Immigration (Border Security)

in committee · United States · Senate Feb 19, 2025

S 628: Alan T. Shao II Fentanyl Public Health Emergency and Overdose Prevention Act

This bill suspends the admittance of certain immigrants attempting unlawful entry from Canada or Mexico without proper documents (defined as "covered aliens") to address the fentanyl crisis. It requires rapid removal of these individuals to their country of origin or the country they entered from, aiming to reduce the risk of fentanyl trafficking into the U.S. The legislation cites findings that fentanyl caused over 100,000 overdose deaths in 2023 and is extremely potent, with just 2 milligrams being lethal. The policy directly affects border crossers meeting the "covered alien" definition and mandates their return via repatriation flights. It focuses on border enforcement as a public health measure, not on treatment or prevention programs.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationSuspends admittance of undocumented immigrants and mandates rapid removal to restrict fentanyl trafficking, directly limiting immigration access and enforcement cooperation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Border Security Enforcement

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in committee · United States · House Jun 11, 2025

HR 3929: GAMBLER Act

HR 3929, the GAMBLER Act, creates a new "Border Enforcement Trust Fund" to cover U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) costs for apprehending, detaining, and deporting individuals without legal status. The bill redirects existing excise tax revenue (such as taxes on gambling or tobacco) to this trust fund, rather than increasing taxes on citizens. It aims to fund border enforcement operations without requiring new congressional appropriations or raising taxes. The bill directly affects ICE's budget for enforcement, detention, and removal activities by providing a dedicated funding source from excise taxes.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationFunds ICE border enforcement (apprehension, detention, deportation) for undocumented individuals, directly increasing immigration enforcement operations without new taxes.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Border Security Enforcement

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 27, 2025

S 771: End FEMA Benefits for Illegal Immigrants Act

This bill prohibits the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from funding sheltering or facility improvements for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) short-term holding facilities. It also cancels unobligated funds previously allocated to FEMA for these purposes under two 2023-2024 appropriations acts. The bill directly affects FEMA's budget authority and CBP's operational funding for facilities holding individuals in immigration custody. It does not create new restrictions but terminates existing funding for specific CBP-related sheltering activities. The measure focuses solely on rescinding existing appropriations, not on altering immigration law or eligibility.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesDefunds FEMA's budget for CBP facilities by canceling unobligated funds, directly restricting government spending on immigration infrastructure per appropriations acts.92% confidence ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill cuts funding for immigration holding facilities, potentially weakening law enforcement capacity to detain individuals, which relates to criminal justice operations.75% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill defunds CBP holding facilities via FEMA, directly restricting immigration enforcement funding per 'defund' indicator in oppose classification.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Border Security Enforcement Sanctuary Policies Tags Emergency Management

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in committee · United States · Senate Jan 21, 2025

S 157: CONTAINER Act

S 157, the CONTAINER Act, allows border states (adjacent to the U.S. northern or southern border) to place movable, temporary structures on federal land for border security without needing a special use permit from federal agencies. The bill requires border states to provide 45 days' notice to the relevant federal agency (like the Bureau of Land Management or Forest Service) before placing such structures, which can remain for up to one year and be extended in 90-day increments if U.S. Customs and Border Protection determines operational control has not been achieved. This directly affects border states managing border security and federal land management agencies overseeing borderlands. The law streamlines the process for temporary border barriers by removing a permitting requirement, focusing on rapid deployment rather than permanent infrastructure.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill enables border states to deploy temporary security structures without federal permits, increasing state enforcement capabilities which restrict immigration access and align with enforcement-focused policies.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Border Security

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in committee · United States · House Jan 9, 2025

HR 263: Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act

HR 263, the Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act, creates new federal criminal penalties for actions aiding criminal groups evading border controls. It makes it a crime to knowingly transmit law enforcement locations or movements to help with immigration, customs, or border-related crimes, punishable by fines or up to 10 years in prison. The bill also criminalizes damaging or tampering with border infrastructure like fences or sensors, with penalties increasing to 20 years if a firearm is involved. These provisions directly affect individuals assisting transnational criminal organizations in circumventing U.S. border security measures. The law aims to strengthen enforcement against those who undermine border control systems.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new federal penalties for aiding border-related crimes, aligning with 'expands criminalization' indicator.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill criminalizes aiding criminal groups evading border controls and damages border infrastructure, strengthening enforcement against illegal crossings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms Law Enforcement Border Security Enforcement

Track

in committee · United States · House Jun 3, 2026

HR 175: Deport Alien Gang Members Act

This bill creates new grounds for deporting non-citizens who are members of or associated with criminal gangs. It defines a "criminal gang" as a group of five or more people whose primary purpose is committing serious crimes like drug offenses, violence, trafficking, or weapons violations. The Secretary of Homeland Security can designate groups as criminal gangs after consultation with the Attorney General, and these designations make gang members ineligible for asylum, temporary protected status, parole, and other immigration benefits. The bill also establishes procedures for reviewing and revoking these designations, with limited judicial review options.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands deportation for gang membership, reducing asylum rights and increasing punitive measures, opposing reform by expanding criminalization and limiting defendant protections.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill creates deportation grounds for gang members, denies asylum/TPS eligibility, restricting immigrant protections and increasing enforcement against non-citizens.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement Probation & Parole Border Security Detention Enforcement

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in committee · United States · Senate Jan 23, 2025

S 221: Extending Limits of United States Customs Waters Act of 2025

This bill would extend U.S. customs enforcement authority from 12 to 24 nautical miles from shore. It amends the Tariff Act of 1930 and the Anti-Smuggling Act to align enforcement zones with existing international law limits (as established by Presidential Proclamations 5928 and 7219). Currently, customs agents can only act within 12 miles, but the bill would allow enforcement in the contiguous zone up to 24 miles to provide more time for interdiction. Congress states this change addresses modern vessel speeds, enabling U.S. Customs and Border Protection to better prevent violations of customs, fiscal, or immigration laws. The policy directly affects CBP operations in coastal waters.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands customs enforcement authority to combat smuggling, strengthening law enforcement capabilities and border security within criminal justice framework.75% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationExpands customs enforcement zone to 24 miles, enhancing border interdiction efforts, directly increasing federal immigration enforcement capabilities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Border Security

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Jun 9, 2025

S 1993: RIPPLE Act of 2025

The RIPPLE Act of 2025 (S 1993) creates a federal reimbursement program for states and local law enforcement agencies that enforce immigration laws under federal agreements. It allows the Attorney General to pay back states and localities for costs like officer wages, overtime pay, and salaries incurred when their officers perform immigration-related duties. This directly affects local police departments and state agencies participating in federal immigration enforcement programs. The bill adds this reimbursement mechanism to existing law, aiming to offset the financial burden on local governments for these activities. It does not change immigration enforcement policies or eligibility but provides funding for costs already being borne by participating jurisdictions.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationFunds state/local immigration enforcement via federal reimbursement, directly supporting increased enforcement that restricts immigrant access and protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Border Security Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · United States · House Jun 24, 2025

HR 4092: Protect RAIL Act

HR 4092, the Protect RAIL Act, amends U.S. immigration law to make certain crimes involving stolen goods transported by carriers (like trains, trucks, or ships) grounds for denying entry or deporting non-citizens. It adds new inadmissibility and deportability provisions for anyone convicted of theft from interstate or foreign shipments under Title 18, Section 659 of the U.S. Code. The bill directly affects non-citizens who commit these specific theft offenses, making them ineligible to enter the U.S. or subject to removal. This changes immigration consequences for existing criminal offenses, not the crimes themselves.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationAdds deportability for theft from shipments, restricting non-citizen entry and increasing enforcement against immigrants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Border Security Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · United States · Senate Jan 9, 2025

S 50: Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act

This bill, S 50 (Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act), creates new federal crimes targeting actions that hinder border security. It makes it illegal to knowingly share law enforcement location data (like border patrol movements) to aid immigration, customs, or border control crimes, and to destroy or damage border infrastructure like fences or sensors. The bill also expands firearm penalties for individuals using guns during alien smuggling crimes, specifically linking these enhancements to violations of immigration laws. Violations carry fines, up to 10 years in prison (or 20 years if a firearm is involved), and apply to individuals directly involved in obstructing border enforcement.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new federal crimes targeting border security hindrance and expands firearm penalties for smuggling, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of expanded criminalization and harsher sentencing.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill criminalizes sharing border security data and damaging infrastructure, strengthening enforcement against smuggling - restrictive stance on immigration enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms Law Enforcement Border Security

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