# What the "Fund and Complete the Border Wall Act" Actually Does

This bill creates a dedicated fund to pay for building and maintaining a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and it sets up several new ways to collect money for that project. The bill establishes a special Treasury account called the "Secure the Southern Border Fund" and then directs money into it from multiple sources to finance border barrier construction, maintenance, and Border Patrol equipment.

The bill funds this project through four main revenue streams. First, it imposes a 5 percent fee on all money transfers sent outside the United States—so if you send $100 to family in another country, you'd pay an extra $5 that goes to the border fund. Second, it increases the fee for the I-94 arrival/departure form from $6 to $25 for foreign visitors entering the U.S., with $9 of that new fee going to the border fund. Third, the bill cuts foreign aid to countries based on how many of their citizens are caught illegally crossing the southern border—for each person apprehended, that country loses $2,000 in U.S. assistance, and those funds get redirected to the border fund. Fourth, it allows the Secretary of State to transfer these reduced foreign aid amounts directly into the border fund.

The bill also makes several changes to border construction rules. It sets a December 31, 2025 deadline for the Department of Homeland Security to complete physical barriers, roads, and technology along the entire southern border. Importantly, it gives the Secretary of Homeland Security broad power to waive environmental laws, property rights protections, and other legal requirements to speed up construction. The bill does require consultation with local communities and property owners before construction, but it explicitly states this consultation won't delay the project. Finally, the bill modifies labor laws for Border Patrol agents, allowing them to work extended hours with overtime pay calculated differently than standard federal rules.

Fund and Complete the Border Wall Act

Biggs, Andy

Fund and Complete the Border Wall ActThis bill establishes funding for a U.S.-Mexico border barrier and revises how border patrol agents are compensated for overtime.The Department of the Treasury shall set up an account for funding the design, construction, and maintenance of the barrier. The funds in the account are appropriated only for that purpose and for vehicles and equipment for border patrol agents.For each fiscal year, financial assistance to a country shall be reduced by $2,000 for each citizen or national of that country apprehended for illegally entering the United States through its southern border. The reduced amount shall be transferred to the border barrier account. The Department of State may opt not to reduce amounts appropriated to Mexico for various military and law enforcement-related activities.This bill establishes a 5% fee on foreign remittance transfers and increases the fee for the arrival/departure I-94 form for various aliens entering the United States, with part of the fees going to the border barrier account.By December 31, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security shall (1) take all actions necessary, including constructing barriers, to prevent illegal crossings along the U.S.-Mexico barrier; and (2) achieve operational control over all U.S. international borders.The bill changes how border patrol agents receive overtime pay when working up to 100 hours in a two-week period. For hours worked above 80, an agent shall receive at least 150% of the agent's regular hourly rate.