individuals struggling with addiction may find more support and resources dedicated to treatment as the availability of these drugs diminishes.
2. **Employment Opportunities for Border Patrol Agents**: The provision for recruitment and retention bonuses for U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents may lead to increased hiring and retention of personnel. This could create job opportunities for individuals seeking employment in law enforcement or related fields. Furthermore, it may increase the effectiveness of border security operations due to a larger, more motivated workforce, which could impact overall safety and security in border communities.
3. **Changes in Immigration Processing**: The amendments regarding the treatment of aliens arriving from contiguous territories may lead to quicker processing and potential returns to their home countries or safe third countries. This could affect individuals seeking asylum or immigration relief, as they may face different treatment and longer waiting periods for their claims to be processed. Families might experience separation or delays in reunification if individuals are detained for further consideration of asylum applications.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4765 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4765
To reprogram all remaining unobligated funds from the IRS enforcement
account.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 25, 2025
Mr. Moore of North Carolina (for himself, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr.
Crenshaw, and Mr. Carter of Georgia) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition
to the Committees on Homeland Security, and 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 reprogram all remaining unobligated funds from the IRS enforcement
account.
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 ``Securing our Border Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) United States border security is paramount to the
general welfare of our Nation and ensures the efficient and
meaningful flow of goods and individuals through legal means.
(2) During 2023, an estimated 105,007 drug overdose deaths
occurred in the United States.
(3) Only 2 percent of passenger vehicles and 20 percent of
commercial vehicles crossing the southern border are scanned by
nonintrusive inspection technology through a radiation portal
monitor.
(4) During fiscal year 2023, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection agents processed more than 1,081,030 passengers and
pedestrians.
(5) Limiting the amount of deadly illicit narcotics,
including fentanyl, from entering the United States would
reduce the number of Americans who die annually from the use of
such narcotics.
(6) Because of the failure to update nonintrusive
inspection technologies at land ports of entry along the
southern border of the United States, there has been an
increase in the amount of illicit narcotics, such as fentanyl,
being trafficked across the southern border.
(7) The amount of illicit drugs seized by U.S. Customs and
Border Protection along the southwest border was
approximately--
(A) 241,000 pounds during fiscal year 2023; and
(B) 275,000 pounds during fiscal year 2024.
(8) U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents had 2,135,005
encounters along the southern border during fiscal year 2024,
including--
(A) 1,218,880 single adults;
(B) 804,456 family units; and
(C) 109,998 unaccompanied minors.
(9) According to the Department of Homeland Security, 750
migrants died attempting to cross the southern border during
fiscal year 2022, which is--
(A) more migrant deaths than occurred in any
previous fiscal year; and
(B) more than 200 more migrant deaths than the
number of such deaths during fiscal year 2021.
(10) As of September 30, 2024, the immigration court
backlog was 3,558,995 cases.
(11) Since the end of fiscal year 2019, U.S. Customs and
Border Protection has reported 2,371 encounters with potential
terrorists at ports of entry along the southern and northern
borders.
(12) According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection
onboard staffing data, approximately 2,700 additional U.S.
Customs and Border Protection officers need to be stationed at
United States ports of entry to fully staff such ports.
(13) Due to shifting priorities, construction delays, a
lack of available technology solutions, and funding
constraints, most southern U.S. Border Patrol sectors still
rely on obsolete systems or technologies.
SEC. 3. FUNDING FOR NONINTRUSIVE BORDER INSPECTIONS.
One-third of the unobligated balances (as of the date of the
enactment of this Act) from amounts made available under section
10301(1)(A)(ii) of Public Law 117-169 shall be transferred to U.S.
Customs and Border Protection during the period beginning on the date
of the enactment of this Act and ending on February 6, 2034, for
nonintrusive inspection systems to achieve a 100 percent nonintrusive
inspection scanning rate at all northern border and southwest border
land ports of entry by February 6, 2034.
SEC. 4. FUNDING FOR BORDER WALL CONSTRUCTION.
(a) In General.--Two-thirds of the unobligated balances (as of the
date of the enactment of this Act) from amounts made available under
section 10301(1)(A)(ii) of Public Law 117-169 shall be transferred to
the Department of Homeland Security during the period beginning on the
date of the enactment of this Act and ending on February 6, 2034, for
activities related to the construction of a border wall system along
the southwest international border of the United States.
(b) Quarterly Reports.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
submit quarterly reports to the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate, the Committee on Finance of the Senate, the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, the Committee on
Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives that contains--
(1) an implementation plan with benchmarks related to
stemming illegal immigration; and
(2) cost estimates associated with border wall system
construction.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION TO PROVIDE BONUSES TO U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER
PROTECTION AGENTS.
(a) Recruitment Bonuses.--
(1) In general.--Subject to the approval of the Secretary
of Homeland Security, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection may pay a recruitment bonus, not to exceed
$15,000, to each newly hired U.S. Customs and Border Protection
agent after--
(A) the agent completes initial basic training; and
(B) the execution of a written agreement described
in paragraph (2).
(2) Written agreement.--A written agreement described in
this paragraph is a legally binding agreement between a newly
hired agent and U.S. Customs and Border Protection that--
(A) specifies the amount of the bonus payment to be
paid to such agent, including the timing of such
payment;
(B) the length of the period of service required to
be completed before such agent is entitled to retain
such payment; and
(C) any other terms and conditions to which such
payment is subject.
(b) Retention Bonuses.--Subject to the approval of the Secretary of
Homeland Security, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection may pay annual retention bonuses, not to exceed 15 percent
of the agent's basic pay, to U.S. Border Patrol agents after the
completion of each year of satisfactory service, as determined by the
Commissioner.
(c) Relocation Bonus.--Subject to the approval of the Secretary of
Homeland Security, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection may pay a relocation bonus, not to exceed 15 percent of the
agent's annual basic pay, to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent
who agrees to be transferred and to serve for not less than 3 years at
the new duty station.
(d) Limitation.--None of the bonuses paid to a U.S. Customs and
Border Protection agent pursuant to subsections (a) through (c) may be
considered part of the basic pay of such agent for any purpose,
including for retirement or in computing a lump-sum payment to the
agent for accumulated and accrued annual leave under section 5551 or
5552 of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 6. TREATMENT OF ALIENS ARRIVING FROM CONTIGUOUS TERRITORY.
Section 235(b)(2)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1225(b)(2)(C)) is amended by striking ``may return'' and all
that follows and inserting the following: ``shall--
``(i) return the alien to such territory,
or to a safe third country (as described in
section 208), pending the completion of a
proceeding under section 240; or
``(ii) detain the alien for further
consideration of an application for asylum,
which shall include a determination of credible
fear of persecution.''.
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