BE SAFE Act

Bill: 116-s-643
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]
Introduced: 2019-03-04
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration

Customs enforcement

Detention of persons

Drug trafficking and controlled substances

Government trust funds

Higher education

Human trafficking

Immigration status and procedures

Refugees, asylum, displaced persons

Specialized courts

Travel and tourism

User charges and fees

Visas and passports
Latest action: action_date: 2019-03-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-03-04
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Border Enforcement, Security, And Funding Enhancement Act or the BE SAFE Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires each alien granted lawful permanent residence to pay a $2,500 fee before receiving a Permanent Resident Card (commonly referred to as the &quot;Green Card&quot;), in addition to any other required fees. The collected funds shall go into the newly established Border Security Enhancement Fund, and may be used to enforce immigration laws and improve immigration-related processes, including (1) constructing border barriers, (2) carrying out enforcement and removal operations, (3) improving infrastructure at border crossings, and (4) verifying the status of student visa holders.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 643 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 4, 2019 Mr. Paul introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To require all new legal permanent residents to pay an additional fee, which shall be used for improving immigration and enhancing the security of the United States border.

1. Short titles This Act may be cited as the Border Enforcement, Security, And Funding Enhancement Act or the BE SAFE Act . 2. Immigration improvements and border security enhancements (a) Fee authorized Beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, each alien granted lawful permanent residence in the United States, before the alien is issued a Permanent Resident Card (commonly referred to as the Green Card ), shall remit to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, in addition to any fees otherwise required, a fee in an amount equal to $2,500. (b) Border Security Enhancement Fund (1) Establishment There is established in the general fund of the Treasury a separate account, which shall be known as the Border Security Enhancement Fund (referred to in this subsection as the Fund ). (2) Deposits All fees remitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services pursuant to subsection (a) shall be deposited into the Fund. (3) Use of funds The President may use amounts from the Fund to facilitate the enforcement of the immigration laws of the United States and to improve immigration-related governmental processes, including by— (A) constructing border barriers, border fencing, or a border wall along the United States border; (B) carrying out enforcement, detention, and removal operations for priority removable aliens; (C) disrupting illegal cross border trafficking activity, including human trafficking and the movement of opioids and other narcotics; (D) improving facilities and trade and travel infrastructure at ports of entry and border crossings; (E) reducing visa overstays; (F) verifying the status of all alien students in the United States who have been issued student visas; (G) regularly assessing individuals who have been granted asylum or have been admitted as refugees for indications of terrorism; (H) expanding trusted traveler programs; (I) reducing the immigration court backlog; and (J) deploying a complete biometric entry-exit control system in accordance with section 110 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (division C of Public Law 104–208 ; 8 U.S.C. 1221 note).