; 6 U.S.C. 223(a)(7) ). 1 Infrastructure and Equipment 1111. Strengthening the requirements for barriers along the southern border Section 102 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Division C of Public Law 104–208 ; 8 U.S.C. 1103 note) is amended— (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: (a) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security shall take such actions as may be necessary (including the removal of obstacles to detection of illegal entrants) to construct, install, deploy, operate, and maintain tactical infrastructure and technology in the vicinity of the United States border to achieve situational awareness and operational control of the border and deter, impede, and detect illegal activity in high traffic areas. ; (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking fencing and inserting physical barriers ; (B) in paragraph (1)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting situational awareness and before operational control ; and (ii) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows: (B) Tactical infrastructure (i) In general Not later than January 20, 2021, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in carrying out subsection (a), shall deploy along the United States border the most practical and effective tactical infrastructure available for achieving situational awareness and operational control of the border. (ii) Exception for certain tactical infrastructure The deployment of tactical infrastructure under this subparagraph shall not apply in areas along the border where natural terrain features, natural barriers, or the remoteness of such area would make deployment ineffective, as determined by the Secretary, for the purposes of gaining situational awareness or operational control of such areas.