Committee Approves Johnson Bill to Improve Immigration System and Secure Our Borders

Statement

On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee approved legislation to reform the asylum system by a vote of 19-11. The Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act (H.R. 391), introduced this week by Rep. Mike Johnson (LA-04), makes a number of improvements to our nation's laws to prevent fraud and abuse in the asylum system and ensure it is reserved for those truly fleeing persecution in their home countries.

Rep. Johnson and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) issued the following statements on today's committee approval of the Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act.

Rep. Johnson: "Securing our borders should always be a top priority, and reversing previous years of lax enforcement to re-establish stability in our immigration system is the only way to ensure the legal path to citizenship is followed again. Decades of an exposed and broken border have not only encouraged more immigrants to enter the United States illegally, but have also led to an increase in human and drug trafficking. Making matters worse, terrorists have been known to utilize weaknesses in immigration laws to gain entry and carry out their attacks. My legislation ensures our asylum programs are used not for the ill-intent of bad actors, but for those truly in need of refuge."

Chairman Goodlatte: "The recent surge of Central American unaccompanied alien minors and family units seeking to enter the U.S. illegally at our southern border put a strain on manpower and resources. It also exposed loopholes in our nation's immigration laws that are being exploited by smugglers and others seeking to game the system. The Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act makes a number of changes to address these problems while also maintaining our country's historic generosity toward those fleeing persecution in their home countries. I am pleased that the House Judiciary Committee has approved this bill and others to improve our nation's immigration system and urge the House to take them up when Congress returns in a few weeks."

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