Proposed Legislation Would Require Attorney General to Report Impact of Border Crisis on Law Enforcement

A new bill introduced by Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y., could require Attorney General Merrick Garland to provide a detailed report on how the surge of illegal migrants at the southern border is impacting law enforcement across the nation.

The legislation, known as the Police Our Border Act, would mandate that the AG submits a report to Congress outlining the consequences of the border crisis on law enforcement at national, state, and local levels.

The bill is set to be reviewed by the House Judiciary Committee and is expected to be brought to the floor during National Police Week next month.

D’Esposito, a retired detective from the New York Police Department, expressed concerns about the overwhelming impact of the border crisis on law enforcement agencies due to the open border policies of the Biden administration.

If passed, the bill would require Garland’s report to include specific data such as the estimated cost of resources used to address the border influx, the exposure of law enforcement officers to fentanyl, injuries sustained, and morale levels among officers.

D’Esposito emphasized that the aim of the Police Our Border Act is to quantify the negative effects of the border crisis on law enforcement professionals and hold the administration accountable for the chaos it has caused.

Garland would have 180 days after approval to submit the report to Congress, according to the Washington Examiner.

The introduction of this legislation comes amid growing concern among lawmakers about the increase in illegal migration, a contentious issue on Capitol Hill and among voters.

It should be noted that border-crisis legislation has faced obstacles in both the House and Senate, with recent rejection of a border bill in the House proposed by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.