GOP passes major immigration reform before Title 42 expires.

House Republicans Pass Legislation to Resume Border Wall Construction and Restrict Asylum Claims

On Thursday, House Republicans passed the Secure the Border Act in a 219-213 vote, which would resume border wall construction and restrict asylum claims. This comes just hours before Title 42 expires, and hundreds of thousands of migrants in Mexico are expected to enter the country.

What the Secure the Border Act Entails

• Migrants seeking asylum would be required to apply outside the United States
• Funding would be provided to hire tens of thousands more border agents

However, Democrats in the Senate are expected to kill the bill.

Officials have warned that 700,000 migrants are waiting in Mexico for the lapse of the border policy, which allows border agents to turn migrants away. As soon as Title 42 ends Thursday night, thousands of migrants are expected to enter the United States. They will be processed and released into cities at bus stops, gas stations, and other places across the border.

Republican lawmakers are hopeful that Senate Democrats will change their minds and vote in favor of the bill. Rep. Mark Green (R., Tenn.) said, “Look at what’s happening at the border right now, it’s gonna get really loud.”

President Joe Biden has already said he’d veto the bill if it reaches his desk. The White House on Monday issued a statement saying the act “does nothing to address the root causes of migration.”

What’s Next for Republicans?

Republican lawmakers are confident that the party can pass measures to fight illegal immigration even if Thursday’s legislation dies in Congress. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R., Wyo.) noted that the House has power over the budget and Republicans may use it to leverage immigration reform from Democrats, including by “defunding some of their pet projects.”

Rep. Green suggested incentivizing companies to relocate jobs and supply chains from China to Latin America, which would “create opportunity in Latin America and … decrease pressure on our southern border.”

It remains to be seen what actions Republicans will take next, but one thing is clear: the issue of immigration is far from resolved.