H.R. 275: Special Interest Alien Reporting Act of 2024

This bill, known as the Special Interest Alien Reporting Act of 2024, aims to require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide regular updates regarding special interest aliens attempting to unlawfully enter the United States. More specifically, the main aspects of the bill include:

Monthly Reporting Requirement

The Secretary of Homeland Security is mandated to publish a report on a monthly basis. This report must be made available to the public on a DHS webpage and submitted to specific congressional committees. The report will include:

• The total number of special interest aliens encountered in the previous month.
• A breakdown of these encounters by nationalities or countries of last habitual residence.
• Information disaggregated by geographic regions where these encounters occurred.
• Details on whether the encounters took place at land, air, or sea ports of entry, between ports of entry, or within the interior of the U.S.
• Identification of any nationalities or countries of last habitual residence that are considered "covered nations."

Definitions

The bill provides specific definitions for key terms:

• Alien: Refers to individuals as defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act.
• Covered nation: Refers to nations as specified in a particular section of U.S. Code.
• Special interest alien: Defined as an individual who may pose a national security risk based on their travel patterns.

Purpose

The overarching goal of this legislation is to enhance the tracking and transparency regarding individuals who may pose risks to national security based on their attempts to enter the country unlawfully. The monthly reporting is intended to provide Congress and the public with data that could inform discussions and policies related to border security and immigration.

Implementation Timeline

The Secretary of Homeland Security is expected to begin publishing these reports not later than the seventh day of each month following the encounters.

Oversight

The bill also stipulates that copies of the reports be sent to designated committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to ensure legislative oversight.

Conclusion

While the bill outlines specific reporting requirements and definitions, its passage would primarily focus on accountability and data transparency regarding the activities of special interest aliens at the borders.

Relevant Companies

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