Keeping International Land Ports of Entry Open Act

Bill: 118-s-3796
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2024-02-11
Policy area: Immigration
Latest action: action_date: 2024-02-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-02-11
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Keeping International Land Ports of Entry Open Act</strong></p><p>This bill prohibits&nbsp;Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees from being transferred out of any land port of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border, except in specified circumstances.</p><p>The bill permits transfers only if (1) the employee&nbsp;is immediately replaced by an employee of similar ability; (2) the transfer would not affect the processing of trade through the port of entry;&nbsp;or (3) the transfer&nbsp;is necessary to actively engage in physical detentions to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.&nbsp;</p><p>Further, DHS must provide a written notice and explanation of any such&nbsp;transfer to the public and to specified congressional committees no later than 24 hours after the transfer. The committees are the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives; and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3796 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 11, 2024 Mr. Cruz (for himself, Mr. Ricketts , Mr. Scott of Florida , Mr. Lee , and Mrs. Blackburn ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To prohibit the transfer of Department of Homeland Security staff from an international land port of entry along southwest border unless such transfer would not impact the processing of trade through such port of entry, such staff would be immediately replaced, or such staff are needed to actively engage in physical detentions to secure such border, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Keeping International Land Ports of Entry Open Act . 2. Maintaining adequate staffing levels at international land ports of entry along the southwest border (a) In general In order to successfully carry out the duty to facilitate and expedite the flow of legitimate travelers and trade set forth in subsections (c)(3) and (g)(3)(D) of section 411 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 211 ), Department of Homeland Security staff may not be transferred from any international land port of entry along the international border between the United States and Mexico unless— (1) such transfer would not affect the processing of trade through such port of entry; (2) such staff member is immediately replaced by a staff member of similar ability; or (3) the transfer of such staff member is necessary to actively engage in physical detentions to secure such border. (b) Limited exception The exception set forth in subsection (a)(3) shall not apply to any function that does not directly involve the physical security of the international border between the United States and Mexico, such as the processing of aliens who have crossed such border. (c) Notice requirements When transferring staff pursuant to an exception set forth in subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security, at the earliest opportunity, including before such transfers, if possible, and under no circumstances later than 24 hours after such transfers, shall provide— (1) written notice of such transfers, including an explanation of the applicability of a relevant exception under subsection (a), to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate , the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate , the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives , and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives ; and (2) public notice of such transfers (without disclosing personally identifiable information) and any related closures at ports of entry for the benefit of participants in international trade who may be affected by such closures.