Sponsors (2)
Introduced January 3, 2025 by Andrew S. Biggs · Last progress January 3, 2025
The bill trades expanded, better‑coordinated funding and authorities to strengthen southern border enforcement for higher costs (borne by taxpayers, travelers, and remitters), increased enforcement powers and penalties, and significant impacts on migrants, local communities, tribal lands, the environment, and U.S. diplomatic relationships.
Border communities and the U.S. border security mission: the bill provides substantial new resources (barrier construction, vehicles/equipment, staff pay, and directed funds) intended to reduce unauthorized crossings and bolster operational capacity at the southern border.
Federal agencies, Congress, and local governments: creates dedicated funding accounts (Secure the Southern Border Fund; Treasury account available until expended), clarifies DHS as lead for delivery, and requires reporting/notice that improve multi-year planning, coordination, and legislative oversight for border projects.
Border Patrol and other covered agents: increases pay protections and overtime compensation (higher premium pay for long shifts, not reduced by Title 5 caps), raising take-home pay for overtime work.
Taxpayers and federal budgets: large construction, maintenance, equipment, and higher overtime pay increase federal costs and could divert spending from other priorities.
Low-income immigrants, families abroad, and short-term visitors: a 5% remittance fee and higher I-94 charges directly raise the cost of sending money and entering the U.S., burdening households that rely on remittances and travel for work or family support.
Migrants, asylum seekers, and civil-rights advocates: expanded physical barriers, stronger enforcement, reporting of nationalities, and harsh penalties risk restricting access to asylum, stigmatizing groups, and increasing exposure to criminalization.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Creates a dedicated Treasury fund and new fees to finance U.S.–Mexico border barriers and Border Patrol resources, mandates barrier completion by Dec 31, 2025, and adds remittance and I‑94 fee changes.
Creates a new Treasury account to fund construction, maintenance, and related equipment for a barrier along the U.S.–Mexico land border and directs multiple new revenue sources into that account (including a new remittance surcharge, portions of an increased I‑94 fee, and redirected foreign assistance). Requires DHS to complete physical barriers and achieve "operational control" of the southern land border by December 31, 2025, gives DHS broad waiver authority to speed projects, and changes pay rules and funding for Border Patrol agents. The bill also mandates reporting on apprehensions and ties automatic reductions in foreign assistance to those reports, and it adds criminal penalties for evading the remittance fee mechanism.