Border Czar Accountability Act of 2022

To require a visit to the United States land border with Mexico and a report thereon by any Cabinet member appointed by the President to lead efforts related to immigration or securing such border, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Border Czar Accountability Act of 2022 2. Report relating to visit to United States land border with Mexico (a) In general Any Cabinet member appointed by the President to lead efforts related to immigration or securing the United States land border with Mexico shall visit such border at least once every 60 days. (b) Report (1) Initial report Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, any Cabinet member appointed by the President to lead efforts related to immigration or securing the United States land border with Mexico shall submit to the President and Congress a report describing how policy changes that went into effect during the period beginning on or after January 20, 2021, and ending on the date of enactment of this Act, including— (A) the effect of such policies on agents in the Department of Homeland Security and local law enforcement and government officials in States, units of local governments, Indian tribes, and territories; (B) the difference in the amount of funds expended in fiscal year 2021 in comparison to fiscal year 2020 to address the unlawful presence of aliens in the United States, including expenditures with respect to border security and education, healthcare, and shelter for aliens unlawfully present in the United States; and (C) whether funds have been transferred from any executive department or agency to the Department of Homeland Security for the purpose of supporting efforts to secure the southern border and preventing unlawful entry into the United States. (2) Visit reports Not later than 15 days after each visit referred to in subsection (a), any Cabinet member appointed by the President to lead efforts related to immigration or securing the United States land border with Mexico shall submit to the President and Congress a report that includes— (A) information relating to any issues either observed or informed of during such visit, including— (i) a detailed list of the Federal agents and local supporting law enforcement officers the Cabinet member met in person while on location at a facility operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or at a Border Patrol Duty location, at the United States land border with Mexico; (ii) trends at the border with respect to demographics and group size that could contribute to overcrowding of U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities; (iii) the negative impact unlawful immigration has had on farmers and ranchers near the United States land border with Mexico; (iv) the number of aliens unlawfully present in the United States who are housed in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities, including how the number has changed since the previous report; (v) the number and description of illicit drugs, weapons, and other contraband obtained from aliens unlawfully present in the United States by agents of the Department of Homeland Security and local law enforcement officers; (vi) the number of unlawful points of entry from which such aliens entered into the United States, including how the number has changed since the previous report; and (vii) the number of aliens unlawfully present in the United States who are released into the local community without a notice to appear; (B) suggestions for improvement of the security and situation at such border, including proposals for legislation relating to— (i) preventing unlawful immigration; (ii) adjusting Federal resources, including staffing and equipment; (iii) enhancing interoperability between Federal, State, Tribal, territorial, and local governments; (iv) enhancing the processing of traffic and commerce; (v) developing procedures to more effectively seize and dispose of drugs, weapons, or other contraband; (vi) developing procedures to combat human trafficking; and (vii) developing procedures to address any negative impact unlawful immigration has on farmers and ranchers near the United States land border with Mexico; and (C) any other information such head determines appropriate. (c) Sanction No Federal funds may be obligated or expended by any Cabinet member appointed by the President to lead efforts related to immigration or securing the United States land border with Mexico if the report under subsection (b) was not submitted, until such time as the report is delivered.

Summary: Border Czar Accountability Act of 2022 This bill prohibits any Cabinet member appointed by the President to lead efforts related to immigration or securing the U.S.-Mexico border from expending any federal funds if that Cabinet member fails to meet certain reporting requirements. The bill also requires that Cabinet member to visit the U.S.-Mexico border at least once every 60 days. Within 30 days of this bill's enactment, the Cabinet member must report to Congress and the President on policy changes that went into effect between January 20, 2021, and this bill's enactment date, including the (1) effect of such policy changes on law enforcement and Department of Homeland Security personnel, and (2) difference in funds expended in FY2021 compared to FY2020 to address the issue of non-U.S. nationals (aliens in federal law) unlawfully present in the United States. If the report is not submitted, the Cabinet member may not obligate or expend any federal funds until the report has been delivered. After each visit to the U.S.-Mexico border required by this bill, the Cabinet member must report to the President and Congress on (1) issues observed or informed of during the visit, and (2) suggestions for improving the security and situation at the border.