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119-hr-76119th CongressWALLET

Fund and Complete the Border Wall Act

Sponsored By: Representative Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]

In Committee

Summary

Creates a dedicated Secure the Southern Border Fund to plan, build, and maintain a physical barrier along the U.S.‑Mexico border. It pairs that fund with new fees, foreign‑aid offsets, broader construction powers, and targeted pay rules for Border Patrol agents.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

More overtime pay for Border Patrol

If enacted, Border Patrol agents would get at least 150% of their regular pay for every hour worked from 80 to 100 hours in any 14-day work period. That extra pay would be in addition to other payments and would apply even if some Title 5 pay limits otherwise apply.

Higher remittance and I-94 fees

If enacted, the bill would add a 5% fee on remittances sent to recipients outside the United States. It would raise the CBP I-94 processing fee from $6 to $25 per arrival or departure. Of that $25, $6 would go to the Land Border Inspection account, up to $10 would go for Border Patrol salaries if Congress appropriates it, and $9 would go to a new Secure the Southern Border Fund. Treasury would have 60 days to set up the Fund and 90 days to create a system for remittance providers to send in fees. The Fund could only pay for planning, building, and maintaining border barriers and related work, with no more than 5% used for vehicles and equipment. The bill also would cut foreign aid by $2,000 for each reported illegal border crossing by a country's nationals and move those dollars into the Fund. Trying to evade the remittance fee could bring large fines (up to $500,000 or twice the value) or up to 20 years in prison, and countries that aid evasion could lose some U.S. aid or visa privileges.

Required barriers along U.S.-Mexico border

If enacted, the bill would require DHS to design, test, and build physical barriers, roads, and technology along the land border with Mexico by December 31, 2025. Barriers would include secondary barriers where fences already exist. Before building in a specific area, DHS must consult Interior, Agriculture, state, local, and tribal governments and affected private landowners. DHS must notify key House and Senate Judiciary Committees within 60 days after consultation and within 30 days if it decides not to build because of a natural barrier. The Secretary could waive other laws to speed construction, with waivers effective on Federal Register publication.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]

AZ • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 1/3/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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