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Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011

Introduced: June 20, 2011 See on congress.gov
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 11 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 31, 2012
Held at the desk.
Jan 31, 2012
Received in the House.
Jan 31, 2012
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jan 30, 2012
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S172-173; text: CR S172-173)
Jan 30, 2012
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S172-173; text: CR S172-173)
Dec 15, 2011
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 260.
Dec 15, 2011
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy without amendment. Without written report.
Dec 15, 2011
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Jun 20, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3932-3933)
Jun 20, 2011
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3931-3932)
Jun 20, 2011
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here

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 United States 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.

What's happening now January 31, 2012

Held at the desk.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 3 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1236: Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1236/
MLA
"S. 1236: Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1236/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1236, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1236/.
Markdown link
[S. 1236: Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1236/)
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