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Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012

3/14/2024, 12:36 PM

Congressional Summary of HR 4119

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on May 16, 2012. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) subject anyone who attempts or conspires to construct or finance construction of an unauthorized tunnel or subterranean passage that crosses the international border between the United States and another country, or to use such a tunnel for smuggling, to the penalties prescribed for someone who commits such an offense; (2) make such a border tunnel offense a predicate offense for a money laundering violation and for authorization for interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications; and (3) provide for the criminal forfeiture of proceeds of such an offense and the seizure and forfeiture of merchandise introduced into the United States through such a tunnel.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should continue outreach efforts to educate landowners and tenants in areas along the border between Mexico and the United States about cross-border tunnels and seek their assistance in combating tunnel construction.

Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit an annual report describing: (1) cross-border tunnels along the U.S.-Mexico border discovered during the preceding fiscal year; and (2) the needs of DHS to effectively prevent, investigate, and prosecute construction of such tunnels.

Read the Full Bill

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Current Status of Bill HR 4119

Bill HR 4119 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since March 1, 2012. Bill HR 4119 was introduced during Congress 112 and was introduced to the House on March 1, 2012.  Bill HR 4119's most recent activity was Became Public Law No: 112-127. as of June 5, 2012

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 4119

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
1
Republican Sponsors
0
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
3
Democrat Cosponsors
1
Republican Cosponsors
2
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 4119

Primary Policy Focus

Crime and Law Enforcement

Potential Impact Areas

- Border security and unlawful immigration
- Congressional oversight
- Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
- Criminal procedure and sentencing
- Drug trafficking and controlled substances
- Firearms and explosives
- Fraud offenses and financial crimes
- Homeland security
- Human trafficking
- Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
- Latin America
- Mexico
- Organized crime
- Smuggling and trafficking

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 4119

Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012
To reduce the trafficking of drugs and to prevent human smuggling across the Southwest Border by deterring the construction and use of border tunnels.
Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012
Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012
Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012
Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012
Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012

Comments

Sponsors and Cosponsors of HR 4119

Silvestre Reyes
Silvestre Reyes
TexasDemocrat
Bennie G. Thompson
Bennie G. Thompson
MississippiDemocrat
Benjamin Quayle
Benjamin Quayle
ArizonaRepublican
David Dreier
David Dreier
CaliforniaRepublican

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