The enactment of SB3132 is expected to enhance oversight and transparency in border security efforts, particularly in relation to individuals who may pose a risk to national security. By formalizing the reporting requirements, the bill aims to ensure that Congress is informed about potential threats encountered at the borders. This initiative also aligns with ongoing discussions about improving national security measures and the effectiveness of current immigration enforcement policies, focusing specifically on individuals who are identified as risks through established screening processes.
Summary
SB3132, also known as the ‘Where Are The Terrorists Now Act,’ requires regular reporting to Congress on individuals encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection or at ports of entry. The bill mandates that the Secretary of Homeland Security provide monthly reports for the first year, and biannual reports thereafter, containing detailed information about individuals who are identified as being on a terrorist watch list or related databases. This includes their ties to terrorist organizations, their nation of origin, and any previous criminal convictions in the U.S.
Contention
Notable points of contention surrounding SB3132 include concerns about the potential for increased surveillance and the implications for civil liberties. Critics may argue that mandatory reporting could lead to profiling or unjust targeting of certain individuals based on nationality or religious affiliation. Additionally, there may be discussions about the adequacy of existing protocols in the terrorist screening database and whether additional reporting requirements could strain resources or lead to bureaucratic inefficiencies within immigration enforcement agencies.
Secure the Border Act of 2023 This bill addresses issues regarding immigration and border security, including by imposing limits to asylum eligibility. For example, the bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resume activities to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border; provides statutory authorization for Operation Stonegarden, which provides grants to law enforcement agencies for certain border security operations; prohibits DHS from processing the entry of non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) arriving between ports of entry; limits asylum eligibility to non-U.S. nationals who arrive in the United States at a port of entry; authorizes the removal of a non-U.S. national to a country other than that individual's country of nationality or last lawful habitual residence, whereas currently this type of removal may only be to a country that has an agreement with the United States for such removal; expands the types of crimes that may make an individual ineligible for asylum, such as a conviction for driving while intoxicated causing another person's serious bodily injury or death; authorizes DHS to suspend the introduction of certain non-U.S. nationals at an international border if DHS determines that the suspension is necessary to achieve operational control of that border; prohibits states from imposing licensing requirements on immigration detention facilities used to detain minors; authorizes immigration officers to permit an unaccompanied alien child to withdraw their application for admission into the United States even if the child is unable to make an independent decision to withdraw the application; imposes additional penalties for overstaying a visa; and requires DHS to create an electronic employment eligibility confirmation system modeled after the E-Verify system and requires all employers to use the system.