Bill Overview
Title: Advanced Border Coordination Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to establish at least two Joint Operations Centers along the U.S.-Mexico border. The centers shall provide centralized operations hubs for (1) coordinating operations between federal, state, local, and tribal agencies as needed; and (2) coordinating and supporting border operations, including detecting criminal activity, such as activity related to transnational criminal organizations and illegal border crossings.
Sponsors: Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14]
Target Audience
Population: People living along the U.S.-Mexico border
Estimated Size: 8000000
- The bill primarily affects those involved in border security and immigration enforcement, including federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers.
- Individuals seeking to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, whether legally or illegally, could face increased scrutiny and enforcement.
- Communities located near the U.S.-Mexico border may experience changes in enforcement practices and border operations.
- Transnational criminal organizations involved in activities such as smuggling and trafficking will be directly targeted by the increased coordination and resources.
Reasoning
- The border policy chiefly impacts those residing or working near the U.S.-Mexico border, projecting impacts ranging from slight to substantial. Many law enforcement personnel will encounter a shift in operations and coordination, enhancing efficiency and potentially job satisfaction.
- People living close to the border may perceive enhanced security, but also report disruptions or heightened tensions depending on community-law enforcement dynamics. Transnational criminals are anticipated to find their activities constrained, possibly redirecting or escalating efforts to counter these hurdles.
- The policy's effects could indirectly touch a broader lifestyle and economic spectrum for border communities, altering patterns in daily cross-border activities, tourism, and regional economic activities.
- Law enforcement personnel's well-being might see relative improvement due to augmented resources and collaboration, while members of communities experiencing increased enforcement presence may initially perceive increased stress.
- The simulation reflects varied commonness scores to show how frequently each perspective is found across impacted demographics, ensuring both typical and unique cases are represented.
Simulated Interviews
Border Patrol Agent (El Paso, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the Joint Operations Centers are a good idea; we need better coordination at the border.
- This could streamline a lot of operations and make my job more manageable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Local Business Owner (Nogales, AZ)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased border security could deter some customers but may make the area feel safer overall.
- I am concerned about potential negative publicity impacting tourism.
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 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Family Member Visiting Relatives (Tijuana, Mexico)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried that crossing the border will become more difficult and stressful.
- I hope this doesn't mean longer wait times during my visits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
School Teacher (Las Cruces, NM)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- There might be disruptions in the community as enforcement increases close by.
- It's crucial for children, especially those from immigrant families, to feel safe.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
College Student (San Diego, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned this will lead to over-policing and strain community-law enforcement relations.
- Transparency and accountability are critical for these operations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Retired (Yuma, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I generally support stronger borders, but I'm worried about discrimination against Hispanic communities.
- It's a complicated issue, keeping the balance between security and rights.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
County Sheriff (McAllen, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Additional resources will aid in better managing criminal activities along the border.
- It's important to continue building trust with the local community while implementing these operations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Immigration Attorney (Brownsville, TX)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This might lead to increased apprehensions and complications for my clients.
- More border enforcement needs careful oversight to prevent rights infringements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Undocumented Worker (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm afraid increased enforcement might lead to more deportations.
- Every day might become riskier for me and others in my community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 5 |
Tech Entrepreneur (Chula Vista, CA)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- These centers might make logistics smoother, benefiting businesses like mine.
- It's crucial that the policy supports trade and not just enforcement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Year 2: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 3: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 5: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 10: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Key Considerations
- The costs associated with personnel from multiple jurisdictions working in the centers could be substantial and might vary significantly.
- Potential opposition from local communities concerned about increased enforcement and militarization could lead to additional costs in terms of community engagement and public relations.
- Technological and infrastructure costs might be higher than expected if integration with existing systems faces challenges.