Bill Overview
Title: Every Town A Border Town Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of State to designate Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and any successor organization as a foreign terrorist organization. Among other things, the designation allows the Department of the Treasury to require financial institutions to block transactions involving the organization. Additionally, an alien who is a member, officer, official, representative, or spokesman of MS-13 is considered to have engaged in terrorist activity and is inadmissible for entry into the United States.
Sponsors: Rep. Good, Bob [R-VA-5]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals related to or impacted by Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)
Estimated Size: 100000
- MS-13 is a known transnational criminal organization impacting various countries, mainly in Central America.
- This bill targets members of MS-13, their activities, and their financial transactions worldwide.
- The act might indirectly affect communities in regions with high MS-13 activity due to changes in organizational operation and handling of related financial activities.
- MS-13 has a significant presence in the United States, particularly in cities with high immigrant populations.
- Financial actions against the group could impact related businesses and communities in these countries.
Reasoning
- The target population primarily includes communities in areas where MS-13 is active, which includes various immigrant communities in the US.
- The policy focuses on financial measures, which may not directly affect every individual's daily life but could have indirect effects, such as reducing funding to the group and potentially reducing crime over time.
- The policy may impact immigrant communities disproportionately if there is increased scrutiny on transactions or people are wrongly associated with MS-13.
- The budget suggests a significant investment in enforcement and financial tracking, but its direct impact on Cantril Wellbeing Scores might be limited unless individuals are directly involved with or victims of MS-13.
- Estimating Cantril wellbeing involves understanding personal security, financial stability, and social support, which can be affected by such a policy, especially in areas with historically high MS-13 activity.
Simulated Interviews
student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As someone from a region impacted by MS-13, I think this policy could reduce some crimes in my neighborhood.
- My family worries about being stereotypically associated, but safety improvements could be worth it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
small business owner (New York, NY)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might help curb the extortion issues I hear about, which could improve my business environment.
- I'm worried about increased scrutiny from the government on transactions that could affect my business unnecessarily.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
law enforcement officer (Houston, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy seems necessary to cut off resources for MS-13 and thereby limit their influence.
- Still, it'll be a challenge to ensure resources go towards tangible safety improvements rather than just bureaucratic measures.
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 |
policy analyst (Washington, DC)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Designation of MS-13 as a foreign terrorist organization is long overdue and could align international efforts.
- There's a risk this could overreach into affecting innocent individuals through association.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
retired (Chicago, IL)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen MS-13's negative influence firsthand; reducing their resources could make a big difference.
- However, I'm skeptical about how effective financial designations can be on their own.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
restaurant worker (Miami, FL)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy works so that young people don't have to worry as much about gang violence.
- The community could flourish if MS-13's presence is diminished.
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 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
bank manager (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy strengthens compliance but could trouble regular bank operations if not handled well.
- Financial regulations are always a double-edged sword in implementation.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
social worker (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could provide relief and security to families living in fear of gang retaliation.
- Resources must also focus on healing and rebuilding affected communities.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
high school teacher (El Paso, TX)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might reduce gang influence in schools and improve safety for staff and students.
- However, without broader community support, it might only shift problems elsewhere.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
construction worker (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My life's been shaped by escaping MS-13. Cutting their resources makes the US safer for people like me.
- I'm worried about potential repercussions on my ability to send money home.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000000 (Low: $1200000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 2: $1450000000 (Low: $1150000000, High: $1750000000)
Year 3: $1400000000 (Low: $1100000000, High: $1700000000)
Year 5: $1350000000 (Low: $1050000000, High: $1650000000)
Year 10: $1300000000 (Low: $1000000000, High: $1600000000)
Year 100: $1300000000 (Low: $1000000000, High: $1600000000)
Key Considerations
- Impact of sanctions and financial restrictions on legitimate businesses and economies related to sanctioned entities.
- Coordination across various governmental and international bodies to ensure effective policy implementation.
- Legal challenges concerning new designations and individual rights under immigration and anti-terrorism laws.