S 2368 IS
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2368
To provide immigration reform by securing America's
borders, clarifying and enforcing existing laws, and enabling a
practical employer verification program.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 15, 2007
Mr. PRYOR (for himself and Ms. LANDRIEU) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary
A BILL
To provide immigration reform by securing America's
borders, clarifying and enforcing existing laws, and enabling a
practical employer verification program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the `Secure
America Through Verification and Enforcement Act of 2007' or as the
`SAVE Act of 2007'.
(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--SECURING AMERICA'S INTERNATIONAL BORDERS
Subtitle A--Manpower, Technology, and Infrastructure Improvements
Sec. 103. Infrastructure.
Sec. 104. Aerial vehicles and surveillance systems.
Subtitle B--Strategies and Progress Reports for Securing America's Borders
Sec. 111. National strategy to secure the borders.
Sec. 112. Accountable financing of a secure border initiative.
Subtitle C--Rapid Response Measures
Sec. 121. Deployment of border patrol agents.
Sec. 122. Border patrol major assets.
Sec. 123. Electronic equipment.
Sec. 124. Personal equipment.
Sec. 125. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle D--Border Infrastructure and Technology Modernization
Sec. 132. Expansion of commerce security programs.
Subtitle E--Other Border Security Initiatives
Sec. 141. Alien smuggling and terrorism prevention.
Sec. 142. Border security on certain Federal land.
Subtitle F--Border Law Enforcement
Sec. 153. Border relief grant program.
Sec. 154. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE II--ENDING UNLAWFUL EMPLOYMENT
Subtitle A--Employee Verification
Sec. 201. Mandatory employment authorization verification.
Sec. 202. Mandatory notification of SSN mismatches and multiple uses.
Sec. 203. Establishment of electronic birth and death registration systems.
Sec. 204. Penalty for failure to file correct information returns.
Sec. 205. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle B--Nondeductibility of Wages Paid to Unauthorized Aliens
Sec. 211. Clarification that wages paid to unauthorized aliens may not be deducted from gross income.
TITLE III--ENHANCING AND FULLY UTILIZING CURRENT METHODS OF INTERIOR ENFORCEMENT
Sec. 301. Increase investigative efforts.
Sec. 302. Increased oversight of agents.
Sec. 303. Rewards program.
Sec. 304. Increased detention facilities for aliens apprehended for illegal entry.
Sec. 305. Findings and purpose.
Sec. 306. Additional district court judgeships.
Sec. 307. Media campaign.
TITLE I--SECURING AMERICA'S INTERNATIONAL BORDERS
Subtitle A--Manpower, Technology, and Infrastructure Improvements
SEC. 101. MANPOWER.
(a) Border Patrol Agents- Section 5202 of the Intelligence
Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-458; 118
Stat. 3734) is amended to read as follows:
`SEC. 5202. INCREASE IN FULL-TIME BORDER PATROL AGENTS.
`(a) Annual Increases- The Secretary of Homeland Security
shall, subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose,
increase the number of positions for full-time active-duty Border
Patrol agents within the Department of Homeland Security (above the
number of positions for which funds were appropriated for the preceding
fiscal year), by--
`(1) 2,500 in fiscal year 2008;
`(2) 2,000 in fiscal year 2009;
`(3) 1,500 in fiscal year 2010;
`(4) 1,000 in fiscal year 2011; and
`(5) 1,000 in fiscal year 2012.
`(b) Allocations- Of the Border Patrol agents hired under
subsection (a), 80 percent shall be deployed along the southern border
of the United States and 20 percent shall be deployed along the
northern border of the United States.
`(c) Authorization of Appropriations- The necessary funds
are authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2008 through
2012 to carry out this section.'.
(b) Investigative Personnel-
(1) ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIVE PERSONNEL FOR ALIEN
SMUGGLING- In addition to the positions authorized under section 5203
of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, as
amended by paragraph (1), during each of the fiscal years 2008 through
2012, the Secretary shall, subject to the availability of
appropriations, increase by not less than 350 the number of positions
for personnel within the Department assigned to specifically
investigate alien smuggling.
(2) ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND PERSONNEL FOR THE TUNNEL TASK
FORCE- Subject to appropriations, the fiscal year 2008 budget of the
Tunnel Task Force, a joint force comprised of Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) personnel tasked to pinpoint tunnels that are
utilized by drug lords and `coyotes' to smuggle narcotics, illegal
aliens, and weapons of mass destruction, shall be increased by 50
percent above the fiscal year 2007 budget. Such increase shall be used
to increase personnel, improve communication and coordination between
participant agencies, upgrade technology, and offer cash rewards and
appropriate security to individuals who provide the Tunnel Task Force
with accurate information on existing tunnels that breach the
international borders of the United States.
(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- The necessary
funds are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for each of
the fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to carry out this section.
(c) Recruitment of Former Members of the Armed Forces and Members of Reserve Components of the Armed Forces-
(1) REQUIREMENT FOR PROGRAM- The Secretary, in
conjunction with the Secretary of Defense, shall establish a program to
actively recruit covered members (a member of a reserve component of
the Armed Forces) or former members of the Armed Forces and National
Guard to serve in United States Customs and Border Protection.
(2) REPORT ON RECRUITMENT INCENTIVES- Not later than 90
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the
Secretary of Defense shall jointly submit to the `appropriate'
committees of Congress a report that shall include an assessment of the
desirability and feasibility of offering an incentive to a covered
member or former member of the Armed Forces for the purpose of
encouraging such member to serve in United States Customs and Border
Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement--
(A) the Secretary must provide a description of
various monetary and non-monetary incentives considered for purposes of
the report; and
(B) the Secretary must provide an assessment of the desirability and feasibility of utilizing any such incentive.
(3) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RECRUITMENT INCENTIVES-
(A) MAXIMUM STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENTS FOR UNITED
STATES BORDER PATROL AGENTS WITH A TWO YEAR COMMITMENT- Section 5379(b)
of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
`(4) In the case of an employee (otherwise eligible for
benefits under this section) who is serving as a full-time active-duty
United States Border Patrol agent within the Department of Homeland
Security--
`(A) paragraph (2)(A) shall be applied by substituting `$20,000' for `$10,000'; and
`(B) paragraph (2)(B) shall be applied by substituting `$80,000' for `$60,000'.'.
(B) RECRUITMENT AND RELOCATION BONUSES AND
RETENTION ALLOWANCES FOR PERSONNEL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY- The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that the
authority to pay recruitment and relocation bonuses under section 5753
of title 5, United States Code, the authority to pay retention bonuses
under section 5754 of such title, and any other similar authorities
available under any other provision of law, rule, or regulation, are
exercised to the fullest extent allowable in order to encourage service
in the Department of Homeland Security.
(4) DEFINITION- The term `appropriate committees of Congress' means--
(A) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee
on Armed Services, and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House
of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee
on Armed Services, and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
SEC. 102. TECHNOLOGY.
(a) Equipment Sharing Between Department of Homeland
Security and Department of Defense- The Secretaries of these two
departments shall develop and implement a plan to use authorities
provided to the Secretary of Defense under chapter 18 of title 10,
United States Code, to increase the availability and use of Department
of Defense equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles, tethered
aerostat radars, and other surveillance equipment, to assist the
Secretary in carrying out surveillance activities conducted at or near
the international land borders of the United States to prevent illegal
immigration.
(b) Report- Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act (and then annually from that point), the
Secretary and the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a
report that contains--
(1) a description of the current use of Department of
Defense equipment to assist the Secretary in carrying out surveillance
of the international land borders of the United States and assessment
of the potential risks to citizens of the United States and key foreign
policy interests associated with the use of such equipment;
(2) the plan developed under subsection (a) to increase
the use of Department of Defense equipment to assist such surveillance
activities; and
(3) a description of the types of equipment and other
support to be provided by the Secretary of Defense under such plan
during the 1-year period beginning on the date of the submission of the
report.
(c) Secure Communication- The secretary shall, as
expeditiously as practicable, develop and implement a plan to improve
the use of satellite communications and other technologies to ensure
clear and secure 2-way communication capabilities--
(1) among all Border Patrol agents conducting operations between ports of entry;
(2) between Border Patrol agents and their respective Border Patrol stations; and
(3) between all appropriate law enforcement agencies of the Department and State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.
(d) Other Technology Upgrades- The Secretary shall purchase
and implement new technology to secure the borders, including, but not
limited to drones, infrared cameras, sensors, mobile lighting units,
radar and infrared heat.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations- The necessary funds
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for each of the
fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to carry out this section.
SEC. 103. INFRASTRUCTURE.
(a) Infrastructure Improvements- Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall construct or purchase--
(1) office facilities to accommodate additional border patrol manpower;
(2) sport utility vehicles for officers;
(3) all weather roads for better vehicle access and
performance on remote and rugged terrain (road construction should be
done in consultation with the owner of the land and take into account
any environmental or other land-use issues that are relevant);
(4) additional fencing (and aesthetic fencing in business districts) in urban areas of the border; and
(5) vehicle barriers, to support, not replace,
manpower, in rural and remote areas of the border necessary to achieve
operational control of the international borders of the United States.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations- The necessary funds
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for each of the
fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to carry out this section.
SEC. 104. AERIAL VEHICLES AND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS.
(a) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Pilot Program- During the
1-year period beginning on the date on which the report is submitted
under section 102(b), the Secretary shall conduct a pilot program to
test unmanned aerial vehicles for border surveillance along the
international border between Canada and the United States.
(b) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Associated Infrastructure-
The Secretary shall acquire and maintain unmanned aerial vehicles and
related equipment for use to patrol the international borders of the
United States, including equipment such as--
(2) satellite command and control; and
(3) other necessary equipment for operational support.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations-
(1) IN GENERAL- There are authorized to be appropriated
to the Secretary for each of the fiscal years 2008 and 2009 such sums
as may be necessary to carry out subsection (b).
(2) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS- Amounts appropriated
pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in paragraph (1) are
authorized to remain available until expended.
(d) Aerial Surveillance Program-
(1) IN GENERAL- In conjunction with the border
surveillance plan developed under section 5201 of the Intelligence
Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-458; 8
U.S.C. 1701 note), the Secretary, not later than 90 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, shall develop and implement a program to
fully integrate and utilize aerial surveillance technologies, including
unmanned aerial vehicles, to enhance the security of the international
border between the United States and Canada and the international
border between the United States and Mexico. The goal of the program
shall be to ensure continuous monitoring of each mile of each border.
(2) ASSESSMENT AND CONSULTATION REQUIREMENTS- In developing the program under this subsection, the Secretary shall--
(A) consider current and proposed aerial surveillance technologies;
(B) assess the feasibility and advisability of
utilizing such technologies to address border threats, including an
assessment of the technologies considered best suited to address
respective threats;
(C) consult with the Secretary of Defense regarding
any technologies or equipment, which the Secretary may deploy along an
international border of the United States; and
(D) consult with the Administrator of the Federal
Aviation Administration regarding safety, airspace coordination and
regulation, and any other issues necessary for implementation of the
program.
(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- The necessary funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection.
(e) Integrated and Automated Surveillance Program-
(1) REQUIREMENT FOR PROGRAM- Subject to the
availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall establish a program
to procure additional unmanned aerial vehicles, drones, cameras, poles,
sensors, satellites, radar coverage, and other technologies necessary
to achieve operational control of the international borders of the
United States and to establish a security perimeter known as a `virtual
fence' along such international borders to provide a barrier to illegal
immigration.
(2) PROGRAM COMPONENTS- The Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum extent feasible, that--
(A) the technologies utilized in the Integrated and
Automated Surveillance Program are integrated and function cohesively
in an automated fashion, including the integration of motion sensor
alerts and cameras in a manner where a sensor alert automatically
activates a corresponding camera to pan and tilt in the direction of
the triggered sensor;
(B) cameras utilized in the program do not have to be manually operated;
(C) such camera views and positions are not fixed;
(D) surveillance video taken by such cameras is able to be viewed at multiple designated communications centers;
(E) a standard process is used to collect and
record, catalog, and report intrusion and response data collected under
the Program;
(F) future remote surveillance technology investments and upgrades for the program can be integrated with existing systems;
(G) performance measures are developed and applied
that can evaluate whether the program is providing desired results and
increasing response effectiveness in monitoring and detecting illegal
intrusions along the international borders of the United States;
(H) plans are developed under the program to
streamline site selection and site validation processes to minimize
delays of installing surveillance technology infrastructure;
(I) standards are developed under the program to
expand the shared use of existing private and governmental structures
to install remote surveillance technology infrastructure where possible;
(J) standards are developed under the program to
identify and deploy the use of nonpermanent or mobile surveillance
platforms that will increase the Secretary's mobility and ability to
identify illegal border intrusions; and
(K) Border Patrol agents respond to each reported intrusion that appears to involve aliens or smugglers.
(3) EVALUATION OF CONTRACTORS-
(A) REQUIREMENT FOR STANDARDS- The Secretary shall
develop appropriate standards to evaluate the performance of any
contractor providing goods or services to carry out the Integrated and
Automated Surveillance Program.
(B) REVIEW BY THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES-
(i) IN GENERAL- The Comptroller General of the
United States shall review each new contract related to the Program and
should report to Congress regarding contracts with a value of more than
$5,000,000 in a timely manner, to determine whether such contract fully
complies with applicable cost requirements, performance objectives,
program milestones, and schedules.
(ii) REPORTS- The Comptroller General of the
United States shall report the findings of each review carried out
under clause (i) to the Secretary in a timely manner.
(4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- The necessary funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection.
Subtitle B--Strategies and Progress Reports for Securing America's Borders
SEC. 111. NATIONAL STRATEGY TO SECURE THE BORDERS.
(a) Requirement for National Strategy- The Secretary, in
consultation with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies,
shall develop a national strategy to secure the borders that describes
actions to be carried out to achieve operational control over all ports
of entry into the United States and the international land and maritime
borders of the United States by December 31, 2010.
(b) Content- The national strategy to secure the borders shall include the following:
(1) An assessment of the threats posed by terrorists
and terrorist groups that may try to infiltrate the United States at
locations along the international land and maritime borders of the
United States.
(2) A risk assessment for all United States ports of
entry and all portions of the international land and maritime borders
of the United States that includes a description of activities being
undertaken--
(A) to prevent the entry of terrorists, other
unlawful aliens, instruments of terrorism, narcotics, and other
contraband into the United States; and
(B) to protect critical infrastructure at or near such ports of entry or borders.
(3) An assessment of the most appropriate, practical,
and cost-effective means of defending the international land and
maritime borders of the United States against threats to security and
illegal transit, including intelligence capacities, technology,
equipment, personnel, and training needed to address security
vulnerabilities.
(4) An assessment of staffing needs for all border
security functions, taking into account threat and vulnerability
information pertaining to the borders and the impact of new security
programs, policies, and technologies.
(5) A description of the border security roles and
missions of Federal Government, State government, local government, and
tribal authorities, and recommendations regarding actions the Secretary
can carry out to improve coordination with such authorities to enable
border security and enforcement activities to be carried out in a more
efficient and effective manner.
(6) An assessment of existing efforts and technologies
used for border security and the effect of the use of such efforts and
technologies on civil rights, private property rights, privacy rights,
and civil liberties, including an assessment of efforts to take into
account asylum seekers, trafficking victims, unaccompanied minor
aliens, refugees and other vulnerable populations, as well as the
effects on Americans living in the border region and local, State, and
Federal law enforcement officers working in the border region.
(7) A prioritized list of research and development
objectives to enhance the security of the international land and
maritime borders of the United States.
(8) A description of ways to ensure that the free flow
of lawful travel and commerce is not unreasonably diminished by
efforts, activities, and programs aimed at securing the international
land and maritime borders of the United States.
(9) An assessment of additional detention facilities
and beds that are needed to detain unlawful aliens apprehended at
United States ports of entry or along the international land borders of
the United States.
(10) A description of the performance metrics to be
used to ensure accountability by the bureaus of the Department in
implementing such strategy.
(11) A schedule for the implementation of the security
measures described in said strategy, including a prioritization of
security measures, realistic deadlines for addressing the security and
enforcement needs, an estimate of the resources needed to carry out
such measures, and a description of how such resources should be
allocated.
(c) Consultation- In developing the national strategy for
border security, the Secretary shall consult with representatives of--
(1) State, local, and tribal governmental authorities
with responsibility for locations along the international land and
maritime borders of the United States; and
(2) appropriate private sector entities,
nongovernmental organizations, and affected communities that have
expertise in areas related to border security.
(d) Coordination- The national strategy for border security
shall be consistent with the National Strategy for Maritime Security
developed pursuant to Homeland Security Presidential Directive 13,
dated December 21, 2004.
(e) Submission to Congress-
(1) STRATEGY- Not later than December 31, 2008, the
Secretary shall submit to Congress the national strategy for border
security.
(2) UPDATES- The Secretary shall submit to Congress any
update of such strategy that the Secretary determines is necessary, not
later than 30 days after such update is developed.
(f) Immediate Action- Nothing in this section may be
construed to relieve the Secretary of the responsibility to take all
actions necessary and appropriate to achieve and maintain operational
control over the entire international land and maritime borders of the
United States.
SEC. 112. ACCOUNTABLE FINANCING OF A SECURE BORDER INITIATIVE.
(a) Comptroller General of the United States-
(1) ACTION- If the Comptroller General of the United
States becomes aware of any improper conduct or wrongdoing in the
course of conducting a contract review under the Secure Border
Initiative, the Comptroller General of the United States shall, as
expeditiously as practicable, refer information relating to such
improper conduct or wrongdoing to Congress and to the Secretary of
Homeland Security, or to another appropriate official of the Department
of Homeland Security, who shall determine whether to temporarily
suspend the contractor from further participation in the Secure Border
Initiative or make said contract null and void.
(2) REPORT- Upon the completion of each review
described in paragraph (1), the Comptroller General of the United
States shall submit to Congress and to the Secretary a report
containing the findings of the review, including findings regarding--
(B) significant delays in contract execution;
(C) lack of rigorous departmental contract management;
(D) insufficient departmental financial oversight;
(E) bundling that limits the ability of small businesses to compete; or
(F) other high-risk business practices.
(b) Reports by the Secretary-
(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 30 days after the
receipt of each report required under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary
shall submit a report to the Committee on the Judiciary and the
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs of the Senate, that describes the steps the
Secretary has taken, or plans to take, to address the problems
identified in such report.
(2) CONTRACTS WITH FOREIGN COMPANIES- Not later than 60
days after the initiation of each contract action with a company whose
headquarters are not based in the United States, the Secretary shall
submit a report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the
Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, regarding
the Secure Border Initiative.
(c) Reports on United States Ports- Not later that 60 days
after receiving information regarding a proposed purchase of a contract
to manage the operations of a United States port by a foreign entity,
the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit a report to Congress
that describes--
(1) the proposed purchase;
(2) any security concerns related to the proposed purchase; and
(3) the manner in which such security concerns have been addressed.
Subtitle C--Rapid Response Measures
SEC. 121. DEPLOYMENT OF BORDER PATROL AGENTS.
(a) Emergency Deployment of Border Patrol Agents-
(1) IN GENERAL- If the Governor of a State on an
international border of the United States declares an international
border security emergency and requests additional agents of the Border
Patrol (referred to in this subtitle as `agents') from the Secretary,
the Secretary, subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), may provide the State
with not more than 1,000 additional agents for the purpose of
patrolling and defending the international border, in order to prevent
individuals from crossing the international border into the United
States at any location other than an authorized port of entry.
(2) CONSULTATION- Upon receiving a request for agents
under paragraph (1), the Secretary, after consultation with the
President, shall grant such request to the extent that providing such
agents will not significantly impair the Department's ability to
provide border security for any other State.
(3) COLLECTIVE BARGAINING- Emergency deployments under
this subsection shall be made in accordance with all applicable
collective bargaining agreements and obligations under current law.
(b) Flexible Deployment of Border Patrol Agents- The
Secretary shall ensure that agents are not precluded from performing
patrol duties and apprehending violators of law, except in unusual
circumstances if the temporary use of fixed deployment positions is
necessary.
SEC. 122. BORDER PATROL MAJOR ASSETS.
(a) Control of Department of Homeland Security Assets- The
Department of Homeland Security shall have exclusive administrative and
operational control over all the assets utilized in carrying out its
mission, including aircraft, watercraft, vehicles, detention space,
transportation, and all of the personnel associated with such assets.
(b) Helicopters and Power Boats-
(1) HELICOPTERS- The Secretary shall increase the
number of helicopters under the control of the Border Patrol and
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Secretary shall ensure
that appropriate types and quantities of helicopters are procured for
the various missions being performed.
(2) POWER BOATS- The Secretary shall increase the
number of power boats under the control of the Border Patrol. The
Secretary shall ensure that the types of power boats that are procured
are appropriate for both the waterways in which they are used and the
mission requirements.
(3) USE AND TRAINING- The Secretary shall--
(A) establish an overall policy on how the helicopters and power boats procured under this subsection will be used; and
(B) implement training programs for the agents who use such assets, including safe operating procedures and rescue operations.
(1) QUANTITY- The Secretary shall establish a fleet of
motor vehicles appropriate for use by the Border Patrol that will
permit a ratio of not less than 1 police-type vehicle for every 4
agents with safety glass and other protections. The Secretary shall
ensure that there are sufficient numbers and types of other motor
vehicles to support the mission of the Border Patrol.
(2) FEATURES- All motor vehicles purchased for the Border Patrol shall--
(A) be appropriate for the mission of the Border Patrol; and
(B) have a panic button and a global positioning
system device that is activated solely in emergency situations to track
the location of agents in distress.
SEC. 123. ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT.
(a) Portable Computers- The Secretary shall ensure that
each police-type motor vehicle in the fleet of the Border Patrol is
equipped with a portable computer with access to all necessary law
enforcement databases and otherwise suited to the unique operational
requirements of the Border Patrol.
(b) Radio Equipment- The Secretary shall augment the
existing radio communications system so that all law enforcement
personnel, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, working in
each area where Border Patrol operations are conducted have clear and
encrypted 2-way radio communication capabilities at all times. Each
portable communications device shall be equipped with a panic button
and a global positioning system device that is activated solely in
emergency situations to track the location of agents in distress.
(c) Handheld Global Positioning System Devices- The
Secretary shall ensure that Border Patrol agents are issued a
state-of-the-art handheld global positioning system device for
navigational purposes.
(d) Night Vision Equipment- The Secretary shall ensure that
sufficient quantities of state-of-the-art night vision equipment are
procured and maintained to enable each Border Patrol agent working
during the hours of darkness to be equipped with a portable night
vision device.
SEC. 124. PERSONAL EQUIPMENT.
(a) Body Armor- The Secretary shall ensure that every agent
on duty is issued high-quality body armor that is appropriate for the
climate and risks faced by the agent. Enough body armor must be
purchased to cover every agent in the field.
(b) Weapons- The Secretary shall ensure that agents are
equipped with weapons that are reliable and effective to protect
themselves, their fellow agents, and innocent third parties from the
threats posed by armed criminals. The Secretary shall ensure that the
policies of the Department authorize all agents to carry weapons that
are suited to the potential threats that they face, and that all agents
receive appropriate training in the use of such weapons.
(c) Uniforms- The Secretary shall ensure that all agents
are provided with all necessary uniform items, including outerwear
suited to the climate, footwear, belts, holsters, and personal
protective equipment, at no cost to such agents. Such items shall be
replaced at no cost to such agents as such items become worn or
unserviceable or no longer fit properly.
SEC. 125. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary
such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2008 through
2012 to carry out this subtitle.
Subtitle D--Border Infrastructure and Technology Modernization
SEC. 131. DEFINITIONS.
(1) COMMISSIONER- The term `Commissioner' means the Commissioner of United States Customs and Border Protection.
(2) NORTHERN BORDER- The term `northern border' means the international border between the United States and Canada.
(3) SOUTHERN BORDER- The term `southern border' means the international border between the United States and Mexico.
SEC. 132. EXPANSION OF COMMERCE SECURITY PROGRAMS.
(a) Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism-
(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Commissioner, in consultation with the
Secretary, shall develop a plan to expand the programs of the
Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism established pursuant to
section 211 of the SAFE Port Act (6 U.S.C. 961), including adding
additional personnel for such programs, along the northern border and
southern border, including the following programs:
(A) The Business Anti-Smuggling Coalition.
(B) The Carrier Initiative Program.
(C) The Americas Counter Smuggling Initiative.
(D) The Container Security Initiative established pursuant to section 205 of the SAFE Port Act (6 U.S.C. 945).
(E) The Free and Secure Trade Initiative.
(F) Other industry partnership programs administered by the Commissioner.
(b) Demonstration Program- Not later than 180 days after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall establish a
demonstration program to develop a cooperative trade security system to
improve supply chain security.
Subtitle E--Other Border Security Initiatives
SEC. 141. ALIEN SMUGGLING AND TERRORISM PREVENTION.
(a) Checks Against Terrorist Watchlist- The Department of
Homeland Security shall check against all available terrorist
watchlists those alien smugglers and smuggled individuals who are
interdicted at the land, air, and sea borders of the United States.
(b) Strengthening Prosecution and Punishment of Alien
Smugglers- Section 274(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1324(a)) is amended--
(1) by amending the subsection heading to read as follows: `Smuggling of Unlawful and Terrorist Aliens- ';
(2) by redesignating clause (iv) of paragraph (1)(B) as clause (vii);
(3) in paragraph (1), by striking `(1)(A)' and all that
follows through clause (iii) of subparagraph (B) and inserting the
following:
`(1)(A) Whoever, knowing or in reckless disregard of the
fact that an individual is an alien who lacks lawful authority to come
to, enter, or reside in the United States, knowingly--
`(i) brings that individual to the United States in any
manner whatsoever regardless of any future official action which may be
taken with respect to such alien;
`(ii) recruits, encourages, or induces that individual to come to, enter, or reside in the United States;
`(iii) transports or moves that individual in the United States, in furtherance of their unlawful presence; or
`(iv) harbors, conceals, or shields from detection the
individual in any place in the United States, including any building or
any means of transportation, or attempts or conspires to do so, shall
be punished as provided in subparagraph (C).
`(B) Whoever, knowing that an individual is an alien,
brings that individual to the United States in any manner whatsoever at
a place other than a designated port of entry or place other than as
designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security, regardless of whether
such alien has received prior official authorization to come to, enter,
or reside in the United States and regardless of any future official
action which may be taken with respect to such alien, or attempts or
conspires to do so, shall be punished as provided in subparagraph (C).
`(C) A violator of this paragraph shall, for each alien in respect to whom such a violation occurs--
`(i) unless the offense is otherwise described in
another clause of this subparagraph, be fined under title 18, United
States Code or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both;
`(ii) if the offense involved the transit of the
defendant's spouse, child, sibling, parent, grandparent, or niece or
nephew, and the offense is not described in any of clauses (iii)
through (vii), be fined under title 18, United States Code or
imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both;
`(iii) if the offense is a violation of paragraphs
(1)(A)(ii), (iii), or (iv), or paragraph (1)(B), and was committed for
the purpose of profit, commercial advantage, or private financial gain,
be fined under title 18, United States Code or imprisoned not more than
10 years, or both;
`(iv) if the offense is a violation of paragraph
(1)(A)(i) and was committed for the purpose of profit, commercial
advantage, or private financial gain, or if the offense was committed
with the intent or reason to believe that the individual unlawfully
brought into the United States will commit an offense against the
United States or any State that is punishable by imprisonment for more
than 1 year, be fined under title 18, United States Code, and
imprisoned, in the case of a first or second violation, not less than 3
nor more than 10 years, and for any other violation, not less than 5
nor more than 15 years;
`(v) if the offense results in serious bodily injury
(as defined in section 1365 of title 18, United States Code) or places
in jeopardy the life of any person, be fined under title 18, United
States Code or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both; and
`(vi) if the offense involved an individual who the
defendant knew was engaged in or intended to engage in terrorist
activity (as defined in section 212(a)(3)(B)), be fined under title 18,
United States Code or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both; and';
(4) in the clause (vii) so redesignated by paragraph
(2) of this subsection (which now becomes clause (vii) of the new
subparagraph (C))--
(A) by striking `in the case' and all that follows through `(v) resulting' and inserting `if the offense results'; and
(B) by inserting `and if the offense involves
kidnapping, an attempt to kidnap, the conduct required for aggravated
sexual abuse (as defined in section 2241 without regard to where it
takes place), or an attempt to commit such abuse, or an attempt to
kill, be fined under such title or imprisoned for any term of years or
life, or both' after `or both'; and
(5) by striking existing subparagraph (C) of paragraph
(1) (without affecting the new subparagraph (C) added by the amendments
made by this Act) and all that follows through paragraph (2) and
inserting the following:
`(2)(A) There is extraterritorial jurisdiction over the offenses described in paragraph (1).
`(B) In a prosecution for a violation of, or an attempt
or conspiracy to violate subsection (a)(1)(A)(i), (a)(1)(A)(ii), or
(a)(1)(B), that occurs on the high seas, no defense based on necessity
can be raised unless the defendant--
`(i) as soon as practicable, reported to the Coast
Guard the circumstances of the necessity, and if a rescue is claimed,
the name, description, registry number, and location of the vessel
engaging in the rescue; and
`(ii) did not bring, attempt to bring, or in any
manner intentionally facilitate the entry of any alien into the land
territory of the United States without lawful authority, unless exigent
circumstances existed that placed the life of that alien in danger, in
which case the reporting requirement set forth in clause (i) of this
subparagraph is satisfied by notifying the Coast Guard as soon as
practicable after delivering the alien to emergency medical or law
enforcement personnel ashore.
`(C) It is a defense to a violation of, or an attempt
or conspiracy to violate, clause (iii) or (iv) of subsection (a)(1)(A)
for a religious denomination having a bona fide nonprofit, religious
organization in the United States, or the agents or officer of such
denomination or organization, to encourage, invite, call, allow, or
enable an alien who is present in the United States to perform the
vocation of a minister or missionary for the denomination or
organization in the United States as a volunteer who is not compensated
as an employee, notwithstanding the provision of room, board, travel,
medical assistance, and other basic living expenses, provided the
minister or missionary has been a member of the denomination for at
least one year.
`(D) For purposes of this paragraph and paragraph (1)--
`(i) the term `United States' means the several
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other territory
or possession of the United States; and
`(ii) the term `lawful authority' means permission,
authorization, or waiver that is expressly provided for in the
immigration laws of the United States or the regulations prescribed
under those laws and does not include any such authority secured by
fraud or otherwise obtained in violation of law or authority that has
been sought but not approved.'.
(c) Maritime Law Enforcement-
(1) PENALTIES- Subsection (b) of section 2237 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
`(b)(1) Whoever intentionally violates this section shall,
unless the offense is described in paragraph (2), be fined under this
title or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.
`(A) is committed in the course of a violation of
section 274 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (alien smuggling);
chapter 77 (peonage, slavery, and trafficking in persons), section 111
(shipping), 111A (interference with vessels), 113 (stolen property), or
117 (transportation for illegal sexual activity) of this title; chapter
705 (maritime drug law enforcement) of title 46, or title II of the Act
of June 15, 1917 (Chapter 30; 40 Stat. 220), the offender shall be
fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or
both;
`(B) results in serious bodily injury (as defined in
section 1365 of this title) or transportation under inhumane
conditions, the offender shall be fined under this title, imprisoned
not more than 15 years, or both; or
`(C) results in death or involves kidnapping, an
attempt to kidnap, the conduct required for aggravated sexual abuse (as
defined in section 2241 without regard to where it takes place), or an
attempt to commit such abuse, or an attempt to kill, be fined under
such title or imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both.'.
(2) LIMITATION ON NECESSITY DEFENSE- Section 2237(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(A) by inserting `(1)' after `(c)';
(B) by adding at the end the following:
`(2) In a prosecution for a violation of this section, no defense based on necessity can be raised unless the defendant--
`(A) as soon as practicable upon reaching shore,
delivered the person with respect to which the necessity arose to
emergency medical or law enforcement personnel;
`(B) as soon as practicable, reported to the Coast
Guard the circumstances of the necessity resulting giving rise to the
defense; and
`(C) did not bring, attempt to bring, or in any manner
intentionally facilitate the entry of any alien, as that term is
defined in section 101(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1101 (a)(3)), into the land territory of the United States
without lawful authority, unless exigent circumstances existed that
placed the life of that alien in danger, in which case the reporting
requirement of subparagraph (B) is satisfied by notifying the Coast
Guard as soon as practicable after delivering that person to emergency
medical or law enforcement personnel ashore.'.
(3) DEFINITION- Section 2237(e) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking `and' at the end of paragraph (3);
(B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and inserting `; and'; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
`(5) the term `transportation under inhumane
conditions' means the transportation of persons in an engine
compartment, storage compartment, or other confined space,
transportation at an excessive speed, transportation of a number of
persons in excess of the rated capacity of the means of transportation,
or intentionally grounding a vessel in which persons are being
transported.'.
(d) Amendment to the Sentencing Guidelines-
(1) IN GENERAL- Pursuant to its authority under section
994 of title 28, United States Code, and in accordance with this
subsection, the United States Sentencing Commission shall review and,
if appropriate, amend the sentencing guidelines and policy statements
applicable to persons convicted of alien smuggling offenses and
criminal failure to heave to or obstruction of boarding.
(2) CONSIDERATIONS- In carrying out this subsection, the Sentencing Commission, shall--
(A) consider providing sentencing enhancements or
stiffening existing enhancements for those convicted of offenses
described in paragraph (1) of this subsection that--
(i) involve a pattern of continued and flagrant violations;
(ii) are part of an ongoing commercial organization or enterprise;
(iii) involve aliens who were transported in groups of 10 or more;
(iv) involve the transportation or abandonment of aliens in a manner that endangered their lives; or
(v) involve the facilitation of terrorist activity; and
(B) consider cross-references to the guidelines for Criminal Sexual Abuse and Attempted Murder.
(3) EXPEDITED PROCEDURES- The Commission may promulgate
the guidelines or amendments under this subsection in accordance with
the procedures set forth in section 21(a) of the Sentencing Act of
1987, as though the authority under that Act had not expired.
SEC. 142. BORDER SECURITY ON CERTAIN FEDERAL LAND.
(a) Definitions- In this section:
(1) PROTECTED LAND- The term `protected land' means land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned.
(2) SECRETARY CONCERNED- The term `Secretary concerned' means--
(A) with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Agriculture; and
(B) with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of the Interior.
(b) Border Protection Strategy- The Secretary, the
Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Agriculture shall
jointly develop a border protection strategy that supports the border
security needs of the United States in the manner that best protects--
(1) units of the National Park System;
(2) National Forest System land;
(3) land under the jurisdiction of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management; and
(4) other relevant land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture.
(c) Additional Uniformed Law Enforcement Officers and
Special Agents of the Department of the Interior- There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior for employment of
uniformed law enforcement officers and special agents, in addition to
the number of such officers and agents employed immediately before the
enactment of this Act, such sums as may be necessary for--
(1) 22 such officers of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, including--
(C) 2 for New Mexico; and
(2) 2 such agents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, for Texas;
(3) 22 such officers of the National Park Service, including--
(4) 2 such agents of the National Park Service, for Texas;
(5) 19 such officers of the Bureau of Land Management, including--
(C) 4 for New Mexico; and
(6) 2 such agents of the Bureau of Land Management, including--
(C) 1 for New Mexico; and
(7) one such agent of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, for Texas.
(d) Additional Special Assistant United States Attorney-
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General such
sums as may be necessary to increase by 1 the number of special
assistant United States attorneys in the district of Arizona dedicated
to prosecution of cases generated by the Secretary of Interior, in
addition to the number of such attorneys appointed immediately before
the enactment of this Act.
Subtitle F--Border Law Enforcement
SEC. 151. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Border Law Enforcement Act'.
SEC. 152. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) It is the obligation of the Federal Government of
the United States to adequately secure the Nation's borders and prevent
the flow of unauthorized aliens and illegal drugs into the United
States.
(2) Despite the fact that the United States Border
Patrol apprehends over 1,000,000 people each year trying to illegally
enter the United States, according to the Congressional Research
Service, the net growth in the number of unauthorized aliens has
increased by approximately 500,000 each year. The southwest border
accounts for approximately 94 percent of all migrant apprehensions each
year. Currently, there are an estimated 11,000,000 unauthorized aliens
in the United States.
(3) The border region is also a major corridor for the
shipment of drugs. According to the El Paso Intelligence Center, 65
percent of the narcotics that are sold in the markets of the United
States enter the country through the Southwest Border.
(4) Border communities continue to incur significant
costs due to the lack of adequate border security. A 2001 study by the
United States-Mexico Border Counties Coalition found that law
enforcement and criminal justice expenses associated with illegal
immigration exceed $89,000,000 annually for the Southwest border
counties.
(5) In August 2005, the States of New Mexico and
Arizona declared states of emergency in order to provide local law
enforcement immediate assistance in addressing criminal activity along
the Southwest border.
(6) While the Federal Government provides States and
localities assistance in covering costs related to the detention of
certain criminal aliens and the prosecution of Federal drug cases,
local law enforcement along the border are provided no assistance in
covering such expenses and must use their limited resources to combat
drug trafficking, human smuggling, kidnappings, the destruction of
private property, and other border-related crimes.
(7) The United States shares 5,525 miles of border with
Canada and 1,989 miles with Mexico. Many of the local law enforcement
agencies located along the border are small, rural departments charged
with patrolling large areas of land. Counties along the Southwest
United States-Mexico border are some of the poorest in the country and
lack the financial resources to cover the additional costs associated
with illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and other border-related
crimes.
(8) Federal assistance is required to help local law
enforcement operating along the border address the unique challenges
that arise as a result of their proximity to an international border
and the lack of overall border security in the region.
SEC. 153. BORDER RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) In General- From amounts made available under section 154, the Secretary of Homeland Security may make grants to--
(1) sheriffs' offices of counties any part of which is within 25 miles of the southern border of the United States; and
(2) police departments serving a city, town, or other
political subdivision in a county any part of which is within 25 miles
of the southern border of the United States (including tribal police
departments serving a community any part of which is within 25 miles of
such border).
(1) IN GENERAL- Grant funds received under subsection (a) may be used for the following:
(A) To conduct law enforcement operations in order
to enforce criminal laws, prevent and punish criminal activity, and
protect the lives, property, and security of the people within the
jurisdiction of the grant recipient.
(B) To transfer aliens detained or in the custody
of the grant recipient who are not lawfully present in the United
States to appropriate Federal law enforcement officials.
(C) To enforce State and Federal laws relating to
controlled substance trafficking and enforce other State and Federal
criminal laws.
(2) PAYMENT OF COSTS- Use of funds under paragraph (1) shall include payment for costs of--
(A) hiring, equipping, training, and otherwise
controlling the operations and deployment of, law enforcement officials
engaged in duties described in paragraph (1), as well as the costs of
paying overtime to such officials; and
(B) detaining, housing, and transporting aliens who
are not lawfully present in the United States, and who are taken into
custody by the grant recipient, until the aliens are transferred to
appropriate Federal law enforcement officials.
(3) DETENTION FACILITIES- In accordance with paragraph
(2)(B), grant funds received under subsection (a) may be used for the
construction, maintenance, and operation of detention facilities to
detain aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States, except
that not more than 20 percent of such funds may be used for the
construction or renovation of detention or similar facilities.
(1) IN GENERAL- Each eligible law enforcement agency
seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the
Secretary of Homeland Security at such time, in such manner, and
accompanied by such information as the Secretary of Homeland Security
may reasonably require.
(2) CONTENTS- Each application submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall--
(A) describe the activities for which assistance under this section is sought; and
(B) provide such additional assurances as the
Secretary of Homeland Security determines to be essential to ensure
compliance with the requirements of this section.
SEC. 154. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
Homeland Security to carry out this Act $200,000,000 for fiscal year
2008 and each succeeding fiscal year.
SEC. 155. REGULATIONS.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall issue regulations to
carry out this Act.
TITLE II--ENDING UNLAWFUL EMPLOYMENT
Subtitle A--Employee Verification
SEC. 201. MANDATORY EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION VERIFICATION.
(a) Making Basic Pilot Program Permanent- Section 401(b) of
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
(8 U.S.C. 1324a note) is amended by adding before the period at the end
of the last sentence the following `, except that the basic pilot
program described in section 403(a) shall be a permanent program'.
(b) Mandatory Use of E-Verify System-
(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3),
every person or other entity that hires one or more individuals for
employment in the United States shall verify through the E-Verify
program, established as the basic pilot program by section 403(a) of
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
(division C of Public Law 104-208; 8 U.S.C. 1324a note), that each such
individual is authorized to work in the United States. The Secretary of
Homeland Security shall ensure that verification by means of a
toll-free telephone line is an available option in complying with the
preceding sentence.
(2) SELECT ENTITIES REQUIRED TO USE E-VERIFY PROGRAM
IMMEDIATELY- The following entities must satisfy the requirement in
paragraph (1) by not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act:
(A) FEDERAL AGENCIES- Each department and agency of the Federal Government.
(B) FEDERAL CONTRACTORS- A contractor that--
(i) has entered into a contract with the
Federal Government to which section 2(b)(1) of the Service Contract Act
of 1965 (41 U.S.C. 351(b)(1)) applies, and any subcontractor under such
contract; or
(ii) has entered into a contract exempted from
the application of such Act by section 6 of such Act (41 U.S.C. 356),
and any subcontractor under such contract; and
(C) LARGE EMPLOYERS- An employer that employs more than 250 individuals in the United States.
(3) PHASING-IN FOR OTHER EMPLOYERS-
(A) 2 YEARS FOR EMPLOYERS OF 100 OR MORE- Entities
that employ 100 or more individuals in the United States must satisfy
the requirement in paragraph (1) by not later than two years after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(B) 3 YEARS FOR EMPLOYERS WITH 30 OR MORE
EMPLOYEES- All entities that employ 30 or more individuals in the
United States must satisfy the requirement in paragraph (1) by not
later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(C) 4 YEARS FOR ALL EMPLOYERS- All entities that
employ one or more individuals in the United States must satisfy the
requirement in paragraph (1) by not later than four years after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(4) VERIFYING EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION OF CURRENT
EMPLOYEES- Every person or other entity that employs one or more
persons in the United States shall verify through the E-Verify program
by not later than four years after the date of the enactment of this
Act that each employee is authorized to work in the United States.
(5) DEFENSE- An employer who has complied with the
requirements in paragraphs (1) and (4) shall not be liable for hiring
an unauthorized alien, if--
(A) such hiring occurred due to an error in the
E-Verify program that was unknown to the employer at the time of such
hiring; and
(B) the employer terminates the employment of the alien upon being informed of the error.
(6) SANCTIONS FOR NONCOMPLIANCE- The failure of an employer to comply with the requirements in paragraphs (1) or (4) shall--
(A) be treated as a violation of section 274A(a)(1)(B) with respect to each offense; and
(B) create a rebuttable presumption that the employer has violated section 274A(a)(1)(A).
(7) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION OF EMPLOYERS NOT
IMMEDIATELY SUBJECT TO REQUIREMENT- Nothing in this subsection shall be
construed as preventing a person or other entity that is not
immediately subject to the requirement of paragraph (1) pursuant to
paragraph (2) or (3) from voluntarily using the E-Verify program to
verify the employment authorization of new hires or current employees.
(8) STATE INTERFERENCE- No State may prohibit a person
or other entity from using the E-verify program to verify the
employment authorization of new hires or current employees.
SEC. 202. MANDATORY NOTIFICATION OF SSN MISMATCHES AND MULTIPLE USES.
(a) Notification of Mismatched Name and Social Security
Number- The Commissioner of Social Security shall notify on an annual
basis each United States employer with one or more employees whose
social security account number does not match the employees name or
date of birth in the Commissioners records. Such notification shall
instruct employers to notify listed employees that they have 10
business days to correct the mismatch with the Social Security
Administration or the employer will be required to terminate their
employment. The notification also shall inform employers that they may
not terminate listed employees prior to the close of the 10-day period.
(b) Notification of Multiple Uses of Individual Social
Security Numbers- Prior to crediting any individual with concurrent
earnings from more than one employer, the Commissioner of Social
Security shall notify the individual that earnings from two or more
employers are being reported under the individual's social security
account number. Such notice shall include, at a minimum, the name and
location of each employer and shall direct the individual to contact
the Social Security Administration to submit proof that the individual
is the person to whom the social security account number was issued
and, if applicable, to submit, either in person or via electronic
transmission, a pay stub or other documentation showing that such
individual is employed by both or all employers reporting earnings to
that social security account number.
(c) Information Sharing With the Department of Homeland Security-
(1) Not later than 180 days following the date of
enactment of this act, the Commissioner of Social Security shall
promulgate regulations in accord with section 1306, title 42 (42 U.S.C.
1306), to require that information regarding all unresolved mismatch
notifications and regarding all multiple use notifications that lead to
the identification of an unauthorized user of a social security account
number be shared with the Secretary of the Department of Homeland
Security on a timely basis.
(2) Information to be shared with the Secretary shall
include, at a minimum, the name and mailing address of all employees
who are the subject of an unresolved mismatch notification or who are
unauthorized users of another individual's social security account
number.
SEC. 203. ESTABLISHMENT OF ELECTRONIC BIRTH AND DEATH REGISTRATION SYSTEMS.
(a) In consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human
Services and the Commissioner of Social Security, the Secretary shall
take the following actions:
(1) Work with the States to establish a common data set
and common data exchange protocol for electronic birth registration
systems and death registration systems.
(2) Coordinate requirements for such systems to align with a national model.
(3) Ensure that fraud prevention is built into the
design of electronic vital registration systems in the collection of
vital event data, the issuance of birth certificates, and the exchange
of data among government agencies.
(4) Ensure that electronic systems for issuing birth
certificates, in the form of printed abstracts of birth records or
digitized images, employ a common format of the certified copy, so that
those requiring such documents can quickly confirm their validity.
(5) Establish uniform field requirements for State birth registries.
(6) Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, establish a process with the Department of
Defense that will result in the sharing of data, with the States and
the Social Security Administration, regarding deaths of United States
military personnel and the birth and death of their dependents.
(7) Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, establish a process with the Department of State
to improve registration, notification, and the sharing of data with the
States and the Social Security Administration, regarding births and
deaths of United States citizens abroad.
(8) Not later than 3 years after the date of
establishment of databases provided for under this section, require
States to record and retain electronic records of pertinent
identification information collected from requestors who are not the
registrants.
(9) Not later than 6 months after the date of the
enactment of this Act, submit to Congress a report on whether there is
a need for Federal laws to address penalties for fraud and misuse of
vital records and whether violations are sufficiently enforced.
SEC. 204. PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO FILE CORRECT INFORMATION RETURNS.
Section 6721 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 6721) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`(f) The Secretary shall assess the maximum allowable
penalties on 100 percent of the employers designated in any tax year by
the Social Security Administration as the most egregious noncompliant
employers.
`(g) Notwithstanding any other provision in this section,
in the case of a failure described in subsection (a)(2) with respect to
any person employing an alien not authorized to be so employed, the
penalty under this section shall be determined in accordance with the
following table:
---------------------------------------------------
In the case of-- Not less than-- Not more than--
---------------------------------------------------
The first offense $2,500 $5,000
The second offense $7,500 $10,000
The third offense $25,000 $40,000.'.
---------------------------------------------------
SEC. 205. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be required to carry out this subtitle.
Subtitle B--Nondeductibility of Wages Paid to Unauthorized Aliens
SEC. 211. CLARIFICATION THAT WAGES PAID TO UNAUTHORIZED ALIENS MAY NOT BE DEDUCTED FROM GROSS INCOME.
(a) In General- Subsection (c) of section 162 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to illegal bribes, kickbacks,
and other payments) is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
`(4) WAGES PAID TO OR ON BEHALF OF UNAUTHORIZED ALIENS-
`(A) IN GENERAL- No deduction shall be allowed
under subsection (a) for any wage paid to or on behalf of an
unauthorized alien, as defined under section 274A(h)(3) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a(h)(3)).
`(B) WAGES- For the purposes of this paragraph, the
term `wages' means all remuneration for employment, including the cash
value of all remuneration (including benefits) paid in any medium other
than cash.
`(C) SAFE HARBOR- If a person or other entity is
participating in the basic pilot program described in section 403 of
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
(8 U.S.C. 1324a note) and obtains confirmation of identity and
employment eligibility in compliance with the terms and conditions of
the program with respect to the hiring (or recruitment or referral) of
an employee, subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to wages
paid to such employee.'.
(b) 6-Year Limitation on Assessment and Collection-
Subsection (c) of section 6501 of such Code (relating to exceptions) is
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(11) DEDUCTION CLAIMED FOR WAGES PAID TO UNAUTHORIZED
ALIENS- In the case of a return of tax on which a deduction is shown in
violation of section 162(c)(4), any tax under chapter 1 may be
assessed, or a proceeding in court for the collection of such tax may
be begun without assessment, at any time within 6 years after the
return was filed.'.
(c) Use of Documentation for Enforcement Purposes- Section
274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a) is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (b)(5), by inserting `, section
162(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,' after `enforcement of
this Act';
(2) in subparagraph (d)(2)(F), by inserting `, section
162(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,' after `enforcement of
this Act'; and
(3) in subparagraph (d)(2)(G), by inserting `section
162(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or' after `or
enforcement of'.
(d) Availability of Information- The Commissioner of Social
Security and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security shall
make available to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue any information
related to the investigation and enforcement of section 162(c)(4) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, including any no-match letter and
any information in the earnings suspense file.
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), this Act and
the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(2) The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007.
TITLE III--ENHANCING AND FULLY UTILIZING CURRENT METHODS OF INTERIOR ENFORCEMENT
SEC. 301. INCREASE INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS.
(a) Federal Agents- An increase of personnel and resources
will be needed to successfully enforce U.S. immigration laws and punish
those who violate them. To this end, sufficient funds are authorized to
be appropriated to employ 1,150 additional Immigration and Customs
Enforcement Agents.
(b) Criminal Alien Program (CAP)- An additional 140 CAP
officers are authorized to identify and remove criminal aliens
encountered in Federal, State, and local detention facilities.
(c) State and Local Law Enforcement Support- The Secretary
of Homeland Security shall take necessary steps to allow for the
training of a minimum of 250 State and local law enforcement officers
in Federal immigration law enforcement procedure. This would be an
expansion of an already active and successful program.
SEC. 302. INCREASED OVERSIGHT OF AGENTS.
To ensure the ability of Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to enforce
integrity and ethical behavior throughout their expanded ranks, an
increase of 5 in the number of Special Agents in the Office of
Professional Responsibility.
SEC. 303. REWARDS PROGRAM.
(a) Rewards Program- Section 274 (8 U.S.C. 1324) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`(1) IN GENERAL- There is established in the Department
of Homeland Security a program for the payment of rewards to carry out
the purposes of this section.
`(2) PURPOSE- The rewards program shall be designed to
assist in the elimination of commercial operations to produce or sell
fraudulent documents to be used for entering or remaining in the United
States unlawfully and to assist in the investigation, prosecution, or
disruption of a commercial alien smuggling operation.
`(3) ADMINISTRATION- The rewards program shall be
administered by the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation, as
appropriate, with the Attorney General and the Secretary of State.
`(4) REWARDS AUTHORIZED- In the sole discretion of the
Secretary of Homeland Security, such Secretary, in consultation, as
appropriate, with the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, may
pay a reward to any individual who furnishes information or testimony
leading to--
`(A) the arrest or conviction of any individual
conspiring or attempting to produce or sell fraudulent documents to be
used for entering or remaining in the United States unlawfully or to
commit an act of commercial alien smuggling involving the
transportation of aliens;
`(B) the arrest or conviction of any individual committing such an act;
`(C) the arrest or conviction of any individual aiding or abetting the commission of such an act;
`(D) the prevention, frustration, or favorable
resolution of such an act, including the dismantling of an operation to
produce or sell fraudulent documents to be used for entering or
remaining in the United States, or commercial alien smuggling
operations, in whole or in significant part; or
`(E) the identification or location of an
individual who holds a key leadership position in an operation to
produce or sell fraudulent documents to be used for entering or
remaining in the United States unlawfully or a commercial alien
smuggling operation involving the transportation of aliens.
`(5) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry
out this subsection. Amounts appropriated under this paragraph shall
remain available until expended.
`(6) INELIGIBILITY- An officer or employee of any
Federal, State, local, or foreign government who, while in performance
of his or her official duties, furnishes information described in
paragraph (4) shall not be eligible for a reward under this subsection
for such furnishing.
`(7) PROTECTION MEASURES- If the Secretary of Homeland
Security, the Secretary of State, or the Attorney General determines
that an individual who furnishes information or testimony described in
paragraph (4), or any spouse, child, parent, son, or daughter of such
an individual, must be protected, such official may take such lawful
action as the official considers necessary to effect such protection.
`(8) LIMITATIONS AND CERTIFICATION-
`(A) MAXIMUM AMOUNT- No reward under this subsection may exceed $100,000.
`(B) APPROVAL- Any reward under this subsection
exceeding $50,000 shall be personally approved by the Secretary of
Homeland Security.
`(C) CERTIFICATION FOR PAYMENT- Any reward granted
under this subsection shall be certified for payment by the Secretary
of Homeland Security.
`(9) PUBLICITY- The Department of Homeland Security
shall be responsible for developing and implementing an advertising
strategy to make known the rewards described within this section in
order to solicit informants.'.
SEC. 304. INCREASED DETENTION FACILITIES FOR ALIENS APPREHENDED FOR ILLEGAL ENTRY.
(a) In General- The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
make arrangements for the availability of 8,000 additional beds for
detaining aliens taken into custody by immigration officials.
(b) Implementation- Efforts shall be made to--
(1) contract private facilities whenever possible to
promote efficient use and to limit the Federal Government's maintenance
of and liability for additional infrastructure;
(2) utilize State and local facilities for the provision of additional beds; and
(3) utilize BRAC facilities or active duty facilities.
(c) Construction- The Department of Homeland Security shall
construct facilities as necessary to meet the remainder of the 8,000
new beds to be provided.
(d) Family Detention Facility- To further meet the special
needs of detained families, the Department of Homeland Security shall
retain or construct a family detention facility, similar to the T. Don
Hutto Family Residential Facility, offering no less than 500 beds.
(e) Responsibilities- The Secretary of Homeland Security
shall be responsible for providing humane conditions, health care and
nutrition, psychological services, and education for minors.
(f) Authorization- All funds necessary to accomplish the directives within this section are authorized to be appropriated.
SEC. 305. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings- Based on the recommendations made by the 2007
Judicial Conference and the statistical data provided by the 2006
Federal Court Management Statistics (issued by the Administrative
Office of the United States Courts), the Congress finds the following:
(1) Federal courts along the southwest border of the
United States have a greater percentage of their criminal caseload
affected by immigration cases than other Federal courts.
(2) The percentage of criminal immigration cases in
most southwest border district courts totals more than 49 percent of
the total criminal caseloads of those districts.
(3) The current number of judges authorized for those courts is inadequate to handle the current caseload.
(4) Such an increase in the caseload of criminal
immigration filings requires a corresponding increase in the number of
Federal judgeships.
(5) The 2007 Judicial Conference recommended the addition of judgeships to meet this growing burden.
(6) The Congress should authorize the additional
district court judges necessary to carry out the 2007 recommendations
of the Judicial Conference for district courts in which the criminal
immigration filings represented more than 49 percent of all criminal
filings for the 12-month period ending September 30, 2006.
(b) Purpose- The purpose of this Act is to increase the
number of Federal judgeships, in accordance with the recommendations of
the 2007 Judicial Conference, in district courts that have an
extraordinarily high criminal immigration caseload.
SEC. 306. ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT JUDGESHIPS.
(a) Permanent Judgeships-
(1) IN GENERAL- The President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate--
(A) 4 additional district judges for the district of Arizona;
(B) 5 additional district judges for the southern district of California;
(C) 1 additional district judge for the district of New Mexico;
(D) 2 additional district judges for the southern district of Texas; and
(E) 1 additional district judge for the western district of Texas.
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS- In order that the table
contained in section 133(a) of title 28, United States Code, reflect
the number of additional judges authorized under paragraph (1), such
table is amended--
(A) in the item relating to Arizona, by striking `12' and inserting `16';
(B) in the item relating to California, by striking `13' and inserting `18';
(C) in the item relating to New Mexico, by striking `6' and inserting `7'; and
(D) in the item relating to Texas--
(i) by striking `19' and inserting `21'; and
(ii) by striking `13' and inserting `14'.
(b) Temporary Judgeships-
(1) IN GENERAL- The President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate--
(A) 1 additional district judge for the district of Arizona; and
(B) 1 additional district judge for the district of New Mexico.
(2) VACANCY NOT FILLED- For each of the judicial
districts named in this subsection, the first vacancy arising on the
district court 10 years or more after a judge is first confirmed to
fill the temporary district judgeship created in that district by this
subsection shall not be filled.
SEC. 307. MEDIA CAMPAIGN.
(a) In General- The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of
Homeland Security shall develop strategies to inform the public of
changes in immigration policies created by provisions in this
legislation.
(b) Notification of Changes to Employment Verification
Process- The Secretary of Labor shall employ, at his or her discretion,
a combination of print, television, internet, and radio media to notify
employers of changes to the employment verification process. These
multilingual media campaigns should be targeted toward non-citizen
communities and those most likely to employ non-citizens. Announcements
should encourage compliance with new legislation and should explain
penalties for noncompliance with provisions within this Act.
(c) Multilingual Media Campaign- The Secretary of Homeland
Security shall also develop a multilingual media campaign explaining
the extent of this legislation, the timelines therein, and the
penalties for noncompliance with this Act. Announcements should be
targeted toward undocumented aliens and should emphasize--
(1) provisions in this Act that enhance border security and interior enforcement;
(2) the benefits of voluntary removal of undocumented aliens;
(3) punishment for apprehension and forced removal of undocumented aliens; and
(4) legal methods of reentering the United States, including temporary work visas.
(d) Cooperation With Other Governments- The Secretary of
Homeland Security shall make all reasonable attempts to cooperate with
the Governments of Mexico and the countries of Central America in
implementing a media campaign that raises awareness of the issues in
paragraph (2).
END