Congress Passes Secure Fence Act of 2006
On September 29, 2006, the Senate passed H.R. 6061, the Secure Fence Act of 2006, without amendment. The House passed H.R. 6061 on September 14, 2006. On October 23, 2006, H.R. 6061 was presented to the President, who is expected to sign the measure into law.
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Highlights of H.R. 6061
The following are highlights of H.R. 6061, as reported by the Congressional Research Service (CRS):
DHS Secretary to achieve operational control over U.S. int'l and maritime borders.
H.R. 6061 directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, within 18 months of enactment, to take appropriate actions to achieve operational control1 over U.S. international land and maritime borders, including:
- systematic border surveillance through more effective use of personnel and technology, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, ground-based sensors, satellites, radar coverage, and cameras; and
- physical infrastructure enhancements to prevent unlawful border entry and facilitate border access by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), such as additional checkpoints, all weather access roads, and vehicle barriers.
1H.R. 6061 defines "operational control" as the prevention of all unlawful U.S. entries, including entries by terrorists, other unlawful aliens, instruments of terrorism, narcotics, and other contraband.
H.R. 6061 also directs the Secretary to report annually to Congress on border control progress.
Fencing, lighting, sensors, etc. to be installed in designated areas. H.R. 6061 would amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to direct the Secretary to provide at least two layers of reinforced fencing, installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors extending:
- from ten miles west of the Tecate, California, port of entry to ten miles east of the Tecate, California, port of entry;
- from ten miles west of the Calexico, California, port of entry to five miles east of the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry (requiring installation of an interlocking surveillance camera system by May 30, 2007, and fence completion by May 30, 2008);
- from five miles west of the Columbus, New Mexico, port of entry to ten miles east of El Paso, Texas;
- from five miles northwest of the Del Rio, Texas, port of entry to five miles southeast of the Eagle Pass, Texas, port of entry; and
- 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry to the Brownsville, Texas, port of entry (requiring fence completion from 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry to 15 southeast of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry by December 31, 2008).
According to H.R. 6061, if an area has an elevation grade exceeding 10% the Secretary may use other means to secure such area, including surveillance and barrier tools.
Secretary must report to Congress on impact of constructing infrastructure security system, etc. H.R. 6061 also directs the Secretary to:
study and report to specified congressional committees on the necessity, feasibility, and economic impact of constructing a state-of-the-art infrastructure security system along the U.S. northern international land and maritime border; and
evaluate and report to the specified congressional committees on CBP authority (and possible expansion of authority) to stop fleeing vehicles that enter the U.S. illegally, including related training, technology, and equipment reviews.
H.R. 6061 as passed by the Senate available at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:h6061pcs.txt.pdf.