Protect America First Act
A BILL
To enact a moratorium on immigration, build the wall, prioritize securing the Southern border, repeal certain Executive orders which endanger the security of the United States, re-assert a zero-tolerance immigration policy, ensure the safe return of unaccompanied alien children, reduce human trafficking, deport criminal aliens, and end chain migration.
Sec. 2 Purpose
Sec. 3 Findings
Sec. 4 Sense of Congress
Sec. 5 Reduced removal period for aliens ordered removed
Sec. 6 Temporary immigration moratorium; expedited deportation
“1383. Temporary Moratorium of Immigration; Rapid Deportation
“(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, following the date of enactment of this Act, any alien who unlawfully enters the United States without a valid passport or other proof of U.S. Citizenship at a port of entry shall be treated as an ‘inadmissible alien’ under 8 U.S.C. 1182(a) and under a removal order from the Attorney General as prescribed at 8 U.S.C. 1231(a)(1)(A).
“(b) Further, such inadmissible aliens shall also be—
“(1) assumed to fall under the communicable disease-carrying health-related status (8 U.S.C. 1182(1)(A)(i)); and
“(2) be subject to immediate detention and deportation (as though already ordered by the Attorney General at 8 U.S.C. 1231(a)(1)(A)) to their country of origin within 30 days of being detained by a United States law enforcement or Homeland Security officer.
“(c) Further, such inadmissible aliens who are detained after January 1, 2021, shall not be required to appear before an immigration judge for adjudication pursuant to the procedures outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1229(a) and 8 U.S.C. 1229.
“(d) Further, such removal proceedings under 1229(a) shall be used to adjudicate asylum and immigration claims filed before January 1, 2021.
“(e) Further, such inadmissible aliens as described in this section shall, under no circumstances, be released from law enforcement custody while awaiting deportation.
“(f) Time Limitation—This section shall apply for 4 calendar years following the date of enactment of this Act.”
Sec. 7 ICE Detention of violent aliens
“(E)
“(i)
“(I) was not inspected and admitted into the United States;
“(II) held a nonimmigrant visa (or other documentation authorizing admission into the United States as a nonimmigrant) that has been revoked under section 221(i); or
“(III) is described in section 237(a)(1)(C)(i); and
“(ii) has been charged by a prosecuting authority in the United States with any crime that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury (as defined in section 1365(h)(3) of title 18, United States Code) of another person,”
“(3) Notification requirement—Upon encountering or gaining knowledge of an alien described in paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement shall make reasonable efforts—
“(A) to obtain information from law enforcement agencies and from other available sources regarding the identity of any victims of the crimes for which such alien was charged or convicted; and
“(B) to provide the victim or, if the victim is deceased, a parent, guardian, spouse, or closest living relative of such victim, with information, on a timely and ongoing basis, including—
“(i) the alien's full name, aliases, date of birth, and country of nationality;
“(ii) the alien's immigration status and criminal history;
“(iii) the alien's custody status and any changes related to the alien's custody; and
“(iv) a description of any efforts by the United States Government to remove the alien from the United States.”
Sec. 8 No Federal funding for “Sanctuary Cities”
“(7) A State (or a political subdivision of a State) shall not be eligible to enter into a contractual arrangement under paragraph (1) if the State (or political subdivision)—
“(A) has in effect any law, policy, or procedure in contravention of subsection (a) or (b) of section 642 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1373); or
“(B) prohibits State or local law enforcement officials from gathering information regarding the citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual.”
Sec. 9 Empowering local law enforcement to ensure immigration security
“(4) acquire, collect, classify, and preserve records of violations by aliens of the immigration laws of the United States, regardless of whether any such alien has received notice of the violation or whether sufficient identifying information is available with respect to any such alien and even if any such alien has already been removed from the United States; and”
“240D. Custody of aliens unlawfully present in the United States
“(a) Transfer of custody by State and local officials—If a State, or a political subdivision of the State, exercising authority with respect to the apprehension or arrest of an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States submits to the Secretary of Homeland Security a request that the alien be taken into Federal custody, the Secretary—
“(1) not later than 48 hours after the conclusion of the State, or the political subdivision of a State, charging process or dismissal process, or if no State or political subdivision charging or dismissal process is required, not later than 48 hours after the alien is apprehended, shall take the alien into the custody of the Federal Government and incarcerate the alien; or
“(2) shall request that the relevant State or local law enforcement agency temporarily incarcerate or transport the alien for transfer to Federal custody.
“(b) Policy on detention in State and local detention facilities—In carrying out section 241(g)(1), the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that an alien arrested under this Act shall be detained, pending the alien’s being taken for the examination under this section, in a State or local prison, jail, detention center, or other comparable facility. Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, such facility is adequate for detention, if—
“(1) such a facility is the most suitably located Federal, State, or local facility available for such purpose under the circumstances;
“(2) an appropriate arrangement for such use of the facility can be made; and
“(3) such facility satisfies the standards for the housing, care, and security of persons held in custody of a United States marshal.
“(c) Reimbursement—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall reimburse States, and political subdivisions of a State, for all reasonable expenses, as determined by the Secretary, incurred by the State, or political subdivision, as a result of the incarceration and transportation of an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States as described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(1). Compensation provided for costs incurred under such subparagraphs shall be the average cost of incarceration of a prisoner in the relevant State, as determined by the chief executive officer of a State, or of a political subdivision of a State, plus the cost of transporting the alien from the point of apprehension to the place of detention, and to the custody transfer point if the place of detention and place of custody are different.
“(d) Secure facilities—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that aliens incarcerated in Federal facilities pursuant to this Act are held in facilities that provide an appropriate level of security.
“(e) Transfer
“(1) In general—In carrying out this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish a regular circuit and schedule for the prompt transfer of apprehended aliens from the custody of States, and political subdivisions of a State, to Federal custody.
“(2) Contracts—The Secretary may enter into contracts, including appropriate private contracts, to implement this subsection.
“(f) Definition—For purposes of this section, the term “alien who is unlawfully present in the United States” means an alien who—
“(1) entered the United States without inspection or at any time, manner or place other than that designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security;
“(2) was admitted as a nonimmigrant and who, at the time the alien was taken into custody by the State, or a political subdivision of the State, had failed to—
“(A) maintain the nonimmigrant status in which the alien was admitted or to which it was changed under section 248; or
“(B) comply with the conditions of any such status;
“(3) was admitted as an immigrant and has subsequently failed to comply with the requirements of that status; or
“(4) failed to depart the United States under a voluntary departure agreement or under a final order of removal.”
“240D. Custody of aliens unlawfully present in the United States”
Sec. 10 Build the wall
“3344. Secure the Southern Border Fund
“(a) In general—Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of the Treasury shall establish an account in the Treasury of the United States, to be known as the “Secure the Southern Border Fund”, into which funds shall be deposited in accordance with subsections (c) and (d) below.
“(b) Appropriation—Funds deposited in the Secure the Southern Border Fund shall be available until expended. Such funds are authorized to be appropriated, and are appropriated, to the Secretary of Homeland Security only—
“(1) to plan, design, construct, or maintain a barrier along the international border between the United States and Mexico; and
“(2) to purchase and maintain necessary vehicles and equipment for U.S. Border Patrol agents.
“(c) Limitation—Not more than 5 percent of the funds deposited in the Secure the Southern Border Fund may be used for the purpose described in subsection (b)(2).
“(d) Initial authorization of appropriation—There is authorized to be appropriated $22,000,000,000 to the Secure the Southern Border Fund, to remain available until expended.”
“(a) In general—Not later than December 31, 2021, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take such actions as may be necessary (including the removal of obstacles to detection of illegal entrants) to design, test, construct, and install physical barriers, roads, and technology along the international land border between the United States and Mexico to prevent illegal crossings in all areas.”
“(A) Physical barriers—In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall construct physical barriers, including secondary barriers in locations where there is already a fence, along the international land border between the United States and Mexico that will prevent illegal entry and will assist in gaining operational control of the border (as defined in section 2(b) of the Secure Fence Act of 2006 (8 U.S.C. 1701 note; Public Law 109–367)).”
“(i) In general—In carrying out this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, before constructing physical barriers in a specific area or region, consult with the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, appropriate Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, and appropriate private property owners in the United States to minimize the impact on the environment, culture, commerce, and quality of life for the communities and residents located near the sites at which such physical barriers are to be constructed. Nothing in this paragraph should be construed to limit the Secretary of Homeland Security’s authority to move forward with construction after consultation.”
“(ii) Notification—Not later than 60 days after the consultation required under clause (i), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall notify the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and of the Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate of the type of physical barriers, tactical infrastructure, or technology the Secretary has determined is most practical and effective to achieve situational awareness and operational control in a specific area or region and the other alternatives the Secretary considered before making such a determination.”
“(C) Limitation on requirements—Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), nothing in this paragraph shall require the Secretary of Homeland Security to install fencing, physical barriers, or roads, in a particular location along the international border between the United States and Mexico, if the Secretary determines that there is a pre-existing geographical barrier or pre-constructed, impenetrable wall. The Secretary must notify the House and Senate Committees on the Judiciary, the House Committee on Homeland Security, and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of any decision not to install fencing in accordance with this provision within 30 days of a determination being made.”
“(1) In general—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall have the authority to waive all legal requirements the Secretary, in the Secretary’s sole discretion, determines necessary to ensure the expeditious design, testing, construction, installation, deployment, operation, and maintenance of physical barriers, roads, and technology under this section. Any such decision by the Secretary shall be effective upon publication in the Federal Register.”