I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5468 
To provide for U.S. Border Patrol Processing Coordinators to enhance border 
security, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 17, 2019 
Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico (for herself, Mr. CUELLAR, Mr. MCCAUL, 
Mr. HURD of Texas, Mr. PETERS, and Mr. CLOUD) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
A BILL 
To provide for U.S. Border Patrol Processing Coordinators 
to enhance border security, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Border Workforce Effi-
ciency Act’’. 
SEC. 2. U.S. BORDER PATROL PROCESSING COORDINATOR 
POSITIONS. 
(a) PROCESSING
COORDINATORS.—The Commis-
sioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection is author-
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ized to hire and train U.S. Border Patrol Processing Coor-
dinators to operate within the U.S. Border Patrol to— 
(1) perform administrative tasks related to the 
intake and processing of individuals apprehended by 
U.S. Border Patrol agents, where necessary; 
(2) transport individuals in U.S. Border Patrol 
custody, where necessary; and 
(3) perform custodial watch duties of individ-
uals in such custody, including individuals who have 
been admitted to a hospital. 
(b) CLARIFIED AUTHORITIES.—A U.S. Border Pa-
trol Processing Coordinator hired under subsection (a) 
may not arrest or otherwise detain any person as described 
in section 235, 236, or 287(a), of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act and such a Coordinator may not conduct 
any interview under section 235(b)(1)(B) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(B)). 
(c) TRAINING.—The Commissioner of U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection, in coordination with the Chief of 
the U.S. Border Patrol and in consultation with the Direc-
tor of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, 
shall develop tailored training for U.S. Border Patrol 
Processing Coordinators. 
(d) ASSOCIATED SUPPORT STAFF.—The Commis-
sioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection is author-
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ized to hire appropriate professional support staff to facili-
tate the hiring, training, and other support functions re-
quired by U.S. Border Patrol Processing Coordinators. 
(e) BIANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act and biannually 
thereafter for the following two years, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on 
Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs of the Senate a report regarding each U.S. Border 
Patrol sector that includes information relating to the fol-
lowing: 
(1) The number of U.S. Border Patrol Proc-
essing Coordinators assigned to each such sector. 
(2) The degree to which the responsibilities de-
scribed in subsection (a) have been transferred from 
U.S. Border Patrol agents to U.S. Border Patrol 
Processing Coordinators. 
(3) The percentage of U.S. Border Patrol 
agents who returned to field operations as a result 
of U.S. Border Patrol Processing Coordinators un-
dertaking the responsibilities described in subsection 
(a). 
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(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $19,000,000 for each of fis-
cal years 2020 through 2023 to carry out this Act. 
Æ 
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