Southern Border Transparency Act would force the Biden administration to disclose more data regarding unlawful programs that release illegal immigrants
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville is continuing his work to combat Biden’s Border Crisis by joining U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), and 22 other colleagues in introducing the Southern Border Transparency Act. The legislation would force the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to increase its reporting of data about illegal immigrants entering the country, in turn providing greater transparency to the American people.
The legislation follows Senator Tuberville’s recent demands for President Biden to expand construction of the southern border wall.
“The Biden administration is trying to hide the fact that it’s created the worst border crisis in American history,” said Senator Tuberville. “For nearly three years, we’ve had record numbers of illegal immigrants and deadly drugs pour across our southern border with no accountability. Some of these illegal entries are on the terrorist watchlist—and we have no idea where they are in the U.S. American lives are at stake. It’s past time for us to know who is coming across our border, and why Joe Biden is allowing them to stay here illegally on the taxpayer dime. I’m proud to help support this targeted legislation that ensures Joe Biden can’t hide anymore.”
Also joining Senators Tuberville and Cornyn in introducing the legislation are U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Susan Collins (R-ME), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), J.D. Vance (R-OH), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), James Lankford (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Ted Budd (R-NC), Todd Young (R-IN), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Lee (R-UT), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roger Marshall (R-KS), John Hoeven (R-ND), John Kennedy (R-LA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Katie Britt (R-AL), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
Under the Southern Border Transparency Act, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security would be required to report:
- The number of illegal immigrants paroled at each port of entry (POE), broken down by nationality and demographics (family units, single adults, UACs)
- The number of illegal immigrants paroled in each Border Patrol sector, broken down by nationality and demographics
- The number of illegal immigrants apprehended at each POE, and how many were granted voluntary departure, placed into expedited removal, or entered into some other process (likely humanitarian release).
- Of the illegal immigrants placed into expedited removal, how many claimed a fear of persecution, how many established credible fear of persecution, and how many were either removed, detained, or entered into some other process (likely release)
- The number of illegal immigrants apprehended in each Border Patrol sector, and how many were granted voluntary departure, placed into expedited removal, or entered into some other process (likely humanitarian release).
- Of the illegal immigrants placed into expedited removal, how many claimed a fear of persecution, how many established credible fear of persecution, and how many were either removed, detained, or entered into some other process (likely release)
- The number of petitions for parole received and granted by USCIS
- The total number of illegal immigrants paroled into the United States, broken down by nationality and demographics, and of these for each fiscal year—
- How many were granted employment authorization
- How many still had a valid employment authorization
- How many have not had parole expire
- How many had an adjusted status
- How many had parole extended
- How many had parole expire, and of these, how many exited the United States
- How many were returned to DHS custody from which they were paroled
BACKGROUND
Senator Tuberville supports common-sense policies that strengthen our border and national security like building the wall and reinstating the Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as the Remain in Mexico policy. Senator Tuberville has spoken about his concerns on the floor of the U.S. Senate and called on the Biden administration to act. Last month, Senator Tuberville helped introduce the Secure the Border Act of 2023, the Senate companion passed by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year, commonly known as H.R. 2. Senator Tuberville also recently questioned one of Joe Biden’s defense nominees about why the administration has failed to stop the flow of deadly fentanyl from coming into our country across the southern border.
During his two years in the United States Senate, Senator Tuberville has made multiple visits to the southern border and worked on many legislative initiatives to secure the border, including giving law enforcement the tools needed to keep our communities safe and reforming immigration law to crack down on abuse and discourage illegal immigration.
- In March 2023, Senator Tuberville introduced the Border Safety and Security Act to protect Americans by combatting the border crisis created by President Biden’s immigration policies.
- The legislation puts more responsibility on the secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and gives increased authority to state attorneys general to hold DHS accountable if the department fails in its duty to restrict entry and detain illegal immigrants.
- Also in March 2023, Senator Tuberville cosponsored the Stopping Border Surges Act to address loopholes in our immigration system that encourage vulnerable immigrant populations to take dangerous, illegal paths of entry into the United States.
- The legislation includes reforms that would reduce unsustainable surges of illegal immigrants, strengthen our asylum process, eliminate the incentive to send children to the border; and dampen the exploitative power of coyotes and cartels.
- In 2022, Senator Tuberville introduced, for the second year in a row, the Empowering Law Enforcement Act (ELEA) to help combat the Biden administration’s nullification of U.S. immigration laws.
- Also in 2022, Senator Tuberville joined congressional colleagues in introducing a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to dissolve a Biden administration rule that would illegally upend the process by which the U.S. government grants asylum claims.
- The rule would exacerbate the crisis at the border and encourage fraudulent asylum claims by allowing illegal border crossers who claim asylum to have their asylum application approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officials instead of immigration judges.
- The rule also allows illegal border crossers claiming asylum to live in the U.S. free from detention while their application is pending.
- In 2021, Senator Tuberville introduced his first piece of legislation as U.S. Senator, which required DHS to issue notices to appear to every single person paroled or released into the U.S., after media reported on the border becoming so overrun that Customs and Border Protection officers were forced to quickly release illegal immigrants into U.S. communities with no follow up for a date in immigration court.
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
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