The Department of Homeland Security wants to study establishing a crossing fee along the Southwest and Northern borders.
In the DHS 2014 budget proposal, the agency asks Congress to allow a study assessing the feasibility and cost associated with establishing fees for crossers at the international borders.
The study would also look at collecting from existing operators like toll operators and commercial buses as well.
The study would be conducted within nine months of the budget’s passage.
Here’s the entire text in the congressional Budget Justification FY 2014:
Sec. 544. (a) The Commissioner of the United States Customs and Border Protection shall: (1) conduct a study assessing the feasibility and cost relating to establishing and collecting a land border crossing fee for both land border pedestrians and passenger vehicles along the northern and southwest borders of the United States; the study should include: (A) the feasibility of collecting from existing operators on theland border such as bridge commissions, toll operators, commercial passenger bus, and commercial passenger rail; (B) requirements to collect at land ports of entry where existing capability is not present; 17and (C) any legal and regulatory impediments to establishing and collecting a land border crossing fee; and (2) complete the study within 9 months of enactment of this Act.
Explanation: The Department requests insertion of this provision to enable the Department to examine the feasibility and costs of establishing a land border fee.
