Brandon Gill’s Domestic Jobs Protection Act

Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) recently introduced the Domestic Jobs Protection Act, a commonsense bill that addresses one of the worst abuses in our immigration system.

At its core, the bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to close a loophole that has been exploited by unelected bureaucrats for decades. Specifically, it removes the phrase “or by the Attorney General” from the definition of “unauthorized alien.” Why does this matter?

That single phrase has allowed the Executive Branch to hand out work permits to foreign nationals without any authorization from Congress. In other words, presidents of both parties have been able to create de facto guestworker programs by executive fiat, bypassing Congress and leaving American workers behind.

Rep. Gill’s bill slams the door on this abuse once and for all.

By limiting who can be classified as an “unauthorized alien,” the Domestic Jobs Protection Act removes the Attorney General’s power to unilaterally grant employment authorization. This ensures that only Congress—not unelected bureaucrats—can decide immigration and labor policy.

If passed, the bill would end discretionary employment authorization for categories of aliens who should never have been competing with Americans in the first place, including:

• Parolees
• Extended Voluntary Departure
• Deferred Enforced Departure (DED)
• Aliens with a final order of removal
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
• Optional Practical Training (OPT)
• Applicants for adjustment of status (without a legal work basis)
• H-4 dependents of H visa holders

For too long, corporations have lobbied for loopholes and cheap foreign labor while American college graduates struggle to find good-paying jobs. Programs like DACA, OPT, and extended parole have flooded labor markets, driving down wages and putting American workers at a disadvantage.

Rep. Gill’s Domestic Jobs Protection Act is a direct response to that injustice. It ensures that the interests of the American worker come first.

Congressman Brandon Gill understands what too many in Washington conveniently ignore: immigration policy is not just about border security, it’s about protecting American jobs, American wages, and American sovereignty.

Texans for Strong Borders applauds Rep. Gill for his resolve. The Domestic Jobs Protection Act is a critical step toward restoring accountability to our immigration system and ensuring that American workers always come first.