Rep. Duncan Introduces Immigration Legislative Package Aimed at Combatting the Southern Border Crisis

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, Congressman Jeff Duncan introduced six pieces of legislation to continue his work for the American people to secure the southern border and enforce our nation’s immigration laws. This legislative package helps combat the national security crisis that has resulted from Joe Biden’s lax immigration policy and an open southern border, with over 4.5 million illegal border crossings since Joe Biden took office.

“Our nation is being invaded at our southern border due to open border policies and a lack of enforcement. The southern border crisis threatens our national security, and we have no idea who is in our country due to the surge of illegal immigration since Joe Biden took office,” said Congressman Jeff Duncan. “Border security is national security, and I am confident my immigration legislative package will begin to take necessary steps to combat the southern border crisis and safeguard our national security.”

No Social Security for Illegal Aliens Act : Precludes illegal aliens from receiving Social Security benefits.

• Quote: “Social Security is only a few years away from insolvency, and the immigration crisis jeopardizes it even more,” said Congressman Jeff Duncan. “My legislation will put Social Security on more secure footing by ensuring that illegal immigrants do not take benefits from hardworking American citizens who have spent their lifetimes paying into the system. This also stops one of the government benefit magnets that attract illegal immigrants. No illegal alien should profit off of coming here illegally.”
• Background: This legislation is supported by the Secure America Alliance, NumbersUSA, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), and Act for America.

Terrorist Deportation Act (117th: H.R. 89 ; 116 th : H.R. 146 ; 115 th : H.R. 844 ; 114 th : H.R. 6175 ): Allows for the deportation of any alien, except for legal permanent residents, listed by law enforcement in the Terrorist Screening Database (from which the “No-Fly List” is derived).

• Quote: “No one on the Terrorist Screening Database or ‘No-Fly List’ should be allowed in our country and threatening our national security,” said Congressman Jeff Duncan. “If you’re dangerous enough for law enforcement to put you in the terrorist screening database, and you aren’t a citizen, and we are considering not allowing you to get on a plane, why are you allowed in our country at all? This legislation gives law enforcement an extra tool to keep Americans safe by deporting those who may seek our harm.”
• Background: This legislation first originated when President Obama and House Democrats floated the idea of stopping potential terrorists from purchasing guns, the so-called “No Fly, No Buy” provision, and Congressman Duncan went a different direction to not allow them to remain a threat to the country in any capacity (“No Fly, Good Bye”). At least 38 terror watchlist arrests have taken place at the southern border in FY’23, alone, which is likely only a fraction of the terrorists who have surged into our nation undetected. The bill is supported by NumbersUSA, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), and Act for America.

BUILD WALL Act (Build up Illegal Line Defenses with Assets Lawfully Lifted Act) (117 th : H.R. 88 ; S.25 – Cruz): Allows for the U.S. to use funds taken from the cartels to be spent on building the wall on the U.S./Mexico border.

• Quote: “Our nation is being invaded, and every state is now a border state because our southern border is wide open. Any serious effort to secure our southern border and safeguard our national security begins with the completion of the southern border wall,” said Congressman Jeff Duncan. “My bill allows funds confiscated by the Mexican drug cartels and human traffickers to be transferred to the construction of the southern border barrier to safeguard our nation and stop the invasion at our southern border.”
• Background: The Trump Administration completed over 450 miles of the southern border wall before the Biden Administration halted further construction. There are around 1,300 remaining miles of border between the U.S. and Mexico where a secure barrier does not exist. This legislation allows for up to half of the funds confiscated by law enforcement from drug and human trafficking operations to be diverted to wall construction. This legislation is supported by NumbersUSA, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), and Act for America.

FTO Passport Revocation (117 th : H.R. 86 ; 116 th : H.R. 145 ): Allows for the revocation of any passport belonging to someone who has been designated a member of a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

• Quote: “If you leave our great country to join our enemies, you shouldn’t be able to return to attack our citizens,” said Congressman Jeff Duncan. “This legislation would allow the Secretary of State to revoke a passport for anyone who has aided, assisted, abetted, or helped a foreign terrorist organization, in order to prevent future acts of terrorism from occurring on American soil.”
• Background: In 2015, the FBI estimated that over 200 Americans traveled or attempted to travel to Syria to join ISIS. This is in addition to homegrown al Qaeda terrorists like Adam Gadahn and others. This legislation would simply revoke the passports of individuals who have been found to have joined a foreign terrorist organization, to prevent them from returning to the United States to commit terrorist acts. This legislation is supported by NumbersUSA, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), and Act for America.

Visa Overstay Enforcement (117 th : H.R. 90 ; 116 th : H.R. 147 ): Imposes penalties on aliens who overstay legal immigration status, including potential fines, imprisonment, and being disallowed from returning.

• Quote: “Many of the illegal aliens in our country originally came here legally but have overstayed their immigration status and are now considered illegal,” said Congressman Jeff Duncan. “If someone breaks the law and is here illegally, there should be consequences. This bill ensures that those who fail to follow the law are punished accordingly and prevented from returning to our country. Living in the United States is a privilege, not a universal right.”
• Background: The 2020 Entry Overstay Report said there were 584,885 Suspected In-Country Overstays at the end of FY2020. Click HERE for the latest available report on visa overstays. This legislation is supported by NumbersUSA, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), and Act for America.

Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities (117 th : H.R. 94 ; 116 th : H.R. 153 ): Penalizes sanctuary cities by making them ineligible for federal funds.

• Quote: “Sanctuary cities are breeding grounds for illegal activity and crime. Time and time and time again, we see crimes committed by illegal aliens in cities where political leadership does not cooperate with federal immigration officials,” said Congressman Jeff Duncan. “It is time for these cities to pay the price for the decisions they make that endanger American citizens. The message is clear – you can only enjoy the benefits of federal funding only if you cooperate with federal immigration officials and respect our nation’s laws.”
• Background: For more information on sanctuary cities, click HERE and HERE. This legislation is supported by NumbersUSA, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), and Act for America.