Immigration (Border Security)

in committee · United States · Senate Feb 6, 2025

S 481: Securing our Border Act

S 481, the "Securing our Border Act," directs funding to enhance border security by requiring 100% scanning of vehicles at all southern border ports by 2034 using nonintrusive inspection systems, and allocates funds for constructing a border wall along the southwest U.S. border. It also creates new bonus programs for U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, including up to $15,000 for recruitment, retention bonuses up to 15% of pay, and relocation bonuses up to 15% of annual pay. The bill amends immigration procedures to require returning migrants from neighboring countries to contiguous territory or processing asylum claims, rather than immediate release. These provisions directly affect CBP operations, border patrol staffing, and migrants crossing the southern border, with specific deadlines and reporting requirements for funding use.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly allocates funds for border security infrastructure and personnel bonuses, directly advancing budget and appropriations for government programs90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill funds border wall, vehicle scanning, and CBP bonuses - increases enforcement measures per border security focus.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Border Security Enforcement Refugees & Asylum

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passed · United States · House Feb 13, 2025

HR 35: Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act

HR 35, the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act, creates a new federal crime for operating a motor vehicle while intentionally fleeing U.S. Border Patrol agents or assisting law enforcement officers within 100 miles of the U.S. border. It imposes penalties of up to 2 years in prison for the basic offense, 5-20 years if serious injury occurs, and 10 years to life if death results. The bill also makes individuals convicted of this crime inadmissible to the U.S., deportable, and ineligible for immigration relief like asylum. Additionally, it requires annual reports from the Attorney General and Homeland Security Secretary detailing arrests, charges, and penalties related to this offense.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new federal crime with mandatory harsh penalties (up to life for death), expands criminalization, and restricts defendant rights via inadmissibility/deportation.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationStrengthens border enforcement by criminalizing fleeing Border Patrol agents with prison terms, increasing penalties for evasion near border, making offenders deportable.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Sentencing Border Security Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · United States · Senate Oct 23, 2025

S 3054: Kayla Hamilton Act

The Kayla Hamilton Act updates rules for placing unaccompanied alien children (UACs) in U.S. custody. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to consult with immigration and law enforcement before placing a UAC, and to conduct background checks on potential sponsors. Children aged 12 or older who are flight risks, dangerous, or have certain criminal histories (like gang-related tattoos or past convictions) must be placed in secure facilities. The law also bans placing UACs with non-citizen sponsors or those with serious criminal records, and mandates detailed background information to be shared with immigration authorities.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationMandates HHS consultation with immigration enforcement, background checks on sponsors, and secure facilities for certain UACs, restricting placement and increasing enforcement cooperation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Border Security Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 25, 2025

S 2163: Border Patrol Recruitment Enhancement Act

This bill allows U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to waive the standard polygraph examination requirement for hiring specific candidates: current state/local law enforcement officers with 3+ years service and clean records, federal officers meeting similar criteria, or military veterans with honorable discharges and background checks. It requires CBP to report annually on waiver usage, hiring outcomes, and polygraph results for these candidates, with a GAO review after 5 years to assess disciplinary records. The waiver authority expires after 5 years, and all waived candidates must still meet other hiring standards like background investigations. The bill directly affects CBP's recruitment process for Border Patrol officers by expanding eligibility to certain experienced law enforcement professionals.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill enhances border enforcement by streamlining hiring for border agents, directly strengthening immigration enforcement capacity without addressing immigrant services or rights.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly waives polygraph for military veterans with honorable discharges to facilitate Border Patrol hiring, directly supporting veteran employment access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Border Security

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 18, 2025

S 625: Veterans Border Patrol Training Act

S 625, the Veterans Border Patrol Training Act, establishes a 5-year pilot program to train and hire transitioning military personnel as U.S. Border Patrol agents. It directs the Department of Homeland Security, working with Defense and Veterans Affairs, to use the existing Defense SkillBridge Program to prepare active-duty service members, veterans, and their spouses/dependents for Border Patrol roles. The bill requires annual reports tracking program participation by military status (active/reserve, officers/enlisted) and veteran status. The pilot program terminates 5 years after implementation. This is a procedural bill focused on creating a structured hiring pathway, not on altering border policy.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill establishes border patrol training program to strengthen enforcement, directly increasing immigration enforcement capacity per federal border security focus.92% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates employment pathway for veterans in Border Patrol via SkillBridge program, directly supporting veteran workforce transition and job placement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Border Security National Guard & Reserve Veteran Employment Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 26, 2026

S 3933: ICE Funding Accountability Act

S 3933, the ICE Funding Accountability Act, prohibits using funds from Public Law 119-21 to pay salaries for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents hired after the bill's enactment date. It also bans spending those funds on recruiting, advertising for new hires, or offering retention or sign-on bonuses for such agents. This bill directly affects new ICE and CBP personnel by restricting salary and recruitment funding for roles filled after the law takes effect.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeDefunds new ICE/CBP agents, restricting immigration law enforcement funding, directly limiting agency operations under criminal justice law enforcement.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill explicitly defunds new ICE/CBP agents and recruitment, directly limiting immigration enforcement funding per federal law provisions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Border Security Enforcement

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in committee · United States · House Jun 27, 2025

HR 4234: Safeguarding Americans From Extremist Risk (SAFER) at the Border Act

HR 4234 prohibits U.S. officials from temporarily allowing certain individuals to enter the country at the border. It specifically bans parole (temporary entry) for refugees and individuals identified as having terrorism links, being on terror watchlists, or posing a national security risk due to potential ties to terrorism. The bill defines "known terrorist" (arrested/convicted for terrorism), "special interest alien" (with potential terrorism nexus), and "suspected terrorist" to establish these restrictions. These provisions apply to people seeking entry at the border who meet these criteria, replacing existing parole authority for such cases.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBans parole for refugees and terror-linked individuals, restricting border entry and enhancing security enforcement per bill's definition of restricted categories.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Border Security Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · United States · House Jan 15, 2025

HR 419: Protecting America From Spies Act

This bill expands U.S. entry restrictions for immigrants suspected of security-related activities. It denies entry to anyone who engages in, or is suspected of engaging in, activities violating U.S. espionage/sabotage laws (even if done abroad), evading export controls, or seeking to oppose the U.S. government by force. It also bars spouses or children of such individuals if the security-related activity occurred within the last five years. The law applies to all potential immigrants, including those seeking visas or entry, without changing existing waiver processes.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationExpands entry restrictions for immigrants suspected of security violations, barring entry based on espionage/sabotage suspicions and family ties.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Border Security Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · United States · House Jan 15, 2025

HR 424: State Border Security Reimbursement Act of 2025

HR 424, the State Border Security Reimbursement Act of 2025, requires the federal government to reimburse states that spent over $2.5 billion on border security since 2014. It directly affects states like Texas, which has allocated over $3.2 billion for border security since 2008-2009 due to federal inaction. States meeting the spending threshold must submit expense reports within 180 days of the bill's enactment, and the federal government must reimburse these costs within one year of submission. The bill aims to address the financial burden on states that have funded border security efforts primarily the federal government's responsibility.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationReimburses states for border security costs, supporting state-level enforcement actions that restrict immigration access and limit federal responsibility.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Border Security

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passed · United States · House Jun 27, 2025

HR 275: Special Interest Alien Reporting Act of 2025

HR 275 requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to publish monthly reports on individuals classified as "special interest aliens" who attempt unlawful entry into the U.S. These reports, due by the seventh day of each month, must include the total number, nationalities or countries of origin, geographic regions of encounters, and whether entries occurred at ports, between ports, or inland. The reports must also identify if encounters involve "covered nations" as defined under existing law. This bill directly affects DHS, which must implement the reporting, and Congress, which receives the data for oversight. The law focuses on transparency around national security-related immigration encounters without altering immigration policy.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRequires DHS to report on unlawful entries and nationalities, enhancing enforcement data collection for immigration control90% confidence

Sub-Topics Border Security Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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