Last night, the U.S. Senate rejected an amendment to incorporate H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, into the debt limit. This was a strategic move originally brought forth by the House Republican Study Committee. The amendment, which sought to strengthen border security measures, was an important step towards addressing the ongoing crisis at our southern border.
If passed, the Secure the Border Act of 2023 would have been an assertive response to the ongoing challenges we face at the border. It would have provided robust border security and enforcement measures to prevent further abuse of immigration laws and curb mass illegal immigration including:
- End Catch and Release
- Resume Border Wall Construction
- Bolster Border Patrol Staffing
- Provide Title 42-like Authority
- Address Exploitation of Unaccompanied Children by the Biden Admin
- Expand Mandatory E-Verify
The Senate’s rejection of this amendment is a missed opportunity to address the chaos unleashed by the current administration to take decisive action to secure our borders. That said, every Republican voted for the Amendment except for Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, indicating widespread Republican support for such a measure in the case of a future Republican majority.
This failure to pass Border Security legislation highlights the need for continued efforts to not only hold our elected officials accountable but to seek effective solutions at the state level, as the federal government fails to fulfill their duties.