Representative Colin Allred (D-TX) recently introduced the Border Workforce Improvement Act, a bill that seeks to address the staffing needs at the southern border, calling on the leaders of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) to assess its status.
The bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Marc Veasey (D-TX), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), and Greg Stanton (D-AZ).
In a statement regarding the legislation’s arrival, Rep. Allred admitted that there is a crisis at the southern border. He believes more agents will help solve the issue.
“To address the crisis at our border, our border protection, customs and immigration agencies need support and staff,” said Rep. Allred. “That all starts with the best possible information on staffing and personnel needs. That’s why I am proud to lead this legislation to ensure our staffing needs at the southern border are properly met, and I will continue working towards common-sense, bipartisan solutions to secure our border and deliver results for Texas.”
According to Allred’s press release, the Border Workforce Improvement Act would:
- Require assessment of existing staffing models and methodologies for deploying personnel of CBP, ICE, and USCIS at the southern border and across the country, and the effect of continuously relying on details and overtime to temporarily fill staffing gaps.
- Identify factors within and outside of the control of the Department of Homeland Security that are affecting workloads and exacerbating staffing challenges to identify solutions CBP, ICE, and USCIS can accomplish, as well as solutions that require congressional action.
- Identify critical capability gaps in human resources, new technology integration, and streamlined risk management systems across CBP, ICE, and USCIS.
- Require DHS to report its findings with a detailed description of how all four agencies plan to implement their recommendations to address staffing issues.
In the past, the Texas congressman has supported border security legislation such as the bipartisan Dignity Act, led by Representative Veronica Escobar (D-TX) and Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL).
The nearly 500-page Dignity Act covers border security, asylum claims, illegal immigration, agricultural competitiveness, and the US domestic workforce, and would also grant amnesty to illegal immigrants through the “Redemption Program.”
Colin Allred represents Texas’ 32nd District. He is currently challenging Ted Cruz (R-TX) for his seat in the U.S. Senate.
