Border Security Investment Act

House Bill

H.R. 445

119th Congress

Border Security Investment Act

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 15, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Julia Brownley

Representative

Democratic

CA-26

Cosponsors

7

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Immigration

Summary

This bill imposes a 37% fee on remittances sent to the five countries with the most citizens unlawfully entering the U.S. Half of collected funds reimburse border states for security expenses; the other half funds border technology, physical barriers, and Border Patrol wages. Excess funds above threshold amounts go to deficit reduction.

Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.

SponsorJulia Brownley (D-CA)

Introduced1/15/2025

StatusReferred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.

ChamberHouse

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Vote Prediction

Border Security Investment Act

This bill imposes a 37% fee on remittances sent to the five countries with the most citizens unlawfully entering the U.S. Half of collected funds reimburse border states for security expenses; the other half funds border technology, physical barriers, and Bord

Community Breakdown

Pass

0%

Fail

0%

0 predictions

This bill imposes a 37% fee on remittances sent to the five countries with the most citizens unlawfully entering the U.S. Half of collected funds reimburse border states for security expenses; the other half funds border technology, physical barriers, and Border Patrol wages. Excess funds above threshold amounts go to deficit reduction.

Bill Number: 445
Sponsor: Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Introduced: 1/15/2025
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
Policy Area: Immigration

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Border Security Investment Act
Bill Number: 445
Sponsor: Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
Introduced: 1/15/2025
Summary: This bill imposes a 37% fee on remittances sent to the five countries with the most citizens unlawfully entering the U.S. Half of collected funds reimburse border states for security expenses; the other half funds border technology, physical barriers, and Border Patrol wages. Excess funds above thre

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill imposes a 37% fee on remittances sent to the five countries with the most citizens unlawfully entering the U.S. Half of collected funds reimburse border states for security expenses; the other half funds border technology, physical barriers, and Border Patrol wages. Excess funds above threshold amounts go to deficit reduction.

Last updated: 1/4/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Border Security Investment ActThis bill imposes a fee on the electronic transfer of funds (i.e., remittances) sent to certain countries and provides funding for border security activities from the collected amounts.Specifically, the fee shall apply to remittances sent through money services business to one of the five countries that had the most citizens or nationals unlawfully enter the United States in the previous fiscal year, as determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The fee must be 37% of the amount sent.Half of the money collected by the fee must be placed in a trust fund for reimbursing border states for expenses incurred for border security enforcement measures. The other half must be placed in another trust fund for (1) deploying technology and installing physical barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border, and (2) paying the wages and salaries of U.S. Border Patrol agents.If the amount in the trust funds exceeds a certain threshold, the excess money must be used only for deficit reduction.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

37% fee on remittances to top source countries of illegal immigration
Targets top 5 countries by unlawful entries
Half to border state reimbursement trust fund
Half to technology, barriers, and Border Patrol wages
Excess funds to deficit reduction

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This legislation uses remittance fees as both a funding mechanism and deterrent. The 37% rate would significantly reduce funds sent home by immigrants from targeted countries. Supporters argue those benefiting from illegal immigration should fund border security. Critics contend it unfairly punishes legal immigrants and could drive remittances underground or harm recipient country economies.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Immigration

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

445, 119th Congress (2025). "Border Security Investment Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-445

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