GOP unveils border bill as Biden admin seeks to open more migrant centers

House Republicans unveiled a new border security bill which Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., described as “the strongest border security package the House has ever taken up.” The chairmen of the committees that wrote the bill said it will include provisions for asylum, e-verify, visa overstays, reinstate so-called migrant protection protocols and build 900 miles of wall. 

“Most Americans know this is out of control and the open southern border has to be controlled and resolved,” Scalise said.  

The bill would provide front-line Border Patrol agents with $9,000 bonuses. According to Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, the asylum provisions would allow migrants to apply and remain in the United States as long as there is space to detain them. If there is no space, they’ll be sent back to their home country until their case is adjudicated.  

Republicans blamed President Biden for what they describe as an out of control border. 

“What Joe Biden and Alejandro Mayorkas did is they did away with 89 policies of previous presidents. That was the difference,” House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., said. “This was intentional.” 

Party leaders are confident they can pass it in May, but said they aren’t certain exactly how many GOP votes they’d get until members have an opportunity to review all the details. They don’t expect any Democrats to join them. 

“It should be bipartisan. It’s sad it’s not,” Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said. “We used to do that.”

The GOP plan was released soon after the departments of State and Homeland Security jointly announced a plan to reduce the flow of illegal immigration at the southern border ahead of the end of Title 42. The pandemic-era health order allowing for the near immediate expulsion of migrants on public health grounds expires May 11. 

“We expect the days following the end of Title 42 public health order will be challenging and that encounters will increase for a time, as smugglers will seek to spread disinformation to capitalize on this change,” the announcement said. 

The United States will open “regional processing centers” across the Western Hemisphere, with the first opening in Colombia and Guatemala. Immigrants who arrive at the centers will be interviewed, and if they’re eligible, be authorized for lawful entry into the United States, Canada or Spain.

The departments contend a border-only approach to enforcement is insufficient. They called on Congress to fix what they described as a broken immigration system and fund President Biden’s immigration plan.

“Importantly, these measures do not supplant the need for congressional action. Only Congress can provide the reforms and resources necessary to fully manage the regional migration challenge,” the announcement said.

The Biden administration will also expand its use of the CBPOne App and Immigrant Parole Program which was announced in January. It allows eligible migrants who pass a vetting process to enter the United State legally and receive permission to work.

The Biden administration said this plan aligns with its priority to facilitate safe, orderly and humane processing of migrants while imposing stiffer consequences for failing to enter the country legally.