Bill seeks to bolster border security

U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI), a House Committee on Homeland Security member, has joined committee Republicans in introducing legislation they said would bolster border security.

The Border Security for America Act of 2021 would require the federal government to secure the nation’s international borders through the renewal of border wall construction contracts, investments in advanced technologies, and enhanced support for federal law enforcement officers and specialists.

“For months, my Homeland Security Committee colleagues and I have been sounding the alarm on the historic levels of attempted entries on our southern border,” Meijer said. “Illegal crossings along the southern border have reached over 1.1 million this year – up 362 percent from the same time frame last year. Enough is enough. I am proud to cosponsor this bill that offers proven solutions to end the crisis at our southern border and prevent similar crises in the future.”

The lawmakers noted securing the southern border is vital to national security, and physical infrastructure is needed to meet border threat environment challenges.

Per the legislation, the Department of Homeland Security would be required to deploy the practical and effective technology such as Advanced Unattended Surveillance Sensors, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and upgraded license plate readers (LPRs); require the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to hire and train additional CBP officers and agents to maintain an active-duty presence at all ports of entry in the United States; and require increasing the number of officers for tunnel detection and remediation.