Washington D.C. – U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas), along with 11 other colleagues, introduced the Visa Integrity Preservation Act, a bill aimed at closing a “loophole in current immigration law” that the Biden-Harris administration allegedly used to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants who entered the U.S. without inspection or overstayed their visas.
In a statement regarding the legislation, Senator Britt, ranking member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, criticized the administration’s handling of immigration policy, claiming it puts Americans at risk. “The Biden-Harris Administration’s unprecedented and blatant mass amnesty agenda and abuse of parole is wrong, irresponsible, and puts the safety and security of all Americans at risk,” said Britt. She further stated that the bill would prevent the misuse of nonimmigrant visas as a means to grant amnesty, exacerbating the border crisis.
Senator Tuberville echoed these concerns, stating, “Horrible policies yield horrible results. The Biden-Harris administration has shown time and time again that they have no respect for the rule of law.” He added that the current policies are creating incentives for increased illegal immigration and expressed hope that the Senate would act to secure the border.
Senator Cornyn emphasized that the Biden administration’s approach has created unlawful programs that enable individuals to enter and remain in the U.S., regardless of legal status. He stated, “By strengthening the laws already on the books, our legislation would root out this massive pull factor while also preserving the integrity of our employment-based nonimmigrant visa program.”
The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.).
Under current U.S. immigration laws, individuals who overstay their visas or enter the country illegally are subject to significant penalties. Visa overstayers may be barred from reentering the U.S. for up to 10 years, while those who cross the border illegally are prohibited from reentering once they leave. Additionally, nonimmigrant visa applicants are required to undergo an interview at a U.S. consulate abroad before receiving their visas.
However, the Visa Integrity Preservation Act seeks to address a new initiative announced by the Biden-Harris administration in June 2024, which waived the consular interview requirement for certain nonimmigrant visas. This policy, which allowed some illegal border crossers and visa overstayers to receive temporary work visas, sparked criticism from those who view it as an overreach of executive power and a circumvention of existing immigration laws.
If passed, the Visa Integrity Preservation Act would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to ensure that individuals who have entered the U.S. illegally or overstayed a visa are not eligible for a waiver of the in-person consular interview requirement. Instead, they would be required to leave the U.S. and attend a consular interview before being granted a visa, reinforcing the penalties for violating immigration laws.
The bill aims to prevent what its sponsors see as misuse of visa programs to provide amnesty and ensure that immigration procedures remain in line with congressional authority.
