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119-s-481119th CongressWALLET

Securing our Border Act

Sponsored By: Senator Scott, Tim [R-SC]

Introduced

Summary

Reprograms unobligated IRS enforcement funds to pay for border security. This bill would redirect existing unobligated balances into two dedicated border‑security streams, add pay incentives for Border Patrol officers, and change how some arrivals from contiguous territories are handled.

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  • One-third of the reprogrammed balances would go to U.S. Customs and Border Protection to buy nonintrusive inspection systems and aim for a 100 percent nonintrusive scanning rate at all northern and southwest land ports of entry by Feb. 6, 2034.
  • Two-thirds of the balances would be transferred to the Department of Homeland Security for construction activities to build a border wall system along the southwest international border through Feb. 6, 2034. The Secretary of Homeland Security must provide quarterly reports with an implementation plan, benchmarks for stemming illegal immigration, and cost estimates for wall construction.
  • Customs and Border Protection could offer recruitment bonuses up to $15,000 to newly hired agents, annual retention bonuses up to 15 percent of basic pay, and relocation bonuses up to 15 percent of basic pay for transfers that require at least three years of service. Those bonuses may not count as basic pay for retirement or lump‑sum leave calculations.
  • The bill would amend immigration law so aliens arriving from contiguous territory must be returned to that contiguous territory or to a safe third country pending section 240 proceedings or detained while a credible fear determination is made.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Cash bonuses for CBP agents

If enacted, CBP could pay a one-time recruitment bonus up to $15,000 to new agents after they finish basic training and sign a service agreement. It would allow annual retention bonuses up to 15% of an agent's basic pay after each year of satisfactory service. It would allow relocation bonuses up to 15% of an agent's basic pay for agents who transfer and serve at least three years at the new post. These bonuses would not count as basic pay for retirement or lump-sum leave payments.

Require return or detention for immigrants

If enacted, officers must either return aliens arriving from a neighboring country to that country or to a safe third country while removal proceedings go forward, or detain them for further asylum review. Detention for asylum review must include a credible fear determination. This replaces language that previously allowed officers to choose either action.

Redirect leftover border construction funds

If enacted, the bill would move unobligated balances from a prior law into two border-security uses. One-third would go to CBP for nonintrusive inspection systems to aim for 100% scanning at all northern and southwest land ports of entry by February 6, 2034. Two-thirds would go to DHS for activities related to construction of a southwest border wall. Transfers would occur between enactment and February 6, 2034.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Scott, Tim [R-SC]

SC • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]

    LA • R

    Sponsored 2/6/2025

  • Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]

    SD • R

    Sponsored 2/6/2025

  • Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]

    MT • R

    Sponsored 2/6/2025

  • Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]

    OK • R

    Sponsored 2/10/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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