Upholding the Law at Our Border Act

Bill: 118-s-276
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Introduced: 2023-02-07
Policy area: Immigration
Latest action: action_date: 2023-02-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-02-07
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Upholding the Law at Our Border Act</strong></p> <p>This bill requires the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to periodically investigate and report on immigration-related issues until there have been fewer than 35,000 apprehensions at the southwest border for three consecutive months.</p> <p>When required, the reports must address certain issues, including (1) the vetting procedures applicable to non-U.S. nationals (<i>aliens</i> under federal law) seeking entry into the United States who were apprehended along the southwest border, (2) the total number of individuals unlawfully present who have been processed and released into the United States, (3) the number of such individuals who have received parole, and (4) an audit of the parole applications.</p> <p>The office must submit such reports (and provide briefings on the reports) to the President, Congress, DHS, and the Department of Justice. </p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 276 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 7, 2023 Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself, Mr. Tuberville , Mr. Johnson , Mr. Cruz , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Cassidy , Mr. Rubio , and Mr. Lankford ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To require the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security to investigate the vetting and processing of illegal aliens apprehended along the southwest border and to ensure that all laws are being upheld.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Upholding the Law at Our Border Act . 2. Investigation and report on vetting and processing of illegal aliens apprehended along the southwest border and ensuring that all laws are being upheld Not less frequently than every 60 days until there have been fewer than 35,000 apprehensions per month at the southwest border for 3 consecutive months, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security shall conduct an investigation and submit a report and provide a briefing to the President, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate , and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives regarding, with respect to the period beginning on January 20, 2021— (1) the vetting procedures applicable to aliens (as defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a) )) seeking entry or admission to the United States who were apprehended along the southwest border of the United States, including the process for conducting in-person interviews with such aliens and the number of such interviews that were conducted; (2) the total number of aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States (referred to in this section as illegal aliens ) who were processed and released into the interior of the United States; (3) the number of illegal aliens who received parole (humanitarian or otherwise); (4) the results of the audit of parole applications, including the justification for any instances in which parole was granted; (5) the total number of illegal aliens who have been placed in removal proceedings pursuant to section 240 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1229a ), including— (A) how many of such illegal aliens have been removed; and (B) how many of such illegal aliens are eligible for any immigration benefit, such as asylum or lawful permanent residence; (6) the results of the audit of asylum application under section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158 ); (7) the total number of illegal aliens who have been placed in expedited removal proceedings pursuant to section 235(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1) ), including how many have been removed; (8) the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security to continually monitor all of the illegal aliens who were apprehended along the southwest border of the United States and then released on parole, including— (A) the number of such illegal aliens who were given a notice to report to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office; (B) the number of such illegal aliens who actually reported in compliance with such notice to report; (C) the number of such illegal aliens who were given a notice to appear before an immigration judge; and (D) the number of such illegal aliens who have prior criminal convictions or terms of imprisonment in the United States or outside of the United States; (9) the total number of illegal aliens who were processed and released into the interior of the United States without participating in an alternatives to detention program, such as using an ankle monitor or another tracking monitor; and (10) the States and counties in which the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Health and Human Services has resettled illegal aliens since January 20, 2021.