Pass the One Big Beautiful Bill to Safeguard America’s Sovereignty

6/20/2025

Articles

View Original

Action Summary

Purpose: Safeguard America’s sovereignty by fortifying border security and preventing illegal immigration.
Investment in Border Security: Propose the largest one-time investment in border security, designed to detain and deport at least one million undocumented immigrants annually and significantly expand detention capacity.
Support for Frontline Personnel: Provide a $10,000 annual bonus over four years to Border Patrol and ICE staff; recruit additional personnel including 10,000 new ICE agents, 5,000 customs officers, and 3,000 Border Patrol agents.
Infrastructure Development: Complete President Trump’s border wall project along with constructing additional barriers (river, vehicle, and pedestrian) to ensure full operational control of the southern border.
Implications of Inaction: Failure to pass the bill risks losing historic gains in border security, leading to heightened vulnerability and chaos.

Risks & Considerations

The proposed bill emphasizes a significant increase in border security measures, which could lead to heightened scrutiny and potential challenges for international students and faculty at Vanderbilt University. This may affect the university’s ability to attract and retain global talent.
Increased border security and immigration enforcement could impact the university’s diverse student body, particularly those on student visas, potentially leading to decreased enrollment from international students.
The focus on border security might divert federal resources away from educational funding, which could impact Vanderbilt’s reliance on federal education funds, particularly if budget reallocations occur.
Vanderbilt may need to consider the implications of these policies on its community engagement and support services for international students and faculty, ensuring they are adequately supported amidst changing immigration policies.

Impacted Programs

Office of International Student and Scholar Services at Vanderbilt may need to enhance its support and advisory services to assist international students and scholars navigating the changing immigration landscape.
Vanderbilt’s Global Education Office might experience shifts in its programs and partnerships, particularly those involving cross-border collaborations and exchanges.
The Peabody College of Education and Human Development could see increased demand for research and expertise in immigration policy and its effects on education and society.
Vanderbilt’s Office of Community Engagement may need to strengthen its outreach and support for local communities affected by changes in immigration enforcement and policies.

Financial Impact

The reallocation of federal funds towards border security initiatives could impact the funding landscape for educational institutions, potentially leading to reduced financial support for programs reliant on federal grants.
Vanderbilt University might experience changes in its funding opportunities, particularly if federal discretionary grants prioritize border security over educational initiatives. This could necessitate adjustments in grant application strategies and partnerships.
There may be increased opportunities for Vanderbilt to secure funding for research and development in immigration policy and reform, particularly through collaborations with federal agencies focused on border security and immigration.
As immigration policies become more stringent, there could be a shift in the demographics of students applying to Vanderbilt, potentially affecting tuition revenue and financial aid distribution.

Relevance Score: 4 (The bill presents a need for potential major changes or transformations of programs and policies related to international students and federal funding.)

Key Actions

Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations should closely monitor the legislative developments related to the “One Big Beautiful Bill” to assess potential impacts on the university’s international student population and immigration policies. Engaging with policymakers to advocate for policies that support the university’s diverse community could be beneficial.
The Vanderbilt Project on Unity & American Democracy should consider conducting research on the societal and economic impacts of increased border security measures. This research can provide valuable insights into how these policies affect national unity and public sentiment, positioning Vanderbilt as a thought leader in this area.
Vanderbilt’s Center for Latin American Studies should explore opportunities to engage in dialogue and research on the implications of enhanced border security for Latin American communities. This could include hosting forums, workshops, and collaborative research projects to foster understanding and address potential challenges.
The Office of International Student and Scholar Services should prepare to support international students who may be affected by changes in immigration policies. This includes providing resources, guidance, and advocacy to ensure their continued success and integration into the university community.

Opportunities

The focus on border security presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Law School to engage in policy analysis and advocacy related to immigration law. By providing expert insights and recommendations, the law school can influence the national conversation on immigration reform and border security.
Vanderbilt can capitalize on the increased attention to national security by developing new programs and partnerships focused on security studies and international relations. This could include joint research initiatives, student exchange programs, and collaborative curriculum development, enhancing Vanderbilt’s reputation in these fields.
The emphasis on supporting frontline personnel offers an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Peabody College to engage in research and training programs for law enforcement and border security professionals. By leveraging its expertise in education and training, Peabody can contribute to the development of effective training programs and support services.

Relevance Score: 4 (The proposed bill presents potential major process changes required for Vanderbilt’s programs due to impacts on immigration policies and international student support.)

Average Relevance Score: 2.4

Timeline for Implementation

Each year for the next four years: The directive promises a $10,000 bonus annually for Border Patrol and ICE personnel over the next four years.

Note: Other measures in the directive, such as the one-time border security investment and construction of border barriers, do not specify concrete deadlines.

Relevance Score: 1

Impacted Government Organizations

Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Oversees national border security efforts, including the initiatives for expanding detention capacity, secure infrastructure, and immigration enforcement programs.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Directly impacted by provisions to boost manpower with 10,000 new personnel and bonus incentives, reflecting an increased focus on detention and deportation.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): Tasked with enhancing border patrol operations, including the recruitment of 3,000 new Border Patrol agents and 5,000 new customs officers, as well as the construction of new border barriers.

Relevance Score: 2 (A moderate number of Federal Agencies are affected by the order.)

Responsible Officials

N/A – The directives in the text are policy proposals and legislative calls that do not designate a specific official or agency for implementation.

Relevance Score: 1 (The directives do not specify particular responsible officials and thus are largely non-impactful on individual agency leaders.)