A bill to provide deferred action for certain individuals brought to the United States and to establish a border security trust fund, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-s-108
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2019-01-10
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Appropriations

Border security and unlawful immigration

Congressional oversight

Government trust funds

Immigration status and procedures
Latest action: action_date: 2019-01-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-01-10
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a program for certain individuals without lawful immigration status to apply for deferred action status, and also appropriates $25 billion for border security.</p> <p>Deferred action status refers to an unlawful alien whose deportation may be delayed because DHS, exercising its discretion, considers the case a low priority. Under the bill, an individual must meet certain criteria for eligibility, such as having been previously granted the status before this bill was enacted. The individual must also have been less than 31 years old on June 15, 2012, entered the United States before the age of 16, and not been convicted of a felony or significant misdemeanor, among other requirements. </p> <p>The bill also establishes the Border Security Trust Fund with the appropriated $25 billion. The fund shall be available for the construction of not fewer than 700 miles of reinforced fencing, additional physical barriers, access and patrol roads, and other equipment and technology related to border security. DHS shall report to Congress annually on the status of the construction and the estimated number of unlawful border crossings.<br> </p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 108 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 10, 2019 Mr. Portman (for himself and Mr. Moran ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations A BILL To provide deferred action for certain individuals brought to the United States and to establish a border security trust fund, and for other purposes.

1. Definitions In this Act: (1) Eligible individual The term eligible individual means an individual who meets the eligibility criteria described in section 2(b). (2) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Homeland Security. 2. Deferred action for certain childhood arrivals (a) Program authorized The Secretary shall establish a program through which an eligible individual may apply for deferred action status. (b) Eligibility criteria An individual shall be eligible for deferred action status under the program established under subsection (a) if the individual— (1) on June 15, 2012, was under the age of 31 years; (2) entered the United States— (A) on a date on which the alien was under the age of 16 years; and (B) without inspection or lawful status before June 15, 2012; (3) has continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007; (4) was physically present in the United States— (A) on June 15, 2012; and (B) on the date on which the Secretary makes a determination with respect to the eligibility of the individual for deferred action status; (5) (A) is in school; (B) has— (i) graduated from high school; or (ii) obtained— (I) a certificate of completion from a high school; or (II) a general education development certificate; or (C) is— (i) a member of the Armed Forces (as defined in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code), including a member of the National Guard or Reserves; or (ii) a veteran, as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code, except that an individual discharged other than honorably is excluded; (6) has not been convicted of— (A) a felony; (B) a significant misdemeanor; or (C) 3 or more misdemeanor offenses; (7) does not pose a threat to national security or public safety; and (8) was granted deferred action status before the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Period of deferred action status (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), deferred action status granted under this section shall be valid for a period of 2 years beginning on the date on which the Secretary grants deferred action status to the eligible individual. (2) Renewal (A) In general On application to the Secretary, deferred action status granted under this section may be renewed for additional 2-year periods. (B) Renewal application Not more than 120 days before the date on which the deferred action status of an eligible individual expires, the eligible individual may submit to the Secretary an application for renewal of deferred action status. 3. Border security trust fund (a) Establishment There is established in the Treasury of the United States a trust fund to be known as the Border Security Trust Fund (in this section referred to as the Trust Fund ), consisting of amounts appropriated to the Trust Fund under subsection (b) and any amounts that may be credited to the Trust Fund under subsection (c). (b) Appropriation There is appropriated to the Trust Fund $25,000,000,000, to remain available until expended. (c) Investment of amounts (1) In general The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest such portion of the Trust Fund as is not required to meet current withdrawals in interest-bearing obligations of the United States or in obligations guaranteed as to both principal and interest by the United States. (2) Interest and proceeds The interest on, and the proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held in the Trust Fund shall be credited to and form a part of the Trust Fund. (d) Availability of amounts Amounts in the Trust Fund shall be available to the Secretary without further appropriation, for— (1) construction of not fewer than 700 miles of reinforced fencing, excluding vehicle barriers; (2) installation of additional physical barriers; (3) construction and maintenance of access and patrol roads; (4) lighting; (5) an interlocking surveillance camera system; (6) remote sensors; and (7) the purchase from the Secretary of Defense of surplus aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems. 4. Annual report on border security Not less frequently than once each fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit annually to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a report that describes for the applicable fiscal year— (1) the status of the construction of fencing and security improvements at United States borders; and (2) the estimated number of unlawful border crossings.