Secure the Southern Border Act
Endorsed by NumbersUSA
In less than 3 months, the Biden Administration ushered the country into another border
crisis, and his policies and comments have fueled cartels and brought the influx of aliens at
the southern border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) is currently encountering
more than 3,000 unlawful aliens a day that are attempting to cross the border. CPB
encountered the largest number of illegal immigrants in one month in more than seven years
as the agency encountered more than 100,000 unlawful aliens in the month of February
alone. Biden’s border czar Roberta Jacobson acknowledged it was Biden’s policies that
“may have driven people to make that decision [to attempt to cross the
border].”
This lawlessness threatens the safety and sovereignty of the American people. Rep. Lauren
Boebert’s “Secure the Southern Border Act,” would codify the Trump administration’s
executive actions that worked and which Biden targeted for repeal in his Feb. 2, 2021
Executive Order. The “Secure the Southern Border Act,” would protect our national and
border security, address the humanitarian challenges resulting from the current Biden
border crisis, and end the exploitation of people.
Specifically, the bill would codify:
- Memorandum, End Catch and Release, April 13, 2018
• Implements EO 13767 - Executive Order 13767, Build the Wall, Jan. 30, 2017
• End the practice known as “catch and release,” whereby aliens are released into
the US shortly after their apprehension.
• Secure the southern border by immediate construction of a physical wall.
• Detain individuals.
• Expedite determinations of apprehended individuals’ claims of eligibility to remain
in the US.
• Prompt removal of those whose claims were lawfully rejected.
• Partnerships with State and local law enforcement - Executive Order 13768, End Sanctuary Cities and Enforce Immigration Law in the
Interior, Jan. 30, 2017
• Directs executive departments and agencies to employ all lawful means to
enforce the immigration laws of the United States. - Policy Guidance, Implementing Migrant Protection Protocols, Feb. 28, 2019• Half dozen guidance documents implementing the Migrant Protection Protocols –
Citizens and nationals of countries other than Mexico (“third-country nationals”)
arriving in the US by land from Mexico-illegally or without proper documentationmay be returned to Mexico pursuant to Section 235(b)(2)(C) for the duration of
their Section 240 removal proceedings. - Proclamation 9880, End Mass Migration Limits on Entry, Jan. 30, 2017
• Extends the suspension and limitation, as set forth below, on entry into the US
through the southern border established by Proclamation 9822 and extended by
Proclamation 9842 – any alien into the US across the international boundary
between the US and Mexico is hereby suspended and limited. Limit shall expire
90 days after the date on which the US obtains relief from all injunctions that
prevent full implementation of the interim final rule promulgated by the
Departments of Justice and Homeland Security on November 9, 2018, or the
date on which an agreement permits the US to remove aliens to Mexico in
compliance with the terms of section 208(a)(2)(A) of the INA. - Memorandum, Enhanced Border Security, April 29, 2019
• Improve the integrity of adjudications of credible and reasonable fear claims, to
strengthen the enforcement of the immigration laws, and to ensure compliance
with the law by those aliens who have final orders of removal.
• All asylum applications adjudicated in immigration court proceedings receive final
administrative adjudication, not including administrative appeal, within 180 days
of filing. - Memorandum, Secure the Southern Border, April 4, 2018
• The President may assign a mission to the Secretary of Defense to support the
operations of the Department of Homeland Security in securing our southern
border, including by requesting use of the National Guard, and to take other
necessary steps to stop the flow of deadly drugs and other contraband, gang
members and other criminals, and illegal aliens into the country. - DHS Notice, Expedited Removal, July 23, 2019
• Designate for expedited removal the following categories of aliens not previously
designated: (1) Aliens who did not arrive by sea, who are encountered anywhere
in the United States more than 100 air miles from a U.S. international land
border, and who have been continuously present in the United States for less
than two years; and (2) aliens who did not arrive by sea, who are encountered
within 100 air miles from a U.S. international land border, and who have been
continuously present in the United States for at least 14 days but for less than
two years. Therefore, the designation in this Notice (the New Designation)
harmonizes the authorization for aliens arriving by land with the existing
authorization for aliens arriving by sea.
Staff Contact: Paige Agostin, paige.agostin@mail.house.gov, 202-225-4761
