U.S. SENATORS KATIE BRITT, TOMMY TUBERVILLE, MIKE LEE, COLLEAGUES INTRODUCE BILL TO CLOSE LOOPHOLES INCENTIVIZING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 8, 2023 — U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), the ranking member of the Homeland Security subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, joined Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and nine of their colleagues in introducing the Stopping Border Surges Act to address loopholes in our immigration system that encourage vulnerable immigrant populations to take dangerous, illegal paths of entry into the United States.

The Stopping Border Surges Act includes reforms that would reduce unsustainable surges of migrants; strengthen our asylum process; eliminate the incentive to send children to the border; and dampen the exploitative power of coyotes and cartels.

“Our nation is facing a historic national security and humanitarian crisis at the border,” said Senator Britt. “We must end the incentives and close the loopholes that are pushing people to illegally enter our country. The only people benefiting from the current chaos are bad actors, especially the drug cartels. I will continue to fight to keep American families and communities safe.”

“Loopholes in our immigration system perversely compel women and children to entrust their savings, futures, and lives to cartels and coyotes – endangering the safety of vulnerable immigrants, and undermining the integrity of our system,” stated Senator Lee. “This bill would help stop these dangerous opportunities for abuse.”

Senators Britt, Tuberville, and Lee were joined by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Mike Braun (R-Ind).

A copy of the bill can be found here.

Senator Britt has made border security and the safety of American children, families, and communities a top focus during her first two months in office, including three visits to the border. She introduced a robust package of four pieces of legislation and has already cosponsored an additional six bills related to the topic, including Senator Marsha Blackburn’s (R-Tenn.) Stop Taxpayer Funding of Traffickers Act; Senator Chuck Grassley’s (R-Iowa) Immigration Parole Reform Act of 2023 and Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act; Senator Ted Budd’s (R-N.C.) Build the Wall Now Act; and Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) No Coyote Cash Act and Felony Murder for Deadly Fentanyl Distribution Act.

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