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Enhanced Border Security Act of 2001

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Nov 1, 2001

Enhanced Border Security Act of 2001 - Directs the Secretary of State (Secretary), the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (Commissioner), and the Director of Central Intelligence to submit a congressional report, and develop a plan and an interoperable intelligence data system (with the Attorney General), for the identification and provision of law enforcement and intelligence information needed by the Department of State and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to screen visa and admissions applicants.Directs the Attorney General to waive INS personnel limits. Authorizes appropriations for INS, Border Patrol, United States Customs Service, and consular personnel, training, and security-related technology.Provides for machine-readable visa fees.Directs the Secretary and the Commissioner to study the costs and implementation alternatives of a Perimeter National Security Program, which shall include: (1) the feasibility of establishing a North American National Security Cooperative (Canada, Mexico, and the United States); and (2) alien preclearance and preinspection programs.Directs: (1) the Commissioner to expeditiously implement the port of entry integrated entry and exit data system; and (2) the Secretary to provide Foreign Service officers with visa screening training.Requires international commercial air carriers arriving in the United States to: (1) provide specified passenger manifest information; and (2) develop procedures for electronic transmission of such information.Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to include among the data required to be collected on foreign students and exchange visitors information on such alien's dates of entry and enrollment commencement and termination. Sets forth related reporting provisions, including the requirement that an institution of higher education report to the INS concerning an alien student's failure to enroll.Prohibits the admission of an alien from a country designated to be a state sponsor of terrorism until appropriate clearances are conducted on such individual.Requires the INS to periodically review institutions authorized to enroll foreign students and exchange visitors.Amends Federal law to treat INS immigration inspectors as law enforcement officers for Federal retirement program purposes.Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to extend the deadline for presentation of biometric border crossing identification cards.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA] · D–MA

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
11 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

  2. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11372-11373)

  3. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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