Bill Overview
Title: Emergency Migration Response Act of 2022
Description: This bill authorizes the President to declare an extraordinary migration event that is of such magnitude that the existing infrastructure, including Department of Homeland Security (DHS) staffing levels and relevant government resources, is unable to provide an appropriate government response. Such a declaration authorizes DHS to take various actions to respond to the migration event, such as (1) utilizing the capabilities of the Southwest Border Coordination Center, (2) reassigning U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services asylum officers and interpreters to U.S. Customs and Border Protection border facilities, and (3) surging resources to process migrants in their countries of origin.
Sponsors: Rep. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI-8]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals experiencing extraordinary migration events
Estimated Size: 1000000
- The bill is designed to address migration events that are beyond the capacity of current systems, indicating it targets situations impacting large groups of people migrating simultaneously.
- Migrants from countries that have large numbers of people seeking to enter the US through the southern border would be directly affected by this legislation.
- The coordination of resources at the US border and in countries of origin suggests the policy is aimed at regions with ongoing migration crises, potentially affecting millions of people worldwide per year.
Reasoning
- The policy is targeted at managing extraordinary migration events that strain current resources at the US southern border. This means it will primarily impact government personnel, border communities, and potentially migrants currently situated there, and agencies tasked with asylum and migration processing.
- Given the size of the proposed budget, the policy can implement significant changes in resource allocation but still has limitations. It will prioritize immediate relief and resource allocation to areas experiencing the highest migration pressures.
- The policy will have variable effects across different segments of the US population, with more pronounced impacts on those living in border communities or working in related government services. It will minimally, if at all, change the daily lives of average citizens living far from the borders.
- The policy might impact local governments and services because of the sudden influx and resources allocated to manage the situation. However, it’s also likely that the policy will not directly reached beyond border states through any immediate or tangible benefits.
- The wellbeing of individuals will generally depend on their proximity to the changes the policy generates and their role, if any, within the migration and border system. Essentially, people directly dealing with the migration events will see the most change.
Simulated Interviews
Border Patrol Officer (El Paso, Texas)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is much needed considering the pressure we face during high migration periods. Allocating more resources and personnel will definitely ease some of the workload off our shoulders.
- I am concerned about the budget allocation, as its proper handling is crucial to actually seeing benefits on the ground.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Immigration Lawyer (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy seems focused on short-term solutions, which may or may not help the underlying issues causing migration. A lot depends on the execution.
- I hope the policy gets immigrants the support they need sooner rather than later in their journey.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Community Health Worker (Houston, Texas)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With this policy, the immediate emergency services should improve, but long-term aid for healthcare and integration is still lacking.
- More information and transparency are needed to see if the policy’s funding actually reaches the communities in need.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Local Business Owner (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don’t see how this policy directly helps local businesses like mine.
- Perhaps it reduces some of the uncertainty and chaos during migration surges, but the impact seems indirect to us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Activist (San Diego, California)
Age: 33 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could really improve the conditions at the border, but there’s a risk that it could still militarize the border further rather than create humanitarian solutions.
- Need to ensure the policy is implemented with respect for human rights.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Teacher (Tucson, Arizona)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better management at the border will hopefully bring stability to the regions, but I don't directly see a change in my day-to-day work.
- It could lead to more resources in schools but that is still a far-off impact.
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 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Software Developer (Austin, Texas)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I suppose it's a good use of resources if it helps manage situations more effectively, but I personally don’t interact with these changes much.
- Interested to see how it might affect tech opportunities for new talents arriving.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired (San Antonio, Texas)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy helps families and children who are stuck during crises, but the details of the program are what really counts.
- I'm concerned about ensuring safety and humane treatment for everyone involved.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
News Reporter (Miami, Florida)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The specifics of the policy implementation could set precedents for handling migration events in the future.
- It will be interesting to see how effectively it balances security with humanitarian needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Nurse (Houston, Texas)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a start, yet there are still glaring healthcare needs that remain unaddressed even if processing improves.
- We need more comprehensive plans to provide healthcare access to migrating populations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1200000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1500000000)
Year 2: $1300000000 (Low: $900000000, High: $1600000000)
Year 3: $1400000000 (Low: $1000000000, High: $1700000000)
Year 5: $1500000000 (Low: $1100000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 10: $1800000000 (Low: $1400000000, High: $2100000000)
Year 100: $2500000000 (Low: $2000000000, High: $3000000000)
Key Considerations
- The frequency and scale of migration events that qualify for the declaration are uncertain, posing challenges in long-term budget forecasting.
- Coordination among multiple federal, state, and local agencies is critical for efficiency and minimizing cost overruns.
- Success heavily relies on international cooperation with countries of origin, which could add unpredictability in execution and financial planning.