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H.R. 2264 112th Congress House

Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011

Official title: To reduce the trafficking of drugs and to prevent human smuggling across the Southwest Border by deterring the construction and use of border tunnels.

Introduced: December 2, 2011 See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement ArizonaBorder security and unlawful immigrationCaliforniaCongressional oversight
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Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal procedure and sentencingFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment information and archivesHuman traffickingLatin AmericaMexicoNew MexicoSmuggling and traffickingTexas
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This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 25, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Jun 28, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Jun 28, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
Jun 21, 2011
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, 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.
Jun 21, 2011
Introduced in House
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 Latest action August 25, 2011

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) subject anyone who attempts or conspires to construct or finance construction of an unauthorized tunnel or subterranean passage that crosses the international border between the United States and another country, to use such a tunnel for smuggling, or to disregard such construction or use, to the penalties prescribed for someone who commits such an offense; (2) make such a border tunnel offense a predicate offense for a money laundering violation and for authorization for interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications; and (3) provide for the criminal forfeiture of proceeds of such an offense and the seizure and forfeiture of merchandise introduced into the United States through such a tunnel.

Encourages the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to annually provide each known nongovernmental owner and tenant of land located in a national security zone with a written notification that describes federal laws related to the construction of illegal border tunnels and the procedures for reporting violations of such laws to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Defines: (1) "national security zone" as any Southwest Border land designated by the Secretary as being at a high risk for border tunnel activity; and (2) "Southwest Border land" as all parcels of real property in the United States that are located within one mile of the U.S.-Mexico international border and that are not owned by a federal, state, tribal, or local government entity.

Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report describing: (1) cross border tunnels discovered in Southwest Border land; and (2) DHS needs to effectively prevent, investigate, and prosecute border tunnel construction on such land.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2264: Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-2264/
MLA
"H.R. 2264: Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-2264/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2264, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-2264/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2264: Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-2264/)
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