Secure the Border Act of 2023
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (11 Jan 2024): Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
What this bill does
**S. 2824 — Secure the Border Act of 2023**
This bill is a broad immigration and border-security package. It directs the Department of Homeland Security to resume construction of a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, sets a goal of building at least 900 miles of barriers, and requires annual construction plans and progress reports to Congress. It also mandates investment in border surveillance technology (such as sensors, radar, and drones), calls for staffing studies and hiring plans for Border Patrol and related CBP units, reauthorizes anti-corruption screening for border officers, and requires various reports (on drug cartels, foreign terrorist organizations, border costs to states, and unmanned aircraft threats). A separate division addresses asylum and immigration enforcement policy, including changes to asylum eligibility and fees, detention standards, treatment of unaccompanied children, penalties for visa overstays and illegal entry, and reforms to immigration parole authority. It also revises federal rules on employer verification of workers' immigration status ("E-Verify"-type provisions).
The bill would primarily affect DHS and CBP operations, asylum seekers and other migrants, employers using worker-verification systems, and border communities and property owners near proposed wall construction sites. It expands enforcement authority and imposes new administrative and reporting requirements on federal agencies.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on September 14, 2023, by Senator Ted Cruz and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. It has not received a committee vote or floor action, and current status shows only that it was introduced.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Secure the Border Act of 2023
This bill addresses issues regarding immigration and border security, including by imposing limits to asylum eligibility.
For example, the bill
• requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resume activities to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border;
• provides statutory authorization for Operation Stonegarden, which provides grants to law enforcement agencies for certain border security operations;
• prohibits DHS from processing the entry of non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) arriving between ports of entry;
• limits asylum eligibility to non-U.S. nationals who arrive in the United States at a port of entry;
• authorizes the removal of a non-U.S. national to a country other than that individual's country of nationality or last lawful habitual residence, whereas currently this type of removal may only be to a country that has an agreement with the United States for such removal;
Timeline
11 Jan 2024
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
Common questions
- What does S. 2824 do?
- **S. 2824 — Secure the Border Act of 2023** This bill is a broad immigration and border-security package. It directs the Department of Homeland Security to resume construction of a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, sets a goal of building at least 900 miles of barriers, and requires annual construction plans and progress reports to Congress. It also mandates investment in border surveillance technology (such as sensors, radar, and drones), calls for staffing studies and hiring plans for Border Patrol and related CBP units, reauthorizes anti-corruption screening for border officers, and requires various reports (on drug cartels, foreign terrorist organizations, border costs to states, and unmanned aircraft threats). A separate division addresses asylum and immigration enforcement policy, including changes to asylum eligibility and fees, detention standards, treatment of unaccompanied children, penalties for visa overstays and illegal entry, and reforms to immigration parole authority. It also revises federal rules on employer verification of workers' immigration status ("E-Verify"-type provisions). The bill would primarily affect DHS and CBP operations, asylum seekers and other migrants, employers using worker-verification systems, and border communities and property owners near proposed wall construction sites. It expands enforcement authority and imposes new administrative and reporting requirements on federal agencies. The bill was introduced in the Senate on September 14, 2023, by Senator Ted Cruz and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. It has not received a committee vote or floor action, and current status shows only that it was introduced.
- Has S. 2824 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 2824. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 2824?
- S. 2824 was sponsored by Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX), with 32 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 2824?
- Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. (11 Jan 2024).
Related bills in Immigration
To designate Ukraine under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide certain nationals of Ukraine with continued eligibility for temporary protected status, and for other purposes.
Nicholas Douglas Quets Border Travel Safety Act
Hong Konger Promise of Refuge Act
H–1B Visa Fraud Crackdown Act
More bills from Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
529 Retirement Enhancement Act of 2026
Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act of 2026
Restoring Electoral Fairness and Opposition Rights through Mandates for Accountability Act of 2026
Right to Worship Act
Bill100 mirrors the public U.S. legislative record from Congress.gov and GovTrack and adds plain-English AI summaries. It is an information tool, not legal, compliance or lobbying advice, and it is not affiliated with the U.S. Congress or any government agency. AI summaries can simplify or omit detail — every bill links to the official source; verify there before you rely on it.