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HR 4119 112th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Border security and unlawful immigration Congressional oversight Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Criminal procedure and sentencing Drug trafficking and controlled substances Firearms and explosives Fraud offenses and financial crimes Homeland security Human trafficking Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information Latin America Mexico Organized crime Smuggling and trafficking

Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012

Introduced: March 1, 2012 See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 23 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 5, 2012
Became Public Law No: 112-127.
Jun 5, 2012
Signed by President.
May 29, 2012
Presented to President.
May 17, 2012
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
May 17, 2012
Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3292)
May 17, 2012
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S3292)
May 16, 2012
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 16, 2012
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 - 4 (Roll no. 256). (text: CR 5/15/2012 H2669-2670)
May 16, 2012
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2744-2745)
May 15, 2012
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
May 15, 2012
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4119.
May 15, 2012
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2669-2673)
May 15, 2012
Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Mar 21, 2012
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 288.
Mar 21, 2012
Committee on Homeland Security discharged.
Mar 21, 2012
Committee on Ways and Means discharged.
Mar 21, 2012
Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 112-418, Part I.
Mar 6, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
Mar 6, 2012
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Mar 6, 2012
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Mar 5, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Mar 1, 2012
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Homeland Security, 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.
Mar 1, 2012
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
May 16, 2012 House · vote #256 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended Passed 416–4 See who voted →
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on May 16, 2012. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012 - 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, or to use such a tunnel for smuggling, 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.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should continue outreach efforts to educate landowners and tenants in areas along the border between Mexico and the United States about cross-border tunnels and seek their assistance in combating tunnel construction.

Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit an annual report describing: (1) cross-border tunnels along the U.S.-Mexico border discovered during the preceding fiscal year; and (2) the needs of DHS to effectively prevent, investigate, and prosecute construction of such tunnels.

What's happening now June 5, 2012

Became Public Law No: 112-127.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 2264 Related bill Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011
  • S 1236 Related bill Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011
 Bill text 6 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 1
DREIER, DAVID
· Mar 1, 2012
 D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Mar 1, 2012
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4119: Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-4119/
MLA
"H.R. 4119: Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-4119/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4119, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-4119/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4119: Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-4119/)
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