Illegal Border Crossings Today:

House Majority Seeks to Move Another Immigration Bill Focused on Border Security

House Chamber, border wall construction, border patrol flying drone and surveillance

On the heels of the House Judiciary Committee’s approval of a landmark bill that would deter mass illegal immigration, end asylum abuse and rein in the Biden Administration’s abuse of parole authority, the House Homeland Security Committee has rolled out a bill that would deliver much-needed resources to secure our southern border.

The Border Reinforcement Act adds manpower, technology and physical infrastructure needed to regain control of our borders. It would require that money dedicated to border enforcement be used for just that – not for processing, releasing and flying illegal migrants around the country, as the Biden Administration has been doing. The bill also requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to collect and disseminate vital information about the people who are encountered crossing the border illegally.

Among the key provisions of the Border Reinforcement Act:

  • Requires DHS to resume construction of the border security wall along no less than 900 miles of our southern border.
  • Requires that DHS increase manpower to a total of 22,000 Border Patrol agents.
  • Provides additional technology at border ports of entry to detect and prevent the entry of narcotics, contraband and illegal migrants.
  • Significantly adds aerial and ground technology to surveil the entire southern border.
  • Limits the use of DHS’s CBP One phone app to inspection of perishable cargo only.

This bill is another great step toward a more secure border.  Under President Biden, nearly 7.5 million people have illegally entered the country, including over 1.3 million “gotaways” that have evaded Border Patrol.  Under President Biden, the government has encountered a record number of illegal alien border crossers who are on the terrorist watchlist. And so far in fiscal year 2023, CBP has seized over 14,000 pounds of fentanyl coming across the southern border.

Furthermore, Title 42 is ending on May 11, 2023, after which point up to 13,000 illegal aliens per day are projected to arrive at the southern border.  To date, the Biden Administration has rolled out few details about its plan to secure the border after Title 42 ends, though it has repeatedly claimed it needs more resources. The Border Reinforcement Act delivers those resources, but with the caveat that the money, technology and manpower be employed to prevent and deter illegal immigration rather than facilitate it, which has been the Administration’s policy.

The House Committee on Homeland Security plans to consider the bill this week.

Stay tuned for FAIR updates this week and visit our website for resources, background papers and talking points.