United States 115th Congress Status: Died 1 D cosponsors

HR 3020 — Border Enforcement Accountability, Oversight, and Community Engagement Act of 2017

Last action — Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. Died in session

This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Border Enforcement Accountability, Oversight, and Community Engagement Act of 2017 This bill establishes: (1) the Department of Homeland Security Border Oversight Commission, and (2) a northern border subcommittee and a southern border subcommittee within the commission. The commission and the subcommittees shall: (1) recommend border enforcement policy improvements; (2) evaluate policies of federal agencies operating along the borders to protect due process and human rights of border residents and visitors, protect land owner private property rights, and reduce the number of migrant deaths; (3) recommend safety improvements for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel; and (4) evaluate training and the extent to which CBP supervisory and management personnel practices encourage workforce development and promote field safety. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended to rename the position of Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the Ombudsman for Border and Immigration Related Concerns. Related function and administrative provisions are revised, including requiring the ombudsman to establish a Border Community Liaison Office in each Border Patrol sector on the northern and southern borders. The bill sets forth specified training and continuing education requirements for CBP personnel. DHS shall submit to Congress an assessment of current guidelines for managing ports of entry under DHS control. The bill requires: (1) the CBP to report to Congress regarding deaths occurring along the U.S.-Mexico border and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review such report; (2) the GAO to examine the extent to which the CBP has clarified use of force policies and DHS to require the CBP to implement any recommendations contained in such examination; and (3) the CBP to report to Congress on body camera use.

Bill Text

Sections of law this bill changes

1 section in 1 law

From the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-124).

Homeland security organization · 6 U.S.C. ch. 1 1 section
  • § 272 Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Amends

    6 U.S.C. § 272

    The law today

    (a) In general Within the Department, there shall be a position of Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (in this section referred to as the “Ombudsman”). The Ombudsman shall report directly to the Deputy Secretary. The Ombudsman shall have a background in customer service as well as immigration law. (b) Functions It shall be the function of the Ombudsman— (1) to assist individuals and employers in resolving problems with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services; (2) to identify areas in which individuals and employers have problems in dealing with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services; and (3) to the extent possible, to propose changes in the administrative practices of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services to mitigate problems identified under paragraph (2). (c) Annual reports (1) Objectives Not later than June 30 of each calendar year, the Ombudsman shall report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate on the objectives of the Office of the Ombudsman for the fiscal year beginning in such calendar year. Any such report shall contain full and substantive analysis, in addition to statistical information, and— (A) shall identify the recommendations the Office of the Ombudsman has made on improving services and responsiveness of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services; (B) shall contain a summary of the most pervasive and serious problems encountered by individuals and employers, including a description of the nature of such problems; (C) shall contain an inventory of the items described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) for which action has been taken and the result of such action; (D) shall contain an inventory of the items described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) for which action remains to be completed and the period during which each item has remained on such inventory; (E) shall contain an inventory of the items described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) for which no action has been taken, the period during which each item has remained on such inventory, the reasons for the inaction, and shall identify any official of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services who is responsible for such inaction; (F) shall contain recommendations for such administrative action as may be appropriate to resolve problems encountered by individuals and employers, including problems created by excessive backlogs in the adjudication and processing of immigration benefit petitions and applications; and (G) shall include such other information as the Ombudsman may deem advisable. (2) Report to be submitted directly Each report required under this subsection shall be provided directly to the committees described in paragraph (1) without any prior comment or amendment from the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, or any other officer or employee of the Department or the Office of Management and Budget. (d) Other responsibilities The Ombudsman— (1) shall monitor the coverage and geographic allocation of local offices of the Ombudsman; (2) shall develop guidance to be distributed to all officers and employees of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services outlining the criteria for referral of inquiries to local offices of the Ombudsman; (3) shall ensure that the local telephone number for each local office of the Ombudsman is published and available to individuals and employers served by the office; and (4) shall meet regularly with the Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services to identify serious service problems and to present recommendations for such administrative action as may be appropriate to resolve problems encountered by individuals and employers. (e) Personnel actions (1) In general The Ombudsman shall have the responsibility and authority— (A) to appoint local ombudsmen and make available at least 1 such ombudsman for each State; and (B) to evaluate and take pe...

    3 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗

Also cites: 5 U.S.C. § 7114

How this bill changes current law

7 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes the Office of the Ombudsman for Border and Immigration Related Concerns, replacing the existing Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman position with a focus on border and immigration issues.

  • 6 U.S.C. 272

    There shall be a position of Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (in this section referred to as the “Ombudsman”). → There shall be a position of Ombudsman for Border and Immigration Related Concerns (in this section referred to as the 'Ombudsman').

    The position is redefined to focus on border and immigration related concerns.

  • 6 U.S.C. 272

    The Ombudsman shall report directly to the Deputy Secretary. → The Ombudsman shall report directly to the Secretary.

    The reporting structure for the Ombudsman is elevated to report directly to the Secretary instead of the Deputy Secretary.

  • 6 U.S.C. 272

    The Ombudsman shall have a background in customer service as well as immigration law. → The Ombudsman shall have a background in border security and immigration law.

    The qualifications for the Ombudsman are updated to include a focus on border security.

  • 6 U.S.C. 272

    to assist individuals and employers in resolving problems with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services; → to assist individuals and employers in resolving problems related to border and immigration enforcement;

    The Ombudsman's function is broadened to address issues related to border enforcement.

  • 6 U.S.C. 272

    to identify areas in which individuals and employers have problems in dealing with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services; → to identify areas in which individuals and communities have problems in dealing with border and immigration enforcement;

    The focus for identifying issues is expanded to include community concerns.

  • 6 U.S.C. 272

    to the extent possible, to propose changes in the administrative practices of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services to mitigate problems identified under paragraph (2). → to the extent possible, to propose changes in the administrative practices of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to mitigate problems identified under paragraph (2).

    The agency named in the Ombudsman's functions is changed to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

  • 6 U.S.C. 272

    Not later than June 30 of each calendar year, the Ombudsman shall report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate on the objectives of the Office of the Ombudsman for the fiscal year. → Not later than June 30 of each calendar year, the Ombudsman shall report to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate on the objectives of the Office of the Ombudsman for the fiscal year.

    The reporting committees are changed from the Judiciary to those focused on Homeland Security.

Action History

  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

  2. Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.

  3. Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

  4. Introduced in House

  5. Introduced in House

  6. Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  7. Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  8. Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

immigration
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HR 3020 do?
Border Enforcement Accountability, Oversight, and Community Engagement Act of 2017 This bill establishes: (1) the Department of Homeland Security Border Oversight Commission, and (2) a northern border subcommittee and a southern border subcommittee within the commission. The commission and the subcommittees shall: (1) recommend border enforcement policy improvements; (2) evaluate policies of federal agencies operating along the borders to protect due process and human rights of border residents and visitors, protect land owner private property rights, and reduce the number of migrant deaths; (3) recommend safety improvements for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel; and (4) evaluate training and the extent to which CBP supervisory and management personnel practices encourage workforce development and promote field safety. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended to rename the position of Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the Ombudsman for Border and Immigration Related Concerns. Related function and administrative provisions are revised, including requiring the ombudsman to establish a Border Community Liaison Office in each Border Patrol sector on the northern and southern borders. The bill sets forth specified training and continuing education requirements for CBP personnel. DHS shall submit to Congress an assessment of current guidelines for managing ports of entry under DHS control. The bill requires: (1) the CBP to report to Congress regarding deaths occurring along the U.S.-Mexico border and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review such report; (2) the GAO to examine the extent to which the CBP has clarified use of force policies and DHS to require the CBP to implement any recommendations contained in such examination; and (3) the CBP to report to Congress on body camera use.
Who sponsors HR 3020?
HR 3020 is sponsored by O'Rourke, Beto (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 3020?
This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 3020?
Track HR 3020 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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