II 

Calendar No. 5 

119TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 29 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the President of the United States 

possesses legal authority under existing law to take immediate and necessary action to secure the southwest border of the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 21, 2025 

Mr. PAUL, from the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, reported the following original resolution; which was placed on the 

calendar 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the President of 

the United States possesses legal authority under existing law to take immediate and necessary action to secure 

the southwest border of the United States. 

Whereas, since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, 

nearly 11,000,000 individuals have been encountered attempting to enter the United States unlawfully; 

Whereas U.S. Customs and Border Protection has— 

(1) apprehended nearly 400 suspected terrorists attempting to enter the United States illegally between 

ports of entry; 


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•SRES 29 RS 

(2) encountered an additional 1,587 suspected terrorists at United States ports of entry; and 

(3) identified more than 1,700,000 special interest 

aliens; 

Whereas, since October 1, 2021, more than 120,000 illegal 

aliens with criminal warrants or convictions were encountered along United States borders, including— 

(1) more than 4,800 illegal aliens who were convicted of assault, battery, or domestic violence; 

(2) more than 3,300 illegal aliens who were convicted of theft-related offenses; 

(3) nearly 1,400 illegal aliens who were convicted of 

sexual offenses; and 

(4) nearly 200 illegal aliens who were convicted of 

homicide or manslaughter; 

Whereas, under section 235(b)(2)(C) of the Immigration and 

Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(2)(C)), the Department of Homeland Security is authorized to immediately 

return certain applicants for admission or asylum to a 

contiguous foreign territory in accordance with the 

memorandum from the Secretary of Homeland Security 

entitled ‘‘Policy Guidance for Implementation of the Migrant Protection Protocols’’, dated January 25, 2019, or 

any substantially similar policy changes issued or taken 

on or after January 20, 2025, whether set forth in a 

memorandum, executive order, regulation, directive, or by 

other action; 

Whereas, under section 212(f) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 

1182(f)), the President has been given broad authority to 

suspend the entry of all aliens, or to impose any restrictions upon the entry of aliens the President deems appropriate, allowing the President to bar the entry of nationVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:07 Jan 22, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR29.RS SR29

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•SRES 29 RS 

als whose admission could be detrimental to the interests 

of the United States; 

Whereas, under section 208(b)(2)(C) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 

1158(b)(2)(C)), the Department of Homeland Security is 

authorized to promulgate additional limitations and conditions under which an alien shall be ineligible for asylum, including making asylum seekers ineligible if they 

enter or attempt to enter the United States across the 

southern border without first applying for protection 

from persecution or torture in at least 1 country, other 

than the alien’s country of citizenship, nationality, or last 

lawful habitual residence, through which the alien 

transited en route to the United States; and 

Whereas the ‘‘Remain in Mexico’’ policy (also known as the 

Migrant Protection Protocols) was an effective measure 

that enhanced border security, helped deter illegal entries, and made the United States safer: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) affirms that the President has the authority 

3 under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 

4 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), including sections 

5 208(a)(2)(A), 212(f), and 235(b)(2)(C) (8 U.S.C. 

6 1158(a)(2)(A), 1182(f), and 1225(b)(2)(C)) to take 

7 action to secure the southern border and protect the 

8 sovereignty and security of the United States; and 

9 (2) urges the President and the Secretary of 

10 Homeland Security to utilize all available statutory 

11 authority to expeditiously reinstate or implement 


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•SRES 29 RS 

1 policies and programs that will promote orderly and 

2 lawful entry at the border, deter illegal immigration, 

3 and protect national security, including by— 

4 (A) immediately removing illegal aliens; 

5 (B) immediately returning illegal aliens to 

6 Mexico; 

7 (C) reinstating the Migrant Protection 

8 Protocols (commonly known as ‘‘Remain in 

9 Mexico’’) or any substantially similar policy; 

10 (D) ending the catch-and-release policy; 

11 (E) ending abuses of humanitarian parole 

12 authority; 

13 (F) detaining inadmissible aliens; 

14 (G) making illegal aliens ineligible for asy15 lum; 

16 (H) using expedited removal authority; and 

17 (I) eliminating taxpayer-funded benefits 

18 for illegal aliens. 


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ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Calendar No. 5 

119TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 29 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Presithe United States. essary action to secure the southwest border of ity under existing law to take immediate and nec- dent of the United States possesses legal authorJANUARY 21, 2025 

Reported the following original resolution; which was 

placed on the calendar 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS