If enacted, HB3135 is expected to provide significant financial support for necessary upgrades at land ports, including construction of new ports and enhancement of existing infrastructure. This legislation will also allow for the hiring of additional Customs and Border Protection officers and staff to support the effective management of trade and entry processes. The establishment of an oversight board in charge of fund allocation underscores the bill's commitment to transparency and accountability in the expenditure of allocated resources.
Summary
House Bill 3135, also known as the Land Port of Entry Modernization Trust Fund Act, aims to establish a dedicated trust fund to modernize and improve U.S. land ports of entry. The bill proposes the creation of the Land Port of Entry Modernization Trust Fund, which would be financed through a percentage of fees collected under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, alongside specific surcharges on various user fees. The primary goal of this trust fund is to facilitate the construction and improvement of infrastructure at these critical entry points to boost efficiency and accommodate increasing traffic demands.
Contention
While the bill enjoys broad support among lawmakers who recognize the importance of modernizing border infrastructure, concerns have been raised regarding the potential financial implications on users of the ports, particularly regarding increased fees. There may also be debates surrounding how the trust fund's allocations are prioritized and the extent to which they may address local needs as opposed to broader national policies. Ensuring local input in planning and development continues to be a critical aspect of discussions surrounding the bill.
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.