WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Biden Border Crisis becomes increasingly concerning, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) along with Senators Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), John Thune (R-S.D.) and Thom Tillis (N.C.) introduced the Asylum Abuse Reduction Act. Rep. Kevin Hern (OK-01) introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives. This legislation will address immigration loopholes to strengthen the integrity of the asylum process to ensure that it is only used by individuals who are genuinely seeking asylum.

“Biden’s open border agenda created a crisis at our southern border,” Blackburn said. “We cannot allow human traffickers and drug cartels to continue to take advantage of us. This bill will close loopholes, target asylum fraud and secure our country from the thousands of illegal immigrants flooding across the border.”

“We have to find real solutions to this Biden Border Crisis,” Inhofe said. “That’s why I’m reintroducing my Asylum Abuse Reduction Act—I want to reinstate the successful policies of the Trump administration that Biden reversed. By reforming our asylum process, we can minimize false asylum claims, ease the backlog on our immigration courts and end ‘catch and release’—all while improving the process for those who truly need it.”

“The crisis at our border gets worse with every passing minute,” Hern said. “After an aggressive agenda to curtail illegal immigration under the Trump Administration, Biden’s reversal of Trump’s policies created a humanitarian and national security emergency on our Southern border. We must put common-sense policies in place to get us back on the path to law and order. The Asylum Abuse Reduction Act will ensure that asylum seekers are following our laws to enter our country legally by claiming asylum before they reach our border. This is a necessary step to prevent future crises like we’re seeing at our border today. I am proud to introduce this bill in the House and work with both Senate and House colleagues to earn support for this legislation.”

“The immigration crisis at our southern border is obvious,” Rounds said. “Now, more than ever, we need to strengthen our asylum laws and close the loopholes incentivizing migrants to illegally enter our country. Asylum is meant for individuals who are truly fleeing harm or persecution in their home country. Our legislation will reduce false claims of asylum, so that those individuals who truly need help can receive it. I’ll continue working with my colleagues to secure our border and reform our broken immigration system.”

“This legislation will relieve pressure on overburdened immigration casework and enforcement efforts at the southern border,” Thune said. “Strengthening our asylum system, including consequences for those who abuse the system as a means to illegally enter the United States, will uphold our immigration laws and reserve resources for legitimate claims.”

“The Biden Administration’s short-sighted policies have created a crisis at the border, and one of the ways to address it is finding a better and safer way for migrants to seek asylum,” Tillis said. “This legislation would require many migrants to request asylum before heading to the United States. We are in desperate need of strong asylum reform, and I am proud to work with my colleagues on this commonsense legislation.”

Full text of the bill can be found here.

BACKGROUND

Would this bill deter families and individuals from seeking asylum?

No. Rather, this will reduce the backlog on our immigration courts and make it easier for families legitimately seeking asylum to have their cases heard.  

What about building the wall or other border security initiatives?

The Senator is a strong advocate of building the wall, but additional legal changes need to be made to eliminate illegal immigration. The Asylum Abuse Reduction Act would work in collaboration with other border security initiatives.

Will this legislation do anything to prevent family separation?

Yes. In the past, families were separated because existing case law prevents children from being detained with their parents while the parents are undergoing criminal proceedings for illegal border crossing. The Asylum Abuse Reduction Act would prevent children travelling in family units from being separated.