H.R. 4828

Border Security for America Act of 2021

This bill addresses border security and related issues.

For example, the bill

• requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resume all activities to construct a border barrier system along the U.S.-Mexico border that were underway or planned prior to January 20, 2021;
  
• requires DHS to deploy, in addition to physical barriers, tactical infrastructure and technology to achieve situational awareness and operational control of the southwest border;
  
• authorizes U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to carry out a program to acquire innovative commercial items through a competitive selection of proposals;
  
• imposes certain requirements for DHS border security technology acquisition programs that have a total expenditure of at least $300 million;
  
• requires CBP to implement certain technologies, including a program to establish a biometric exit data system at ports of entry;
  
• requires CBP to increase or maintain certain staffing levels for agents, officers, processing coordinators, and other positions;
  
• requires CBP to implement a workload staffing model for the U.S. Border Patrol and for CBP's Air and Marine Operations; and
  
• provides statutory authority through FY2026 for Operation Stonegarden, a Federal Emergency Management Agency program that provides grants to states and territories involved in certain active CBP border security operations.