Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007

SEC. 137. INCREASE OF FEDERAL DETENTION SPACE AND THE UTILIZATION OF FACILITIES IDENTIFIED FOR CLOSURES AS A RESULT OF THE DEFENSE BASE CLOSURE REALIGNMENT ACT OF 1990.

(a) Construction or Acquisition of Detention Facilities-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall construct or acquire, in addition to existing facilities for the detention of aliens, at least 20 detention facilities in the United States that have the capacity to detain a combined total of not less than 20,000 individuals at any time for aliens detained pending removal or a decision on removal of such aliens from the United States subject to available appropriations.

(b) Construction of or Acquisition of Detention Facilities-

(1) REQUIREMENT TO CONSTRUCT OR ACQUIRE- The Secretary shall construct or acquire additional detention facilities in the United States to accommodate the detention beds required by section 5204(a) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Protection Act of 2004, as amended by subsection (a), subject to available appropriations.

(2) USE OF ALTERNATE DETENTION FACILITIES- Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall fully utilize all possible options to cost effectively increase available detention capacities, and shall utilize detention facilities that are owned and operated by the Federal Government if the use of such facilities is cost effective.

(3) USE OF INSTALLATIONS UNDER BASE CLOSURE LAWS- In acquiring additional detention facilities under thissubsection, the Secretary shall consider the transfer of appropriate portions of military installations approved for closure or realignment under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (part A of title XXIX of Public Law 101-510; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note) for use in accordance with subsection (a).

(4) DETERMINATION OF LOCATION- The location of any detention facility constructed or acquired in accordance with this subsection shall be determined, with the concurrence of the Secretary, by the senior officer responsible for Detention and Removal Operations in the Department. The detention facilities shall be located so as to enable the officers and employees of the Department to increase to the maximum extent practicable the annual rate and level of removals of illegal aliens from the United States.

(c) Annual Report to Congress- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, in consultation with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, the Secretary shall submit to Congress an assessment of the additional detention facilities and bed space needed to detain unlawful aliens apprehended at the United States ports of entry or along the international land borders of the United States.

(d) Technical and Conforming Amendment- Section 241(g)(1) (8U.S.C. 1231(g)(1)) is amended by striking 'may expend' and inserting 'shall expend'.

(e) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

Comments

2007-05-22 16:57:33

138 (a) (3)(A)(iii) 2 shall be from the State's communities of academia, religious leaders, civic leaders or community leaders. Do we really want unelected "leaders" as part of the governmental process for determining policies? Neither Jesse Jackson nor James Dobson are needed for this. This is pure patronage, and purley wrong for the makeup of such an advisory board. There need to be professional/technical qualifications placed on non-politician/professional members.

Joseph Cook
2007-05-22 16:57:33

Where's the wall? This topic was "Border enforcement." Is this "Committee" going to enforce anything or simply get paid to sit around a large table and stay in high end hotels?

Doc
2007-05-22 16:57:33

Ahhh-- The ultimate DC deflect: A "commission" to study what has already been studied to death: how to enforce the border. Commissions are DC's way of saying "we're going to do nothing about this, but we'll have lots of important meetings to mask our inactivity." Note to Congress: Build the wall you started, back it up with Border Patrol armed with guns and the authority to use them. There - no need for a Commission, unless you're really planning to do nothing.