WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative August Pfluger (TX-11) joined Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (TN-07) in introducing the Border Reinforcement Act of 2023. This legislation ensures U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), along with state and local law enforcement, have the tools needed to respond to this record-breaking border crisis created by President Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ refusal to enforce our laws and secure our sovereign borders.

 

Multiple original Pfluger provisions are included in the bill to require U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to publish the total number of known gotaways and known or suspected terrorists crossing the border each month and outline the costs border states are incurring due to the crisis.   

“Texans understand that the security of our border is not just a pie-in-the-sky talking point, it is quite literally life and death,” Pfluger said. “I’m proud to have co-authored this plan that delivers on our promise to secure the border. Let’s build the wall, hire more border patrol officers, and finally understand who and what is crossing our border.”    

 
Background:
 
This legislation was developed with the firsthand insight gathered during the Committee’s border trips to El Paso, Texas, hearings, including a field hearing in Pharr, Texas with U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz, and conversations with numerous Border Patrol agents, border communities, and everyday Americans.
 
The Border Reinforcement Act of 2023 directs DHS to secure our borders by: 
  

1.      Resuming Border Wall Construction

Requiring the DHS Secretary to immediately resume construction of the border wall.

2.      Bolstering CBP Staffing

Mandating hiring to meet the need of 22,000 Border Patrol agents.

3.      Modernizing & Enhancing Technology

Requiring CBP to develop a technology investment plan, while upgrading existing technology to ensure CBP personnel are equipped with the necessary resources to remain safe in the field.

4.      Demanding Transparency from DHS

Requiring DHS to disclose to Congress and make public all monthly data, including monthly known gotaway numbers, which are currently not public, on or before the 7th day of each month.

5.      Addressing Border Patrol Retention

Establishing retention bonuses for U.S. Border Patrol personnel who meet certain requirements to keep them protecting our country.  

6.      Supporting Local Law Enforcement

Providing increased support through Operation Stonegarden grants to local law enforcement jurisdictions in land and maritime border states to enhance border security measures.

7.      Limiting Use of CBP One App

Reinstating the CBP One app's function to its original intent by barring DHS from using it for non-commercial purposes, including immigration processing.

 

For the full bill text, click here. For a factsheet in English, click here. For a factsheet in Spanish, click here.