This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to strengthen reporting on efforts to detect and counter illegal cross-border tunnels, mandating that a strategic plan on tunnel operations, previously required as a one-time report, now be updated annually. It also directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit detailed annual reports for three years explaining how the government defines and identifies "special interest alien encounters," meaning border crossings by individuals who may pose national security concerns, including the criteria used, how these cases differ from encounters with known terrorists, and statistics on how many people were screened, detained, monitored, released, or removed. Additionally, DHS must create and implement a public-facing plan, within 60 days of the law's enactment plus another 60 days for rollout, to post information online about these special interest alien encounters and their outcomes. The bill primarily affects DHS operations and oversight by Congress, aiming to increase transparency around border security screening processes without creating new enforcement authority. There is no significant new funding attached; the focus is on reporting, transparency, and interagency coordination rather than program funding.
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