Republicans in the House of Representatives responded to the end of the Trump-era Title 42 immigration rule with the “Secure the Border Act.” The bill’s narrow passage may increase pressure on the Senate and the White House as the number of migrants crossing the border increases.
The bill would force the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “to resume activities to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. It would also increase grant funding for “certain border security operations.”
The DHS would also be prohibited from processing immigrants at locations other than U.S. ports of entry.
The Republican bill would broaden the crimes that would cause migrants to be ineligible for asylum, including DWI-caused injuries and deaths.
The effort passed by a narrow margin of 219-213 with no votes from House Democrats.
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) called the bill the “strongest border security package in history.”
He called on the Senate and the Biden White House to act.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said that “Republicans will always act responsibly and will also always look for solutions.”
BREAKING: House Republicans just passed H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act!
While Biden threatens a veto, Republicans are proposing solutions! pic.twitter.com/V8Sqz22yEO
— GOP (@GOP) May 11, 2023
Scalise, McCarthy, Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) issued a joint statement stating that the House GOP delivered “legislation that will support our Border Patrol agents” and would “block the flow of fentanyl into our country.”
The statement also said that the new bill would “put an end to the Biden border crisis.”
The representatives said that the president and Democrats in Congress “continue to ignore the chaos at our border.”
The move came after the expiration of Title 42 Thursday, implemented as a pandemic-related policy by former President Donald Trump. The rule allowed for federal law enforcement to swiftly deport migrants.
The end of the rule has also led to a significant new wave of illegal immigrants attempting to cross the border.
The number of migrants attempting to cross the border has increased to more than 10,000 per day. Estimates of the flow following the end of Title 42 have been as high as 13,000 daily.
