Bill Overview
Title: Surging Prosecutors to Expedite Alien Removals Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a ratio of four U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement prosecutors for each immigration judge. These prosecutors represent DHS during removal proceedings. DHS must provide a report to Congress within 90 days on the plan and status of achieving the ratio.
Sponsors: Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals subject to U.S. immigration removal processes
Estimated Size: 15000000
- The bill directly affects the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in its operations related to immigration enforcement.
- The primary impacted group is individuals subject to immigration proceedings or potentially facing removal, which is a global target population as it includes immigrants from many countries.
- By increasing the number of prosecutors, the bill may expedite the removal process, potentially affecting the lives of a significant number of immigrants who are in the United States illegally or whose immigration status is under review.
- The bill indirectly affects U.S. citizens who are family members of those subjected to removal proceedings.
- There is a broader impact on communities with a high population of immigrants, as increased deportations can influence community dynamics and local economies.
Reasoning
- The budget and duration constraints indicate that the policy will be a large-scale operation but with logistical and financial limitations in its initial year and over a decade.
- The policy directly impacts the immigrant population undergoing court proceedings related to removal, a group estimated to be in the millions within the U.S. borders, including those undocumented or with pending cases.
- Secondary impacts extend to families of affected individuals, many of whom may be U.S. citizens or legal residents, influencing their wellbeing and economic situation.
- Community impacts are likely, focusing on areas with high immigrant populations where shifts in population may affect local economies, schools, and cultural dynamics.
- Wellbeing impacts may vary between individuals directly facing proceedings versus those who are part of their family support network.
Simulated Interviews
Construction Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry about how this law might affect me and my family. If things get faster, I might not have enough time to prepare my case.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Student (New York, NY)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy won't affect me directly unless my visa status becomes an issue, but I'm anxious about the changes it might bring.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Restaurant Owner (Miami, FL)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act might impact my business as many workers are worried about deportations. It's stressful thinking about losing valuable employees.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
DHS Immigration Judge (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increasing prosecutors should help with my workload, but I'm concerned it might rush justice and fairness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Community Organizer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I fear this policy will be harmful to communities I work with, potentially breaking apart families.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Immigration Lawyer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm preparing for an increase in caseload and hoping this change won't harm my clients.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
IT Specialist (Houston, TX)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is concerning as it might set a precedent affecting even legal immigrants like me eventually.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
School Teacher (Dallas, TX)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I fear what might happen to my husband under the new law. It's terrifying to think he might be taken away from us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Policy Advisor (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could have wide-ranging effects on communities, maybe more negative than positive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Bartender (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a DREAMer, every new immigration policy has me on edge, wondering about my status.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $230000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $280000000)
Year 2: $230000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $280000000)
Year 3: $230000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $280000000)
Year 5: $230000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $280000000)
Year 10: $230000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $280000000)
Year 100: $230000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $280000000)
Key Considerations
- The cost of hiring additional prosecutors and supporting staff for DHS to meet the mandated ratio.
- The potential cost savings from decreasing the backlog of immigration cases and the faster processing of removals.
- The social impact of increasing the number of deportations, particularly on communities with high immigrant populations.