Sponsors (5)
The bill accelerates and coordinates upgrades to land ports of entry to reduce delays and improve trade and travel, but it finances those improvements largely through new and reallocated fees that raise costs for immigrants and frequent travelers and may divert funding from other customs priorities while projects remain subject to appropriations uncertainty.
Border communities, travelers, and businesses that rely on cross‑border trade will see faster processing and reduced delays because land ports of entry will be modernized with construction, technology upgrades, expanded inspection capacity, and staffing improvements.
Local and state governments and project stakeholders will get clearer governance and transparency through a dedicated oversight board, annual reports, and a prioritized project recommendation process, improving coordination of port‑of‑entry investments.
The Land Port of Entry Modernization Trust Fund will modestly increase available resources by earning interest on previously idle balances invested in U.S. obligations, generating additional project funding over time.
Immigrants, frequent cross‑border travelers, and lower‑income individuals will face higher costs because the bill adds a $40 immigrant fee surcharge, a $6 land border inspection surcharge, and a $20 visa surcharge, creating regressive burdens on people who use these services often.
The bill transfers up to $1.6 billion from the Merchandise Processing Fee and a one‑time transfer from the Customs User Fee Account, which could reduce funds for other Customs programs or force offsetting measures, harming small businesses, importers, and government contractors that rely on customs services.
Even with dedicated deposits, project spending is still subject to annual appropriations, leaving modernization projects exposed to funding uncertainty and potential delays that affect border communities and state/local planning.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a new Treasury trust fund to pay for building, expanding, repairing, and upgrading U.S. land ports of entry and for related hiring and technology. The fund is paid by specified transfers of existing customs fees, a one-time transfer up to $1.6 billion, and new surcharges on certain visa, immigrant, and land-border inspection fees, and is overseen by a nine-member board and annual reporting requirements.
Introduced February 13, 2025 by Henry Cuellar · Last progress February 13, 2025