124 STAT. 4361 PUBLIC LAW 111–383—JAN. 7, 2011 SEC. 1057. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING SECURITY OF SOUTHERN LAND BORDER OF THE UNITED STATES. (a) STUDY AND REPORT REQUIRED.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study of the security of the southern land border of the United States and ongoing United States Government efforts to improve such security. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report containing the findings of the study and such recommendations based on such findings as the Comptroller General considers to be appro- priate. (b) ISSUES ADDRESSED.—The study and report required by sub- section (a) shall address, at a minimum, the following issues: (1) The extent to which the United States has or has not achieved and maintained operational control over the southern land border of the United States, as defined in section 2(b) of the Secure Fence Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–367; 8 U.S.C. 1701 note). (2) The extent to which any lack of operational control over the southern land border of the United States has resulted in the operation of illicit networks trafficking in people, drugs, illegal weapons and money, violence associated with such illegal activities, and other impacts adverse to the interests of the United States. (3) The costs and benefits of steps, including but not limited to the steps identified in subsection (c), that could be taken by elements of the United States Government to achieve oper- ational control over the southern land border of the United States. (4) The costs and benefits of an increased role for the Department of Defense in taking any such steps. (5) The adequacy of current information sharing agree- ments and other related agreements between Federal, State, local, and tribal law enforcement authorities with regard to the security of the southern land border of the United States. (6) The impact of any increased deployment of unmanned aerial systems or unmanned aircraft on the use and availability of the National Airspace in the area of the southern land border of the United States. (c) SPECIFIC STEPS TO BE CONSIDERED.—The steps to be consid- ered by the Comptroller General pursuant to paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (b) shall include the following: (1) The deployment of additional units or members of the National Guard or other Department of Defense personnel to the southern land border of the United States. (2) The commitment of additional border patrol agents or other civilian law enforcement personnel to the southern land border of the United States. (3) The construction of additional fencing, including double- layer and triple-layer fencing. (4) The increased use of ground-based mobile surveillance systems by military or civilian personnel. (5) The deployment of additional unmanned aerial systems and manned aircraft to provide surveillance of the southern land border of the United States.
