PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 49 · Public Law · Oct 26, 2006
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on September 14, 2006. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
Secure Fence Act of 2006 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, within 18 months of enactment of this Act, to take appropriate actions to achieve operational control over U.S. international land and maritime borders, including: (1) systematic border surveillance through more effective use of personnel and technology, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, ground-based sensors, satellites, radar coverage, and cameras; and (2) physical infrastructure enhancements to prevent unlawful border entry and facilitate border access by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, such as additional checkpoints, all weather access roads, and vehicle barriers.
Defines "operational control" as the prevention of all unlawful U.S. entries, including entries by terrorists, other unlawful aliens, instruments of terrorism, narcotics, and other contraband.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Directs the Secretary to report annually to Congress on border control progress.
Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to direct the Secretary to provide at least two layers of reinforced fencing, installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors extending: (1) from ten miles west of the Tecate, California, port of entry to ten miles east of the Tecate, California, port of entry; (2) from ten miles west of the Calexico, California, port of entry to five miles east of the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry (requiring installation of an interlocking surveillance camera system by May 30, 2007, and fence completion by May 30, 2008); (3) from five miles west of the Columbus, New Mexico, port of entry to ten miles east of El Paso, Texas; (4) from five miles northwest of the Del Rio, Texas, port of entry to five miles southeast of the Eagle Pass, Texas, port of entry; and (5) 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry to the Brownsville, Texas, port of entry (requiring fence completion from 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry to 15 southeast of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry by December 31, 2008).
States that if an area has an elevation grade exceeding 10% the Secretary may use other means to secure such area, including surveillance and barrier tools.
Directs the Secretary to: (1) study and report to the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on the necessity, feasibility, and economic impact of constructing a state-of-the-art infrastructure security system along the U.S. northern international land and maritime border; and (2) evaluate and report to such Committees on U.S. Customs and Border Protection authority (and possible expansion of authority) to stop fleeing vehicles that enter the United States illegally, including related training, technology, and equipment reviews.
People & committees
Rep. King, Peter T. [R-NY-3] · R–NY
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Became Public Law No: 109-367.
Became Public Law No: 109-367.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 80 - 19. Record Vote Number: 262.
Senate roll call 262 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 80 - 19. Record Vote Number: 262.
Senate roll call 262 · Individual votesMotion by Senator Frist to commit to Senate Committee on the Judiciary withdrawn in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S10608-10616)
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S10432-10433)
Cloture invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 71 - 28. Record Vote Number: 260. (consideration: CR S10431-10432; text: CR S10431)
Senate roll call 260 · Individual votesConsidered by Senate. (consideration: CR S10136-10152)
Motion by Senator Frist to commit to Senate Committee on the Judiciary to report back forthwith the following amendment (SA 5038) made in Senate. (consideration: CR S10098)
Cloture motion on the bill presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S10097-10098; text: CR S10098)
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S10097-10098)
Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S9886)
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S9863-9886)
Cloture on the motion to proceed invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 0. Record Vote Number: 252. (consideration: CR S9745-9746; text: CR S9745)
Senate roll call 252 · Individual votesMotion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S9739-9746)
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S9685-9686; text: CR S9685)
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 615.
Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 283 - 138, 1 Present (Roll no. 446).
House roll call 446 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 283 - 138, 1 Present (Roll no. 446).
House roll call 446 · Individual votesOn motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 193 - 224 (Roll no. 445).
House roll call 445 · Individual votesThe previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H6595)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Thompson (MS) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment which inserts a complete new text.
Mr. Thompson (MS) moved to recommit with instructions to Homeland Security. (consideration: CR H6593-6595; text: CR H6593-6594)
GENERAL DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 6061.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6061 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. The amendment printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution shall be considered as adopted.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1002. (consideration: CR H6581-6596; text: CR H6581-6582)
Rule H. Res. 1002 passed House.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1002 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6061 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. The amendment printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution shall be considered as adopted.
Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Mar 9, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze H.R.6061 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.6061 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.6061 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.6061 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.