Fitzgerald, House Republicans Pass Historic Border Security Reform

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Republicans passed H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, the most significant immigration and border security legislation passed in the House in over a decade. 

Since President Biden took office, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) have estimated over 5 million individuals have been apprehended at our southern border, with an additional 1.3 million known successful "gotaways." On top of this, a record amount of illicit drugs, like fentanyl, have been seized by Border Patrol. Unfortunately, what CBP has intercepted represents only a fraction of what is successfully smuggled into our country. This administration's open-border policies are to blame for this historic crisis.

The Secure the Border Act will address the border crisis and reform our immigration process in the following ways:

 - Force the Biden administration to restart construction of the border wall.
 - Deploy technology to the southern and northern border.
 - Increase the number of Border Patrol agents by 22,000 and provide bonus pay.
 - Require transparency regarding illegal crossings from the Dept. of Homeland Security.
 - Strengthen current law to protect unaccompanied children from human trafficking.
 - End the "catch and release" policy.
 - End abuse of parole authority.
 - Strengthen and streamline the asylum process.

“The crisis at our border has gone on for far too long without remedy, said Congressman Scott Fitzgerald. House Republicans understand the consequences of President Biden's open-border policies and have delivered a comprehensive solution that will effectively address the issue. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I have been engaged in the process of drafting this legislation from the beginning and I'm proud to have supported its passage today."

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