Bill Overview
Title: Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit Stipend Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to operate Transnational Criminal Investigative Units within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The units shall be composed of vetted foreign law enforcement officials who shall cooperate with HSI to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in transnational criminal activity.
Sponsors: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals impacted by ICE and HSI transnational criminal investigations
Estimated Size: 50000
- The bill directly involves foreign law enforcement officials who will collaborate with U.S. authorities, thus impacting the operations and lives of these officials.
- U.S. law enforcement officials, particularly those in ICE and HSI, will experience operational changes and increased collaboration with international peers.
- People involved in transnational criminal activities may experience increased law enforcement scrutiny and subsequent legal actions.
- Communities impacted by transnational crimes, such as human trafficking and drug smuggling, may see changes due to increased law enforcement pressure.
- The legislation emphasizes increasing international cooperation, impacting legal and diplomatic relations among the countries involved.
Reasoning
- The policy impacts a specific group of individuals, such as law enforcement officials and individuals involved in or affected by transnational crime, limiting the number of people directly impacted.
- In terms of cost, the budget must accommodate training, oversight, and operational costs for the new transnational units within the specified financial constraints.
- The policy mainly affects border communities and law enforcement roles, producing targeted but potentially significant wellbeing changes in those populations.
- Ensuring a variety of interviews will demonstrate both directly and indirectly affected individuals, as well as those unaffected by the policy. Given the specifics, only a subset of the population will report substantial changes in wellbeing.
Simulated Interviews
Border Security Agent (El Paso, TX)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy will strengthen our ability to combat crime by allowing us to work more closely with foreign agents.
- I'm concerned about the added workload and changes to our operational procedures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Human Rights Activist (San Diego, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm cautiously optimistic about the transnational collaboration potentially reducing human trafficking, but I worry about increased deportations.
- Protecting vulnerable populations should be prioritized.
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 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Small Business Owner (Austin, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry this policy might inadvertently complicate business due to increased scrutiny at the border.
- Cross-border collaboration is positive, but it should not hinder lawful activities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Lawyer (Miami, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The increase in investigations may affect my clients involved in ongoing immigration cases.
- I am concerned about the potential for wrongful accusations without proper vetting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
International Diplomat (New York, NY)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- International cooperation is essential, and this policy supports that.
- Diplomatic relations will play a critical role in making this policy effective.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired Teacher (Brownsville, TX)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that the policy will address some of the crime issues in our community.
- Monitoring its impact on local communities is essential to avoid any negative effects.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
IT Consultant (Chicago, IL)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't see this policy impacting me directly as it primarily deals with border and international law enforcement issues.
- Maintaining a fair system is always important.
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 |
Journalist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased transparency in law enforcement is crucial, and this policy could enhance accountability.
- Concerned about the potential lack of oversight when working with foreign officials.
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 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Federal Agent (Denver, CO)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could enhance our ability to track illegal networks.
- Concerned about the need for additional resources and funding to handle the increase in collaborative cases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
College Student (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 26 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm interested to see how this policy might influence international law enforcement collaborations in the future.
- The policy might open up job opportunities in international arenas post-graduation.
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 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $51000000 (Low: $40800000, High: $61200000)
Year 3: $52020000 (Low: $41616000, High: $62424000)
Year 5: $54080820 (Low: $43264656, High: $64921884)
Year 10: $59548446 (Low: $47638757, High: $71458135)
Year 100: $160486188 (Low: $128388950, High: $192583426)
Key Considerations
- The costs are based on sustained operations over a decade, hence reliant on steady funding.
- Effectiveness in reducing transnational crime relies on the collaboration between U.S. and foreign law enforcement.
- Policy could enhance international law enforcement relationships but may require diplomatic navigation.