Bill Overview
Title: DHS Illicit Cross-Border Tunnel Defense Act
Description: This bill authorizes for FY2023 and FY2024 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) activities to identify and remediate illicit cross-border tunnels. CBP shall also develop and report to Congress a strategic plan to guide and improve such operations.
Sponsors: Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]
Target Audience
Population: People living near cross-border areas prone to illicit tunnel activities
Estimated Size: 1500000
- The bill focuses specifically on identifying and remediating illicit cross-border tunnels, which are primarily used for illegal smuggling activities.
- Criminal organizations involved in smuggling across the U.S.-Mexico border are the primary operators of these tunnels.
- Residents living along the U.S.-Mexico border may experience changes due to increased CBP activities to detect and remediate tunnels.
- The bill does not explicitly mention the direct involvement or impact on residents beyond potential improved border security.
Reasoning
- The primary affected group by this policy are residents living close to the U.S.-Mexico border in areas prone to illicit cross-border tunnels.
- These people may experience a range of impacts, from increased security presence to disruptions during investigative activities.
- The policy targets organized crime, thus residents may feel an indirect increase in safety and reduced crime rates over time.
- Given the budget, the impact could be limited to select areas where tunnel activities are most known, thus not all border residents will see a change.
- The policy's influence on self-reported wellbeing will depend on the perceived effectiveness of these operations and personal views on such activities.
Simulated Interviews
Small business owner (Nogales, Arizona)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's crucial to deal with these smuggling tunnels; they bring crime to our city.
- The increased CBP presence may help deter these activities and make the area safer, which could even help my business.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Teacher (El Paso, Texas)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Border security is important but I hope this doesn't lead to too much disruption in our daily lives.
- If the increased activities make our area safer, it might be worth a little inconvenience.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Border security consultant (San Diego, California)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act is likely a step in the right direction for addressing border security challenges.
- The long-term benefits would be substantial if these tunnels can be effectively stopped.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Retired (McAllen, Texas)
Age: 66 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about the increased security presence affecting our community feel.
- However, I understand the necessity if it indeed lowers crime.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Social worker (Yuma, Arizona)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While securing borders is important, I hope there's consideration for humanitarian perspectives.
- I worry about how increased enforcement could affect immigrant communities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Community organizer (Brownsville, Texas)
Age: 32 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might increase safety, but I hope it doesn't escalate tensions.
- Balancing security with community well-being is crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Farmer (Las Cruces, New Mexico)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I welcome any actions that will secure the border and protect my property.
- Hopefully, this will lead to less intrusion and theft on my land.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Border patrol officer (Laredo, Texas)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative should help us better fulfill our duties and address security gaps.
- It may improve job satisfaction if it leads to tangible results in our work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
College student (Chula Vista, California)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Interesting initiative that could provide good case studies for my research.
- Curious to see if these measures will be effectively implemented and evaluated.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Healthcare worker (Douglas, Arizona)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reducing trafficking through tunnel detection could lead to meaningful improvements in public health and safety.
- I hope the increased CBP activity respects and collaborates with local communities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $80000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $100000000)
Year 2: $80000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $100000000)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The actual cost can vary significantly based on the operational scale and technological requirements for detecting and remediating tunnels.
- Cooperation with Mexican authorities and international partners could affect implementation costs and efficacy.
- The bill currently spans two fiscal years, requiring budgetary allocations for that period.