II 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4573 

To support remediation of illicit cross-border tunnels, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 

Ms. MCSALLY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

A BILL 

To support remediation of illicit cross-border tunnels, and 

for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘DHS Illicit Cross-Bor5 der Tunnel Defense Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. COUNTER ILLICIT CROSS-BORDER TUNNEL OPER7 ATIONS. 

8 (a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

9 authorized to be appropriated to the Commissioner of U.S. 

10 Customs and Border Protection $1,000,000 for each of 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•S 4573 IS

1 fiscal years 2021 and 2022 to carry out remediation oper2 ations of illicit cross-border tunnels. 

3 (b) COUNTER ILLICIT CROSS-BORDER TUNNEL OP4 ERATIONS STRATEGIC PLAN.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

6 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

7 Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protec8 tion shall develop a strategic plan to address the fol9 lowing: 

10 (A) Risk-based criteria to be used to 

11 prioritize the identification, breach, assessment, 

12 and remediation of illicit cross-border tunnels. 

13 (B) Promote the use of innovative tech14 nologies to identify, breach, assess, and reme15 diate illicit cross-border tunnels in a manner 

16 that, among other considerations, reduces the 

17 impact of such activities on surrounding com18 munities. 

19 (C) Processes to share relevant illicit cross20 border tunnel location, operations, and technical 

21 information. 

22 (D) Indicators of specific types of illicit 

23 cross-border tunnels found in each U.S. Border 

24 Patrol sector identified through operations to be 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•S 4573 IS

1 periodically disseminated to U.S. Border Patrol 

2 sector chiefs to educate field personnel. 

3 (E) A counter illicit cross-border tunnel 

4 operations resource needs assessment that in5 cludes consideration of the following: 

6 (i) Technology needs. 

7 (ii) Staffing needs, including the fol8 lowing: 

9 (I) A position description for 

10 counter illicit cross-border tunnel op11 erations personnel. 

12 (II) Any specialized skills re13 quired of such personnel. 

14 (III) The number of such full 

15 time personnel, disaggregated by U.S. 

16 Border Patrol sector. 

17 (2) REPORT TO CONGRESS ON STRATEGIC

18 PLAN.—Not later than one year after the issuance of 

19 the strategic plan required under paragraph (1), the 

20 Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protec21 tion shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Se22 curity of the House of Representatives and the Com23 mittee on Homeland Security and Governmental AfVerDate Sep 11 2014 07:05 Sep 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4573.IS S4573

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•S 4573 IS

1 fairs of the Senate a report on the implementation 

2 of paragraph (1). 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS