Sec. 2. Stakeholder and community engagement

806 words·~4 min read·/bill/116/hr/2203/ih/section-2

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There is established an independent commission, which shall be known as the Department of Homeland Security Border Oversight Commission (in this Act referred to as the Commission ). The Commission shall be led by a Chair and Vice Chair. The Commission shall be composed of 30 members, recommended by Congress, in consultation with the President, who have expertise in migration, local crime indices, civil and human rights, community relations, cross-border trade and commerce, quality of life indicators, or other pertinent experience, of whom— 13 members shall be from the northern border region and shall include— two local government elected officials; two local law enforcement officials; two civil rights advocates; one business representative; one higher education representative; one representative of a faith community; two representatives of the U.S.

Border Patrol; and two tribal officials; and 17 members shall be from the southern border region and shall include— three local government elected officials; three local law enforcement officials; three civil rights advocates; two business representatives; one higher education representative; one representative of a faith community; two representatives of the U.S. Border Patrol; and two tribal officials. The members of the Commission shall elect a Chair and a Vice Chair from among its members by a majority vote of at least 16 members.

The Chair and Vice Chair of the Commission shall serve for terms of four years. Members of the Commission shall serve for terms of four years. Members of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. The Commission shall meet at least semiannually, and may convene additional meetings as necessary. The northern border and southern border subcommittees shall meet at least quarterly, and may convene additional meetings as necessary.

The Commission, and the northern border and southern border subcommittees, shall— develop recommendations for improvements regarding border enforcement policies, strategies, and programs that take into consideration their impact on border communities; evaluate policies, strategies, and programs of Federal agencies operating along the northern and southern borders to— protect— due process; the civil and human rights of border residents and visitors; and private property rights of land owners; reduce the number of migrant deaths; and improve the safety of agents and officers of U.S.

Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; develop recommendations for improvements regarding the safety of agents and officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement when such agents and officers are in the field; and evaluate training, including establishing training courses related to management and leadership skills for supervisors in each U.S. Border Patrol sector, at each port of entry on the northern and southern borders, and at each U.S.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office and the extent to which supervisory and management personnel practices at U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement encourage and facilitate workforce development for agents and officers, promote agent and officer field safety, and post-FLETC training of border enforcement personnel in accordance with section 6. In carrying out the duties specified in paragraph (5), the Commission shall take into consideration any recommendations and evaluations agreed upon by the northern border and southern border subcommittees.

The northern border and southern border subcommittees shall annually submit to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Commission a publicly available report containing the recommendations and evaluations of the subcommittees pursuant to paragraph (5). Members of the Commission and the northern border and southern border subcommittees may not receive pay, allowances, or benefits from the Government by reason of their service on the Commission or the subcommittees. The Commission or, on the authority of the Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act hold such hearings, and sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths as the Commission or such designated subcommittee or designated member determines necessary to carry out its duties under subsection (a)(5).

Nothing in this Act may be construed as affecting in any manner the investigative and disciplinary procedures of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or the Department of Homeland Security with respect to agents and officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Commission shall annually submit to the Secretary of Homeland Security a publicly available report containing information on the activities, findings, and recommendations of the Commission, including the northern border and southern border subcommittees, for the preceding year.

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall brief the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate on each report required under paragraph (1).