A sweeping border security bill aimed at permanently codifying several of President Donald Trump's executive actions is headed to the House floor after clearing a key committee.
The House Judiciary Committee advanced the Permanent Trump Secure Border Act along party lines during an hours-long markup Tuesday over the fierce objections of Democratic lawmakers.
The legislation, authored by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, would criminalize visa overstays and increase penalties for unlawful entry, would effectively end "catch and release" policies by requiring most illegal migrants to be detained or returned while their cases are pending and tighten asylum eligibility and humanitarian parole, among other provisions.
The measure would also bolster Customs and Border Protection by directing the Department of Homeland Security to modernize border facilities, expand staffing and workforce planning and deploy more surveillance technology, including drones, radar systems, biometric screening and DNA collection.
House conservatives have pressed GOP leaders to permanently codify Trump's border agenda as illegal border crossings have fallen to historic lows during his second term. Republicans argue that without congressional action, many of the policies could be reversed by a future president.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said the bill would make it harder for a future administration to open the border.
Democrats opposed the measure, arguing any border security legislation must also address reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and expand pathways for legal immigration.
House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said the majority should set aside the demonization of immigrants to pass comprehensive, commonsense immigration reform on a bipartisan basis.
Tuesday’s vote comes after House conservatives kept the floor frozen for several weeks in June and July in protest of GOP leaders failing to move border security legislation.
Rep. Chip Roy said earlier in July that delivering on codifying border security and addressing the birthright citizenship issue are priorities for his constituents.
Despite clearing committee, the legislation could face resistance on the House floor from some moderate Republicans seeking temporary legal protections for agricultural workers.
The measure closely mirrors H.R. 2, the House Republicans’ border security bill passed during the Biden administration, but omits a nationwide E-Verify mandate that has long divided Republicans.
