Border Tunnel Prevention Act

Border Tunnel Prevention Act - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit the construction or financing of an unauthorized tunnel or subterranean passage that crosses the international border between the United States and another country. Imposes a 20-year prison term for such offense.

Imposes a 10-year prison term on any person who recklessly permits the construction or use of such a tunnel or passage on land that such person owns or controls.

Doubles penalties for persons who use such a tunnel or passage to unlawfully smuggle an alien, illegal goods, controlled substances, weapons of mass destruction, or members of a terrorist organization.

Subjects to forfeiture any property involved in, or traceable to, the construction or financing of such a tunnel or passage.

Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate or amend sentencing guidelines to provide for increased penalties for persons convicted of criminal offenses related to the construction or financing of such a tunnel or passage.

[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2355 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2355

 To amend chapter 27 of title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the 
unauthorized construction, financing, or reckless permitting (on one's 
 land) the construction or use of a tunnel or subterranean passageway 
             between the United States and another country.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 2, 2006

  Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Kyl, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Frist, Mrs. 
  Boxer, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. McCain, Mr. Domenici, and Mr. Bingaman) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend chapter 27 of title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the 
unauthorized construction, financing, or reckless permitting (on one's 
 land) the construction or use of a tunnel or subterranean passageway 
             between the United States and another country.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Border Tunnel Prevention Act''.

SEC. 2. CONSTRUCTION OF BORDER TUNNEL OR PASSAGE.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 27 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 554. Border tunnels and passages
    ``(a) Any person who knowingly constructs or finances the 
construction of a tunnel or subterranean passage that crosses the 
international border between the United States and another country, 
other than a lawfully authorized tunnel or passage known to the 
Secretary of Homeland Security and subject to inspection by the Bureau 
of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, shall be imprisoned for not 
more than 20 years.
    ``(b) Any person who recklessly permits the construction or use of 
a tunnel or passage described in subsection (a) on land that the person 
owns or controls shall be imprisoned for not more than 10 years.
    ``(c) Any person who uses a tunnel or passage described in 
subsection (a) to unlawfully smuggle an alien, goods (in violation of 
section 545), controlled substances, weapons of mass destruction 
(including biological weapons), or a member of a terrorist organization 
(as defined in section 212(a)(3)(B)(vi) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B)(vi))) shall be subject to twice 
the penalty that would have otherwise been imposed had the unlawful 
activity not made use of such a tunnel or passage.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 27 of 
title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``Sec. 554. Border tunnels and passages.''.
    (c) Criminal Forfeiture.--Section 982(a)(6) of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting ``554,'' before ``1425,''.

SEC. 3. DIRECTIVE TO THE UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--Pursuant to its authority under section 994 of 
title 28, United States Code, and in accordance with this section, the 
United States Sentencing Commission shall promulgate or amend 
sentencing guidelines to provide for increased penalties for persons 
convicted of offenses described in section 554 of title 18, United 
States Code, as added by section 1.
    (b) Requirements.--In carrying out this section, the United States 
Sentencing Commission shall--
            (1) ensure that the sentencing guidelines, policy 
        statements, and official commentary reflect the serious nature 
        of the offenses described in section 554 of title 18, United 
        States Code, and the need for aggressive and appropriate law 
        enforcement action to prevent such offenses;
            (2) provide adequate base offense levels for offenses under 
        such section;
            (3) account for any aggravating or mitigating circumstances 
        that might justify exceptions, including--
                    (A) the use of a tunnel or passage described in 
                subsection (a) of such section to facilitate other 
                felonies; and
                    (B) the circumstances for which the sentencing 
                guidelines currently provide applicable sentencing 
                enhancements;
            (4) ensure reasonable consistency with other relevant 
        directives, other sentencing guidelines, and statutes;
            (5) make any necessary and conforming changes to the 
        sentencing guidelines and policy statements; and
            (6) ensure that the sentencing guidelines adequately meet 
        the purposes of sentencing set forth in section 3553(a)(2) of 
        title 18, United States Code.
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