Border crossings are at their lowest level in over 50 years under the Trump administration, and House Republicans are attempting to pass legislation aimed at warding off future Democratic open-borders policies.
Recognizing that subsequent Democratic administrations could reverse President Donald J. Trump’s executive orders, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) explained, “We plan on keeping it [a secure border,] and we in Congress need to do everything we possibly can to ensure that we do keep it, and that means codifying President Trump’s executive orders.”
Should the effort prove successful, Democrats would need to control the presidency and both chambers of Congress in order to reverse Trump’s policies, rather than a Democratic president simply rescinding his executive orders.
The move comes after Trump signed the Secure America Act into law, which secured $70 billion in border and immigration enforcement funding after incessant Democratic obstructionism. Given the theatrics and government shutdowns Democrats already engage in as the minority Congressional party, it would make sense for Republicans to continue pushing on the issue with their current majorities prior to the midterms.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) introduced two versions of the bill, one of which would require employers to use E-Verify, and one that would not. Mandatory E-Verify would further discourage illegal immigration and increase self-deportations, reducing the need for future deportation operations.
The media spotlight on the Trump administration’s deportation measures have focused on their tactics, but Democrats have refused to back any meaningful immigration restrictions, with abolishing ICE returning as a common talking point.
Both Congressional Democrats and leftist courts have continued to obstruct Trump’s immigration policies in his second term. Regardless of this particular bill’s fate, it reflects the long-term importance of Republicans controlling all three branches of government in order to prevent a potential reversion to open-borders policies. Given the uncertainty of which party will control the House after the midterms, Republicans would do well to lock in all immigration policies they can in the next few months.
