GOP Border Security Bill Passed by House Before Title 42 Expires.

The House of Representatives Approves Controversial Immigration and Employment Bill

The House of Representatives recently passed a far-reaching bill on immigration and employment that has sparked heated debate. The Secure the Border Act (H.R.2) seeks to bolster the wall along the U.S.–Mexico border and impose stricter regulations on asylum-seekers. This comes at a time when migrants are congregating along the border ahead of the lifting of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

What the Bill Entails

The legislation would restore many of the policies implemented by former President Donald Trump, such as resuming construction of the border walls. It would also restrict asylum by mandating that migrants cross legally, pay a $50 fee, and meet more stringent standards to demonstrate that they’re fleeing political, religious, or racial persecution. Additionally, the bill seeks to increase the number of Border Patrol agents.

“The key component of this bill is where we say, ‘If you come to our country, you will get to, according to the law, file your asylum claim … but you will be detained or you will be returned while your claim is adjudicated,’” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said during debate on the bill.

The Vote and Its Implications

The House voted 219–213 to approve the measure, with no Democrats in favor and two Republicans opposed. However, the legislation has little chance of becoming law, since Democrats, who hold a narrow majority in the Senate, reject the measure’s “cruel” and “anti-immigrant” provisions. President Joe Biden has also pledged to veto it.

The vote came hours before the midnight lifting of Title 42, a rule implemented in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency that permitted border authorities to expeditiously return numerous migrants who crossed the border unlawfully. Biden has conceded that the U.S.–Mexico border area will experience disorder as migrants weigh whether to cross and U.S. officials use a new set of policies aimed at curbing illegal immigration while creating more legal pathways.

Republicans’ Stance

Republicans blame the Biden administration for the surge in illegal immigration. Passing the bill allows House Republican lawmakers to claim that they’ve fulfilled their promise to address the issue. However, the bill’s controversial provisions have sparked outrage among Democrats and immigrant rights advocates.

• Key Takeaway: The House of Representatives has approved a controversial immigration and employment bill that seeks to bolster the wall along the U.S.–Mexico border and impose stricter regulations on asylum-seekers. While the bill has little chance of becoming law, it has sparked heated debate and drawn criticism from Democrats and immigrant rights advocates.