Sponsors (2)
The bill channels new, predictable revenue streams to speed and expand border barriers, personnel pay, and enforcement capacity—imposing substantial costs on taxpayers and low‑income migrants while raising environmental, diplomatic, privacy, and legal‑risk concerns.
Millions of U.S. taxpayers and border communities: the bill creates dedicated, multi-source funding streams (remittance fee, I-94 fees, and a Treasury account) that reliably finance southern border security projects and operations.
Border communities and the public: provides for accelerated construction of physical barriers, roads, and surveillance technology intended to reduce unauthorized crossings by the statutory deadline.
Border Patrol agents and law enforcement: funds and policy changes increase access to vehicles/equipment and boost pay/overtime for extended tours, improving operational capacity and recruitment/retention.
U.S. taxpayers and federal budget: the bill shifts large new costs for barrier construction, roads, technology, equipment, and higher personnel pay onto the federal budget, likely increasing spending and long‑term taxpayer liability.
Low‑income immigrants and international recipients: a new 5% remittance fee plus higher I‑94 processing fees (from $6 to $25) directly reduces funds sent to families abroad and raises costs for travelers and temporary visitors.
Private landowners, Tribal communities, border residents, and wildlife: expedited barrier and road construction plus legal waivers risk property access disruption, habitat fragmentation, harms to waterways and endangered species, and broader environmental damage.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Creates a Treasury fund to pay for border barrier construction, finances it by redirecting foreign aid and new remittance/I-94 fees, expands DHS construction authority, and changes Border Patrol pay rules.
Creates a dedicated Treasury account to fund construction, maintenance, and related equipment for a physical barrier along the U.S.–Mexico border, funds that come from a mix of redirected foreign assistance, new fees on remittance transfers and CBP Form I-94 processing, and other sources. Expands and accelerates Homeland Security authority to design, build, and waive legal requirements to complete barriers by December 31, 2025; increases pay/overtime rules for Border Patrol agents and imposes reporting and penalty requirements tied to apprehension counts and remittance-fee compliance.
Official title: To establish a separate account in the Treasury to hold deposits to be used to secure the southern border of the United States, and for other purposes.
Introduced January 3, 2025 by Andrew S. Biggs · Last progress January 3, 2025