Southern Border Security Assistance Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 28, 2010

Southern Border Security Assistance Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) providing financial assistance for law enforcement initiatives with our Mexican partners is important; and (2) Congress must provide, in addition to such assistance, immediate resources and equipment to state and local law enforcement entities that are currently responding to border violence and criminal activities on a daily basis.

Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to award border security assistance grants to law enforcement entities located in the Southern Border Region to address drug trafficking, smuggling, and border violence.

Directs the President to appoint additional district judges for Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] · R–TX

Committees

Judiciary Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]

Legislative record

Actions

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Apr 28, 2010
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Apr 28, 2010
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Apr 28, 2010 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

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

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.3273 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.

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Discuss S.3273, 111th Congress: Southern Border Security Assistance Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/3273

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2010-04-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s3273/BILLS-111s3273is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:09Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.3273 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.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.3273 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3273, 111th Congress: Southern Border Security Assistance Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/3273

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2010-04-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s3273/BILLS-111s3273is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:09Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3273 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.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.3273 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3273, 111th Congress: Southern Border Security Assistance Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/3273

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2010-04-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s3273/BILLS-111s3273is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:09Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3273 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.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.3273 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3273, 111th Congress: Southern Border Security Assistance Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/3273

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2010-04-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/s3273/BILLS-111s3273is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:09Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3273 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.