Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012
Public Law 112-127 · H.R. 4119 · 112th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Barack Obama (D) on Jun 5, 2012 · Crime and Law Enforcement
Sponsor: Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-TX-16)
Cosponsors (3): Rep. Ben Quayle, Rep. David Dreier,
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 416 yea, 4 nay416–4
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) subject anyone who attempts or conspires to construct or finance construction of an unauthorized tunnel or subterranean passage that crosses the international border between the United States and another country, or to use such a tunnel for smuggling, to the penalties prescribed for someone who commits such an offense; (2) make such a border tunnel offense a predicate offense for a money laundering violation and for authorization for interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications; and (3) provide for the criminal forfeiture of proceeds of such an offense and the seizure and forfeiture of merchandise introduced into the United States through such a tunnel.
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should continue outreach efforts to educate landowners and tenants in areas along the border between Mexico and the United States about cross-border tunnels and seek their assistance in combating tunnel construction.
Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit an annual report describing: (1) cross-border tunnels along the U.S.-Mexico border discovered during the preceding fiscal year; and (2) the needs of DHS to effectively prevent, investigate, and prosecute construction of such tunnels.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 112th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 416 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
416 yea4 nay11 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(183)
Rep. Dennis KucinichD-OH-10
Rep. Barbara LeeD-CA-9
Rep. Jan SchakowskyD-IL-9
Rep. Raúl GrijalvaD-AZ-7
Rep. Yvette ClarkeD-NY-11
Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7
Rep. Marcia FudgeD-OH-11
Rep. John OlverD-MA-1
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-13
Rep. Jesse JacksonD-IL-2
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-14
Rep. Gwen MooreD-WI-4
Rep. Michael CapuanoD-MA-8
Rep. Donna EdwardsD-MD-4
Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
Rep. Bobby RushD-IL-1
Rep. Maurice HincheyD-NY-22
Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
Rep. Nydia VelázquezD-NY-12
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Robert BradyD-PA-1
Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-10
Rep. Grace NapolitanoD-CA-38
Rep. Mike HondaD-CA-15
Rep. Karen BassD-CA-33
Rep. Keith EllisonD-MN-5
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
Rep. Wm. ClayD-MO-1
Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
Rep. Alcee HastingsD-FL-23
Rep. Jim McGovernD-MA-3
Rep. Judy ChuD-CA-32
Rep. Maxine WatersD-CA-35
Rep. Danny DavisD-IL-7
Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8
Rep. Elijah CummingsD-MD-7
Rep. Xavier BecerraD-CA-31
Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18
Rep. Hank JohnsonD-GA-4
Rep. Linda SánchezD-CA-39
Rep. Rush HoltD-NJ-12
Rep. Mazie HironoD-HI-2
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
Rep. John SarbanesD-MD-3
Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-4
Rep. Tammy BaldwinD-WI-2
Rep. Frederica WilsonD-FL-17
Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
Rep. Cedric RichmondD-LA-2
Rep. Hansen ClarkeD-MI-13
Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-5
Rep. Michael DoyleD-PA-14
Rep. Emanuel CleaverD-MO-5
Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. John TierneyD-MA-6
Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-34
Rep. Luis GutiérrezD-IL-4
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3
Rep. Brad MillerD-NC-13
Rep. Ted DeutchD-FL-19
Rep. Nancy PelosiD-CA-8
Rep. Richard NealD-MA-2
Rep. Tim RyanD-OH-17
Rep. Gregory MeeksD-NY-6
Rep. Chellie PingreeD-ME-1
Rep. John DingellD-MI-15
Rep. David PriceD-NC-4
Rep. Janice HahnD-CA-36
Rep. Bill PascrellD-NJ-8
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5
Rep. Betty SuttonD-OH-13
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-30
Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17
Rep. Betty McCollumD-MN-4
Rep. John LarsonD-CT-1
Rep. Doris MatsuiD-CA-5
Rep. Debbie Wasserman SchultzD-FL-20
Rep. Paul TonkoD-NY-21
Rep. Albio SiresD-NJ-13
Rep. Al GreenD-TX-9
Rep. Joe CrowleyD-NY-7
Rep. André CarsonD-IN-7
Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Chaka FattahD-PA-2
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
Rep. Diana DeGetteD-CO-1
Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
Rep. Steve CohenD-TN-9
Rep. David CicillineD-RI-1
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1
Rep. Mike ThompsonD-CA-1
Rep. Steve IsraelD-NY-2
Rep. Steven RothmanD-NJ-9
Rep. Kathy CastorD-FL-11
Rep. Lois CappsD-CA-23
Rep. Chris Van HollenD-MD-8
Rep. Earl BlumenauerD-OR-3
Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14
Rep. G.K. ButterfieldD-NC-1
Rep. Suzanne BonamiciD-OR-1
Rep. Colleen HanabusaD-HI-1
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
Rep. Russ CarnahanD-MO-3
Rep. Jim LangevinD-RI-2
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
Rep. Joe BacaD-CA-43
Rep. Joe CourtneyD-CT-2
Rep. Loretta SanchezD-CA-47
Rep. Peter WelchD-VT
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-28
Rep. Rubén HinojosaD-TX-15
Rep. Terri SewellD-AL-7
Rep. Silvestre ReyesD-TX-16
Rep. Lloyd DoggettD-TX-25
Rep. Charlie GonzalezD-TX-20
Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
Rep. Niki TsongasD-MA-5
Rep. David ScottD-GA-13
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. Zoe LofgrenD-CA-16
Rep. John GaramendiD-CA-10
Rep. Susan DavisD-CA-53
Rep. Brad ShermanD-CA-27
Rep. William KeatingD-MA-10
Rep. Adam SchiffD-CA-29
Rep. Allyson SchwartzD-PA-13
Rep. Ben LujánD-NM-3
Rep. Jackie SpeierD-CA-12
Rep. Stephen LynchD-MA-9
Rep. Timothy BishopD-NY-1
Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14
Rep. Mark CritzD-PA-12
Rep. Brian HigginsD-NY-27
Rep. Jerry McNerneyD-CA-11
Rep. Bruce BraleyD-IA-1
Rep. Carolyn McCarthyD-NY-4
Rep. Rick LarsenD-WA-2
Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-17
Rep. A. Dutch RuppersbergerD-MD-2
Rep. Mike QuigleyD-IL-5
Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12
Rep. Laura RichardsonD-CA-37
Rep. Timothy WalzD-MN-1
Rep. Shelley BerkleyD-NV-1
Rep. Adam SmithD-WA-9
Rep. Martin HeinrichD-NM-1
Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
Rep. Gerald ConnollyD-VA-11
Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4
Rep. David LoebsackD-IA-2
Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29
Rep. Christopher MurphyD-CT-5
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3
Rep. Gary PetersD-MI-9
Rep. Jared PolisD-CO-2
Rep. Jim HimesD-CT-4
Rep. Leonard BoswellD-IA-3
Rep. Ron KindD-WI-3
Rep. Michael MichaudD-ME-2
Rep. Daniel LipinskiD-IL-3
Rep. Dennis CardozaD-CA-18
Rep. Henry CuellarD-TX-28
Rep. John CarneyD-DE
Rep. Kathleen HochulD-NY-26
Rep. Ben ChandlerD-KY-6
Rep. John BarrowD-GA-12
Rep. Joe DonnellyD-IN-2
Rep. Kurt SchraderD-OR-5
Rep. Jim CostaD-CA-20
Rep. William OwensD-NY-23
Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-5
Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7
Rep. Larry KissellD-NC-8
Rep. Mike McIntyreD-NC-7
Rep. Mike RossD-AR-4
Rep. Heath ShulerD-NC-11
Rep. Jim MathesonD-UT-2
Republicans who voted yea(233)
Rep. Walter JonesR-NC-3
Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-14
Rep. Patrick MeehanR-PA-7
Rep. Bob DoldR-IL-10
Rep. Todd PlattsR-PA-19
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18
Rep. David ReichertR-WA-8
Rep. Mario Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
Rep. Frank LoBiondoR-NJ-2
Rep. Pete KingR-NY-3
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
Rep. Jon RunyanR-NJ-3
Rep. Charles DentR-PA-15
Rep. Christopher GibsonR-NY-20
Rep. Michael GrimmR-NY-13
Rep. Judy BiggertR-IL-13
Rep. Richard HannaR-NY-24
Rep. Rodney FrelinghuysenR-NJ-11
Rep. Lou BarlettaR-PA-11
Rep. Tom LathamR-IA-4
Rep. Shelley CapitoR-WV-2
Rep. Michael FitzpatrickR-PA-8
Rep. David McKinleyR-WV-1
Rep. David RiveraR-FL-25
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
Rep. Charlie BassR-NH-2
Rep. Mike SimpsonR-ID-2
Rep. Steve StiversR-OH-15
Rep. Aaron SchockR-IL-18
Rep. Robert TurnerR-NY-9
Rep. Nan HayworthR-NY-19
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5
Rep. Tom ColeR-OK-4
Rep. Rodney AlexanderR-LA-5
Rep. Mike RogersR-AL-3
Rep. Jeff FortenberryR-NE-1
Rep. Adam KinzingerR-IL-11
Rep. Frank LucasR-OK-3
Rep. Glenn ThompsonR-PA-5
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-41
Rep. Jo Ann EmersonR-MO-8
Rep. Mike KellyR-PA-3
Rep. Ander CrenshawR-FL-4
Rep. John ShimkusR-IL-19
Rep. Joseph HeckR-NV-3
Rep. Steve WomackR-AR-3
Rep. Denny RehbergR-MT
Rep. Jo BonnerR-AL-1
Rep. Ed WhitfieldR-KY-1
Rep. Ken CalvertR-CA-44
Rep. Bill ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-10
Rep. Pat TiberiR-OH-12
Rep. Brian BilbrayR-CA-50
Rep. Rick CrawfordR-AR-1
Rep. Steve AustriaR-OH-7
Rep. Robert AderholtR-AL-4
Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25
Rep. Rick BergR-ND
Rep. Geoff DavisR-KY-4
Rep. Leonard LanceR-NJ-7
Rep. Don YoungR-AK
Rep. Spencer BachusR-AL-6
Rep. Kay GrangerR-TX-12
Rep. David DreierR-CA-26
Rep. Tom ReedR-NY-29
Rep. Gregg HarperR-MS-3
Rep. Daniel LungrenR-CA-3
Rep. Robert WittmanR-VA-1
Rep. Tim MurphyR-PA-18
Rep. Martha RobyR-AL-2
Rep. Thad McCotterR-MI-11
Rep. Doc HastingsR-WA-4
Rep. Kristi NoemR-SD
Rep. Chip CravaackR-MN-8
Rep. Greg WaldenR-OR-2
Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-24
Rep. Bobby SchillingR-IL-17
Rep. Tom MarinoR-PA-10
Rep. Randy ForbesR-VA-4
Rep. John CarterR-TX-31
Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4
Rep. Brett GuthrieR-KY-2
Rep. Jaime Herrera BeutlerR-WA-3
Rep. James RenacciR-OH-16
Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21
Rep. Timothy JohnsonR-IL-15
Rep. Larry BucshonR-IN-8
Rep. Gus BilirakisR-FL-9
Rep. Peter RoskamR-IL-6
Rep. Lee TerryR-NE-2
Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6
Rep. Jeff DenhamR-CA-19
Rep. Vern BuchananR-FL-13
Rep. Mary Bono MackR-CA-45
Rep. Scott TiptonR-CO-3
Rep. Erik PaulsenR-MN-3
Rep. Roscoe BartlettR-MD-6
Rep. Tim GriffinR-AR-2
Rep. Mike RogersR-MI-8
Rep. Bob GibbsR-OH-18
Rep. Frank GuintaR-NH-1
Rep. Candice MillerR-MI-10
Rep. Michael McCaulR-TX-10
Rep. Scott RigellR-VA-2
Rep. Mark AmodeiR-NV-2
Rep. Allen WestR-FL-22
Rep. Renee EllmersR-NC-2
Rep. Cathy McMorris RodgersR-WA-5
Rep. Steven PalazzoR-MS-4
Rep. Blaine LuetkemeyerR-MO-9
Rep. Bill JohnsonR-OH-6
Rep. Devin NunesR-CA-21
Rep. Daniel WebsterR-FL-8
Rep. Jean SchmidtR-OH-2
Rep. Charles BoustanyR-LA-7
Rep. John SullivanR-OK-1
Rep. Kevin McCarthyR-CA-22
Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6
Rep. Phil RoeR-TN-1
Rep. Ralph HallR-TX-4
Rep. Eric CantorR-VA-7
Rep. Randy HultgrenR-IL-14
Rep. Alan NunneleeR-MS-1
Rep. Mike CoffmanR-CO-6
Rep. Chuck FleischmannR-TN-3
Rep. Sean DuffyR-WI-7
Rep. Sam GravesR-MO-6
Rep. Adrian SmithR-NE-3
Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6
Rep. Joseph PittsR-PA-16
Rep. Gary MillerR-CA-42
Rep. Steve PearceR-NM-2
Rep. John MicaR-FL-7
Rep. Pete OlsonR-TX-22
Rep. Paul GosarR-AZ-1
Rep. Scott DesJarlaisR-TN-4
Rep. Cory GardnerR-CO-4
Rep. Robert LattaR-OH-5
Rep. Vicky HartzlerR-MO-4
Rep. John KlineR-MN-2
Rep. Steve KingR-IA-5
Rep. Morgan GriffithR-VA-9
Rep. Richard NugentR-FL-5
Rep. Sue MyrickR-NC-9
Rep. Stephen FincherR-TN-8
Rep. Thomas RooneyR-FL-16
Rep. Blake FarentholdR-TX-27
Rep. John CulbersonR-TX-7
Rep. Darrell IssaR-CA-49
Rep. Andy HarrisR-MD-1
Rep. Donald ManzulloR-IL-16
Rep. James LankfordR-OK-5
Rep. Todd YoungR-IN-9
Rep. Paul RyanR-WI-1
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
Rep. Bill PoseyR-FL-15
Rep. Jack KingstonR-GA-1
Rep. Sam JohnsonR-TX-3
Rep. Mac ThornberryR-TX-13
Rep. Lynn JenkinsR-KS-2
Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6
Rep. Todd AkinR-MO-2
Rep. Quico CansecoR-TX-23
Rep. Rob BishopR-UT-1
Rep. Mo BrooksR-AL-5
Rep. Robert HurtR-VA-5
Rep. Tim WalbergR-MI-7
Rep. Ann Marie BuerkleR-NY-25
Rep. Diane BlackR-TN-6
Rep. Sandy AdamsR-FL-24
Rep. Wally HergerR-CA-2
Rep. Phil GingreyR-GA-11
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-52
Rep. Steve SoutherlandR-FL-2
Rep. Kevin YoderR-KS-3
Rep. Dan BenishekR-MI-1
Rep. Steve ScaliseR-LA-1
Rep. Kenny MarchantR-TX-24
Rep. Reid RibbleR-WI-8
Rep. Dennis RossR-FL-12
Rep. Bill FloresR-TX-17
Rep. Austin ScottR-GA-8
Rep. Patrick McHenryR-NC-10
Rep. Kevin BradyR-TX-8
Rep. Jeff LandryR-LA-3
Rep. Louie GohmertR-TX-1
Rep. Joe WilsonR-SC-2
Rep. Pete SessionsR-TX-32
Rep. Billy LongR-MO-7
Rep. John FlemingR-LA-4
Rep. Mike PenceR-IN-6
Rep. Steve ChabotR-OH-1
Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6
Rep. Cynthia LummisR-WY
Rep. Ted PoeR-TX-2
Rep. Michele BachmannR-MN-6
Rep. Todd RokitaR-IN-4
Rep. Dana RohrabacherR-CA-46
Rep. Michael BurgessR-TX-26
Rep. Marsha BlackburnR-TN-7
Rep. David SchweikertR-AZ-5
Rep. Bill HuizengaR-MI-2
Rep. Tom PriceR-GA-6
Rep. Ed RoyceR-CA-40
Rep. Lynn WestmorelandR-GA-3
Rep. Jimmy DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Jeff MillerR-FL-1
Rep. Michael ConawayR-TX-11
Rep. Jason ChaffetzR-UT-3
Rep. Jeb HensarlingR-TX-5
Rep. Tim ScottR-SC-1
Rep. Virginia FoxxR-NC-5
Rep. Randy NeugebauerR-TX-19
Rep. Rob WoodallR-GA-7
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-5
Rep. Mike PompeoR-KS-4
Rep. Trent FranksR-AZ-2
Rep. Connie MackR-FL-14
Rep. Trey GowdyR-SC-4
Rep. Doug LambornR-CO-5
Rep. Ben QuayleR-AZ-3
Rep. Tim HuelskampR-KS-1
Rep. Jim JordanR-OH-4
Rep. Jeff DuncanR-SC-3
Rep. Joe WalshR-IL-8
Rep. Scott GarrettR-NJ-5
Rep. Marlin StutzmanR-IN-3
Rep. Tom McClintockR-CA-4
Rep. Mick MulvaneyR-SC-5
Rep. Tom GravesR-GA-9
Rep. Jeff FlakeR-AZ-6
Rep. John CampbellR-CA-48
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1200 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Homeland Security Committee · House · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Related bills
2 bills the Library of Congress relates to this one.
H.R. 2264Related bill
Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011
S. 1236Related bill
Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011
Data notes
Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 22 actions.
- Jun 5, 2012Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 112-127.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- May 29, 2012FloorFloor · Presented to President.
- May 17, 2012FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- FloorFloor · Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- May 16, 2012FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 - 4 (Roll no. 256).House roll call 256
- FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
- May 15, 2012FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4119.
- FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Mar 21, 2012CalendarCalendar · Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 288.
- CommitteeCommittee · Committee on Homeland Security discharged.
- CommitteeCommittee · Committee on Ways and Means discharged.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 112-418, Part I.
- Mar 6, 2012CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
- CommitteeCommittee · Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
- CommitteeCommittee · Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
- Mar 5, 2012CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
- Mar 1, 2012CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee c…
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in House
Data notes
Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.
Amendments
No amendments to this bill are on record.
Data notes
Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.
Official record
The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.