Bill to strengthen border security infrastructure, enhance personnel efforts

A bill that aims to increase the resources available at the nation’s borders, boost trade through ports of entry, and strengthen the enforcement of existing laws was recently introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Cornyn (R-TX), and John Barrasso (R-WY).

“The first step in securing our borders and reforming our immigration system is to eliminate the incentives for individuals to enter the country illegally,” Johnson said. “By closing current loopholes in immigration enforcement, hiring more border security personnel, and deploying additional technology and tactical infrastructure, the Building America’s Trust Act will mitigate threats to our country by helping to secure the border.”

If enacted, the bill would authorize the deployment of multi-layered tactical infrastructure along the southern U.S. border with Mexico, which could include a physical wall, fencing, levees, and various security-related technologies. It also provides a large investment in order to improve the nation’s ports of entry, mitigating illegal immigration and drug trafficking at ports, and facilitate legitimate trade and travel.

The legislation also provides funding to increase the numbers of Border Patrol agents, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel, agriculture inspectors, immigration judges, and federal prosecutors.

Additionally, the bill would effectively end “catch and release” practices for criminal undocumented immigrants and repeat immigration violators, while giving the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) more resources to apprehend and remove fugitives from the United States.

In total, the act authorizes approximately $15 billion over a four-year period for border security-related efforts.

“Until our borders are fully secure, the current system will continue to reward people who enter our country illegally over those who follow the law,” Barrasso said. “Until our borders are fully secure, the current system will continue to reward people who enter our country illegally over those who follow the law.”