BE SAFE Act

II 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 643 To require all new legal permanent residents to pay an additional fee, which shall be used for improving immigration and enhancing the security of the United States border. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 4, 2019 Mr. PAUL introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To require all new legal permanent residents to pay an additional fee, which shall be used for improving immi- gration and enhancing the security of the United States border. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLES. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Border Enforcement, 4 Security, And Funding Enhancement Act’’ or the ‘‘BE 5 SAFE Act’’. 6 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Mar 13, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S643.IS S643 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 2 •S 643 IS SEC. 2. IMMIGRATION IMPROVEMENTS AND BORDER SECU- 1 RITY ENHANCEMENTS. 2 (a) FEE AUTHORIZED.—Beginning on the date of the 3 enactment of this Act, each alien granted lawful perma- 4 nent residence in the United States, before the alien is 5 issued a Permanent Resident Card (commonly referred to 6 as the ‘‘Green Card’’), shall remit to U.S. Citizenship and 7 Immigration Services, in addition to any fees otherwise re- 8 quired, a fee in an amount equal to $2,500. 9 (b) BORDER SECURITY ENHANCEMENT FUND.— 10 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in 11 the general fund of the Treasury a separate account, 12 which shall be known as the Border Security En- 13 hancement Fund (referred to in this subsection as 14 the ‘‘Fund’’). 15 (2) DEPOSITS.—All fees remitted to U.S. Citi- 16 zenship and Immigration Services pursuant to sub- 17 section (a) shall be deposited into the Fund. 18 (3) USE OF FUNDS.—The President may use 19 amounts from the Fund to facilitate the enforcement 20 of the immigration laws of the United States and to 21 improve immigration-related governmental processes, 22 including by— 23 (A) constructing border barriers, border 24 fencing, or a border wall along the United 25 States border; 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Mar 13, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S643.IS S643 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 3 •S 643 IS (B) carrying out enforcement, detention, 1 and removal operations for priority removable 2 aliens; 3 (C) disrupting illegal cross border traf- 4 ficking activity, including human trafficking 5 and the movement of opioids and other nar- 6 cotics; 7 (D) improving facilities and trade and 8 travel infrastructure at ports of entry and bor- 9 der crossings; 10 (E) reducing visa overstays; 11 (F) verifying the status of all alien stu- 12 dents in the United States who have been 13 issued student visas; 14 (G) regularly assessing individuals who 15 have been granted asylum or have been admit- 16 ted as refugees for indications of terrorism; 17 (H) expanding trusted traveler programs; 18 (I) reducing the immigration court back- 19 log; and 20 (J) deploying a complete biometric entry- 21 exit control system in accordance with section 22 110 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Im- 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Mar 13, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S643.IS S643 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS 4 •S 643 IS migrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (division C 1 of Public Law 104–208; 8 U.S.C. 1221 note). 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Mar 13, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S643.IS S643 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS