The GOP's Next Anti-Migrant Manifesto
Revival of ‘Secure the Border Act’ signals Republican plans for hardline approach in the Republican-led 119th Congress.
WASHINGTON — House Republicans are renewing their push for one of the most hardline immigration proposals in recent memory, as Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) move to reintroduce H.R. 2, the “Secure the Border Act,” in the 119th Congress. The bill, which passed the House last year but stalled in the Democratic-controlled Senate, would overhaul nearly every aspect of immigration enforcement, asylum policy, border infrastructure, and employment verification.
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The legislation—running over 200 pages—mandates the resumption of border wall construction, imposes near-total restrictions on asylum eligibility, reinstates mass detention policies, and requires nationwide implementation of E-Verify for all employers. It also revokes the Biden administration’s use of parole authority and limits the use of mobile processing tools like the CBP One app.
Speaking to Migrant Insider Wednesday, Jordan said he wants to keep the bill’s core components largely intact as it reenters the legislative pipeline. “Remember, H.R. 2 was [from] Judiciary Committee and Homeland Security Committee,” Jordan said. “From Judiciary Committee, we wanted to be as close as it was to what we passed last Congress… That's on asylum. That's on E-Verify, on Flores, and all the things you dealt with.”
The bill was written by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), who said “To the extent that it’s moving, it’s going to be virtually the same…to the best of my knowledge, it should be the same (in both Homeland and Judiciary Committees). If anything, it should get better.”
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Jordan acknowledged that the legislation is a product of two distinct efforts—Judiciary’s provisions on asylum law and worksite enforcement, and Homeland Security’s border operations mandates—but emphasized that the package should remain a unified front. “There were two parts that came together, one big bill,” he said.
A Template for a Trump-Led Agenda
In campaign appearances, Trump has signaled support for policies embedded in H.R. 2—including third-country asylum bans, expedited removals, and large-scale deportation operations. Several Republican senators have indicated openness to introducing a companion bill.
Critics Warn of Legal and Humanitarian Consequences
Democrats and immigration advocates have sharply criticized the bill. They warn that provisions requiring near-automatic detention for asylum seekers, eliminating protections for unaccompanied children, and banning NGOs from providing services to undocumented migrants would violate U.S. asylum law and international obligations.
The bill also revives elements of family detention and explicitly rejects the 1997 Flores settlement, which set limits on the detention of migrant children. Under H.R. 2, there would be no presumption against detaining children with their parents—even for extended periods.
Roy has previously described the bill as a necessary corrective to what he calls “lawless” border policies under the Biden administration.
E-Verify and Workforce Provisions Raise Industry Concerns
One of the most controversial sections of the bill mandates universal use of E-Verify, the electronic employment eligibility verification system, within a phased timeline for all U.S. employers. Agricultural employers, in particular, have voiced concern about labor shortages and compliance costs. Business groups have warned that the penalties and verification burdens could disrupt sectors already grappling with workforce instability.
The bill also increases criminal penalties for visa overstays and imposes strict limits on asylum claims by individuals who pass through other countries en route to the U.S.—a policy reminiscent of the Trump-era “transit ban” that was blocked in federal court.
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Uncertain Senate Path, But A Clear Message
Despite growing Republican support, the bill faces an uncertain path in the Senate. Even with a narrow GOP majority, immigration bills must overcome procedural hurdles and the filibuster rule. Senate Democrats and immigrant rights groups have vowed to oppose H.R. 2 if it advances unchanged.
Still, the bill’s revival is a clear signal of how Republicans intend to govern on immigration, even as approval ratings on this issue is going down nationally. The legislation represents a maximalist approach that rolls back decades of asylum law, expands federal surveillance powers, and places unprecedented restrictions on humanitarian parole and immigration discretion.
As the political debate heats up, H.R. 2 could become a rallying point—both for Republicans promising to crack down on unlawful migration and for Democrats and advocates preparing for a broader legal and constitutional fight.
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