‘One Step Ahead’: House Republicans Want To Make America’s Borders Even Harder To Illegally Cross

House Republicans are pushing for one of the biggest investments in border security in U.S. history, bolstering the enforcement apparatus achieved by the Trump administration.

GOP members of the House Homeland Security Committee are aiming to devote $46 billion in spending on new border wall systems, a package that would not only support wall construction, but also cameras, sensors, lights, access roads and other technology that would upgrade the country’s border enforcement capabilities. Over $5 billion of that would go towards shoring up technological capabilities at and between America’s ports of entry. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Cash Flowing Into Anti-ICE Group’s Coffers Came From Chinese Gov’t-Linked Sources)

“As cartel tactics evolve, Congress must provide [Customs and Border Protection] CBP personnel with the cutting-edge technology they need to carry out President Trump’s proven border security agenda while safely staying one step ahead of threats,” Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green said to the Daily Caller News Foundation.

“From drones and ground sensors to surveillance towers, technology is a force multiplier for our boots on the ground, allowing CBP to respond faster, smarter, and more strategically,” Green continued. “House Republicans’ ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill Act’ invests over $5 billion in modernizing and enhancing technology at and between ports of entry, which will allow CBP to efficiently detect human smuggling operations, decrease the number of gotaways, and interdict dangerous drugs before they enter our country.”

EL PASO, TEXAS – MARCH 25: In an aerial view, migrants seeking asylum are grouped alongside border fencing while waiting to be processed after illegally crossing the Rio Grande river into the U.S. on March 25, 2024 in El Paso, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Immediately upon entering office, President Donald Trump got to work on unwinding lax policies implemented under the Biden administration, issuing a slate of executive orders and other administrative actions to limit unlawful crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border.

More than 140 executive orders were signed by Trump within his first 100 days in office, according to the White House. Many of these executive actions have pertained to border enforcement, such as renewed wall construction, an emergency declaration at the border, the designation of cartels as terrorist organizations and other actions.

The president also successfully pushed the Mexican and Canadian governments to deploy more of their own resources into border security, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreeing to dispatch 10,000 National Guard soldiers to the southern border to help mitigate the flow of drugs and illegal immigration.

The result has been an incredible drop in border crossings since the Biden era.

Daily border encounters have fallen 93% and migrant crossings are down by 99.99%, according to a fact sheet released by the White House celebrating its accomplishments in its first 100 days in office. Additionally, encounters with “gotaways,” illegal migrants who successfully avoid Border Patrol apprehension and are deemed to be a top public safety threat, are down by 95%.

Fentanyl seizures at the border have dropped dramatically, according to CBP data, a consequence of Trump’s efforts to bring an end to the fentanyl crisis plaguing American citizens. Federal agents seized 758 pounds of fentanyl in April, a drop from the 1,400 pounds seized in April 2024 and a steep decline from the 3,200 pounds seized in April 2023.

House Homeland Republicans want to expand on these gains by investing billions into border technology, which would particularly help stop the flow of illicit drugs into the country.

“Cartels are working harder and smarter than ever to evade detection and smuggle poisonous drugs into our nation,” Committee Vice Chairman Michael McCaul, a Republican from Texas, said to the DCNF. “On my visits to the border, I’ve personally seen their drones flying above my head, conducting counter-surveillance on U.S. border patrol officers.”

“Our committee is meeting the moment by providing not just the manpower, but the top-notch technology needed to win this fight in our modern world,” McCaul continued. “From integrated surveillance towers to unmanned aircraft systems, these technologies will improve the accuracy and efficiency of CBP operations — supporting law enforcement, saving taxpayer dollars, and keeping Americans safe.”

FORT HUACHUCA, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 04: An MQ-9 Reaper drone with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) awaits the next mission over the U.S.-Mexico border on November 04, 2022 at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Specifically, Homeland Republicans are pushing the House reconciliation package to include more than $1 billion in spending for Non-Intrusive Inspection technology for CBP agents at ports of entry, allowing them to better detect and interdict illicit drugs, contraband and migrants being smuggled into the U.S. Another $2.7 billion is recommended for border surveillance technology, including unmanned aircraft systems, ground detection sensors, tunnel detection capability and other needed devices.

The committee is also pushing for $1.2 billion in spending for Air and Marine Operations, which it argues will enhance surveillance capabilities with “cutting edge” tech. Another $673 million would be directed to CBP’s biometric entry and exit system, enhancing the agency’s ability to detect identity fraud, identify visa overstayers and other foreign nationals who pose national security concerns.

While major strides have been made at reducing illegal immigration and stopping fentanyl from entering the country, border hawks are hoping to capitalize on these gains with beefed up enforcement spending. Trump, for his part, is pushing GOP lawmakers to get in line and pass the “one big, beautiful bill,” bringing it much closer to implementation.

The president met with GOP lawmakers Monday morning in order to squash any remaining hesitation over the legislation. Speaker Mike Johnson is aiming to steer the sweeping tax and spending package through a House-wide floor vote by Thursday to meet his Memorial Day deadline.

“The safety of our communities and CBP personnel depends on Congress getting this bill across the finish line,” Green said to the DCNF.

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