WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Secure the Border Act of 2023, a bill introduced by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) that aims to address issues surrounding immigration and border security.
Among the measures included in the bill are limits to asylum eligibility and the resumption of activities to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
According to a summary of the legislation, the Secure the Border Act of 2023 “requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resume activities to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border” and “provides statutory authorization for Operation Stonegarden, which provides grants to law enforcement agencies for certain border security operations.”
Additionally, the bill “prohibits DHS from processing the entry of non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) arriving between ports of entry” and “limits asylum eligibility to non-U.S. nationals who arrive in the United States at a port of entry.”
The legislation also “authorizes the removal of a non-U.S. national to a country other than that individual’s country of nationality or last lawful habitual residence,” expanding upon current removal regulations.
Furthermore, the bill “expands the types of crimes that may make an individual ineligible for asylum, such as a conviction for driving while intoxicated causing another person’s serious bodily injury or death.”
The Secure the Border Act “authorizes DHS to suspend the introduction of certain non-U.S. nationals at an international border if DHS determines that the suspension is necessary to achieve operational control of that border.”
Additionally, the bill “prohibits states from imposing licensing requirements on immigration detention facilities used to detain minors” and “authorizes immigration officers to permit an unaccompanied alien child to withdraw their application for admission into the United States even if the child is unable to make an independent decision to withdraw the application.”
The legislation also aims to address employment issues related to immigration.
It “imposes additional penalties for overstaying a visa” and “requires DHS to create an electronic employment eligibility confirmation system modeled after the E-Verify system and requires all employers to use the system.”
This comprehensive bill now moves on to the Senate for consideration, where it is expected to face further debate and possible amendments before potentially being signed into law.
“This bill secures the border from President Biden’s record, crossings, record carelessness, and record chaos,” said House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) after the bill’s passage. “We identified the problem. Rather than ignoring it, we listened to the American people. And then we took action.”
Read the full bill below:
