Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1236
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-06-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Arizona
Border security and unlawful immigration
California
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Human trafficking
Latin America
Mexico
New Mexico
Smuggling and trafficking
Texas

Summary:
action_date: 2011-06-20
text: 
Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) subject anyone who attempts or conspires to construct or finance construction of an unauthorized tunnel or subterranean passage that crosses the international border between the United States and another country, to use such a tunnel for smuggling, or to disregard such construction or use, to the penalties prescribed for someone who commits such an offense; (2) make such a border tunnel offense a predicate offense for a money laundering violation and for authorization for interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications; and (3) provide for the criminal forfeiture of proceeds of such an offense and the seizure and forfeiture of merchandise introduced into the United States through such a tunnel.
 
Encourages the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to annually provide each known nongovernmental owner and tenant of land located in a national security zone with a written notification that describes federal laws related to the construction of illegal border tunnels and the procedures for reporting violations of such laws to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Defines: (1) "national security zone" as any Southwest Border land designated by the Secretary as being at a high risk for border tunnel activity; and (2) "Southwest Border land" as all parcels of real property in the United States that are located within one mile of the U.S.-Mexico international border and that are not owned by a federal, state, tribal, or local government entity.
 
Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report describing: (1) cross border tunnels discovered in Southwest Border land; and (2) DHS needs to effectively prevent, investigate, and prosecute border tunnel construction on such land.

action_date: 2011-12-15
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) subject anyone who attempts or conspires to construct or finance construction of an unauthorized tunnel or subterranean passage that crosses the international border between the United States and another country, to use such a tunnel for smuggling, or to disregard such construction or use, to the penalties prescribed for someone who commits such an offense; (2) make such a border tunnel offense a predicate offense for a money laundering violation and for authorization for interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications; and (3) provide for the criminal forfeiture of proceeds of such an offense and the seizure and forfeiture of merchandise introduced into the United States through such a tunnel.
 
Encourages the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to annually provide each known nongovernmental owner and tenant of land located in a national security zone with a written notification that describes federal laws related to the construction of illegal border tunnels and the procedures for reporting violations of such laws to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Defines: (1) &quot;national security zone&quot; as any Southwest Border land designated by the Secretary as being at a high risk for border tunnel activity; and (2) &quot;Southwest Border land&quot; as all parcels of real property in the United States that are located within one mile of the U.S.-Mexico international border and that are not owned by a federal, state, tribal, or local government entity.
 
Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report describing: (1) cross border tunnels discovered in Southwest Border land; and (2) DHS needs to effectively prevent, investigate, and prosecute border tunnel construction on such land.

action_date: 2012-01-30
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here

 
Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) subject anyone who attempts or conspires to construct or finance construction of an unauthorized tunnel or subterranean passage that crosses the international border between the United States and another country, to use such a tunnel for smuggling, or to disregard such construction or use, to the penalties prescribed for someone who commits such an offense; (2) make such a border tunnel offense a predicate offense for a money laundering violation and for authorization for interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications; and (3) provide for the criminal forfeiture of proceeds of such an offense and the seizure and forfeiture of merchandise introduced into the United States through such a tunnel.
 
Encourages the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to annually provide each known nongovernmental owner and tenant of land located in a national security zone with a written notification that describes federal laws related to the construction of illegal border tunnels and the procedures for reporting violations of such laws to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Defines: (1) &quot;national security zone&quot; as any Southwest Border land designated by the Secretary as being at a high risk for border tunnel activity; and (2) &quot;Southwest Border land&quot; as all parcels of real property in the United States that are located within one mile of the U.S.-Mexico international border and that are not owned by a federal, state, tribal, or local government entity.
 
Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report describing: (1) cross border tunnels discovered in Southwest Border land; and (2) DHS needs to effectively prevent, investigate, and prosecute border tunnel construction on such land.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-01-31
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2012-01-31
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2012-01-31
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2012-01-30
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S172-173; text: CR S172-173)
action_date: 2012-01-30
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S172-173; text: CR S172-173)
action_date: 2011-12-15
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 260.
action_date: 2011-12-15
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2011-12-15
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment. Without written report.
action_date: 2011-12-15
text: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2011-06-20
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3932-3933)
action_date: 2011-06-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3931-3932)
action_date: 2011-06-20
text: Introduced in Senate