Bill Overview
Title: Protecting our Border, Protecting our Water Act
Description: This bill requires the International Boundary and Water Commission to negotiate with Mexico an agreement related to aliens unlawfully crossing the southern international border of the United States. The agreement would commit Mexico to forfeit one acre-foot of water rights to a state that is a signatory to the Colorado River Compact for each such alien apprehended in that state.
Sponsors: Rep. Lesko, Debbie [R-AZ-8]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals depending on the Colorado River and undocumented immigrants crossing the US-Mexico border
Estimated Size: 25000000
- The legislation affects individuals who are undocumented immigrants crossing the southern U.S. border as these are directly linked to the forfeiture of water rights.
- Populations in U.S. states that are signatories to the Colorado River Compact will be impacted, as they stand to gain water rights from this agreement.
- Areas and individuals relying on the Colorado River for water supply are indirectly affected as the legislation could impact water availability.
- Mexican farmers and communities using the water resources covered by this agreement will be impacted due to potential reduction in available water.
Reasoning
- The population potentially impacted by this policy is vast, including millions who rely on the Colorado River for water supply.
- The majority of the impacted demographic consists of residents in the southwestern United States, particularly in border states like California, Arizona, and Nevada which are signatories to the Colorado River Compact.
- The impact may range from changes in water availability to political and economic tensions between Mexico and the United States.
- Given the policy-specific focus on undocumented immigrants and water rights, direct impacts on individual well-being scores may be nuanced and less immediate.
Simulated Interviews
Farmer (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rely on water from the Colorado River for my crops. If this gets us more, that's a good thing.
- However, I'm worried about how this might affect the migrant workers who help during harvest.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Environmental Scientist (San Diego, California)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The potential environmental repercussions of this policy make me uneasy.
- I understand the need for more water, but at what ecological cost?
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Casino Owner (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Water shortages have been an issue, so any policy that potentially reduces that risk is welcome.
- I do worry slightly about the geopolitical implications, but business comes first.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Student (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m worried about how this policy might disproportionately affect communities in Mexico.
- Ensuring water rights in the U.S. shouldn't come at the cost of our neighbors' well-being.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired Border Patrol Agent (El Centro, California)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Finally, a policy that connects border security and tangible resources like water.
- I just hope it doesn’t strain our relations with Mexico too much.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Community Organizer (Tucson, Arizona)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might end up being used as leverage against vulnerable immigrants.
- We need solutions that protect both people and resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (Las Cruces, New Mexico)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see where the policy aims to help, but we need to be cautious about its larger impacts.
- My business costs might go down if water access improves, which is positive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Local Government Official (Yuma, Arizona)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A bold policy move that should redirect some much-needed resources.
- I hope the implementation considers environmental and social equity sides.
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 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Tech Engineer (Denver, Colorado)
Age: 31 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s crucial to balance policies with environmental sustainability.
- What happens to surrounding ecosystems is something I think about, even from a distance.
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 |
Retired School Teacher (Riverside, California)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Securing more water is critical, but we can’t ignore the fairness in this policy.
- Well, as long as it benefits us without harming others too much, I suppose it's beneficial.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 2: $10000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $15000000)
Year 3: $11000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $16000000)
Year 5: $12000000 (Low: $9000000, High: $18000000)
Year 10: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $21000000)
Year 100: $25000000 (Low: $18000000, High: $32000000)
Key Considerations
- The diplomatic complexity of renegotiating water rights with Mexico might lead to prolonged implementation.
- The ecological impact of water reallocation needs assessment, especially for Mexican agricultural areas.
- Interstate coordination is necessary to equitably distribute new water sources.
- Monitoring systems must be reliable and accurate to determine the actual apprehension rates.