Border Czar Accountability Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.6610 | Sponsor: Rep. Jackson, Ronny (R-TX)
Policy area: Immigration

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.

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.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Border Czar Accountability Act of 
2022''.

SEC. 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.
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