Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), serving as the Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, recently collaborated with Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and 20 other Senate Republicans in introducing the Southern Border Transparency Act.
This proposed legislation aims to compel the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide accurate and transparent reporting on its handling of migrants encountered at the border. The primary objective is to ensure that the American public receives a comprehensive and timely account of the number of migrants released into the United States under the Biden Administration.
Senator Britt emphasized, “Republicans are offering solution after solution to President Biden’s border crisis, which recently shattered a new record of eight million illegal border crossings since this Administration took office. The American people deserve accurate, timely information on how this Administration is abdicating its obligation to secure our homeland and keep our communities and families safe.”
The Southern Border Transparency Act addresses concerns about the Biden administration’s strategies for managing the influx of migrants. By requiring DHS to report specific details, including the number of migrants paroled at each Port of Entry (POE) and in each Border Patrol sector, the legislation seeks to provide a clearer picture of the situation.
The Biden administration’s approach involves funneling migrants into various parole programs, raising questions about the transparency and effectiveness of these initiatives. The Southern Border Transparency Act specifically calls for reporting on the number of migrants apprehended, the grants of voluntary departure, expedited removals, and releases into the interior.
Senator Britt, along with her colleagues, is advocating for greater visibility into the handling of migrants, including those eligible for work authorization, and ensuring that comprehensive data is available on whether these individuals ultimately depart the United States.
The legislation is a response to concerns about limited public data regarding the total number of people released into the U.S. under parole programs, the screening processes in place, and the outcomes of their claims. The Southern Border Transparency Act, if enacted, would mandate DHS to provide detailed reports on these critical aspects, fostering accountability and transparency.
It was also noted that earlier this year, the Biden administration implemented parole programs without Congressional consent, allowing hundreds of thousands of migrants to be paroled and released into the United States annually. The Southern Border Transparency Act reflects a bipartisan effort to address these concerns and ensure greater oversight of immigration processes.
The cosponsors of this legislation include prominent Senate Republicans such as Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and others.
