Southern Border Transparency Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, the Biden-Harris apparent strategy for handling the massive influx of migrants on the southern border has been to funnel them into allegedly temporary parole programs and act like the Biden-Harris border crisis has been resolved. Far from it.

There is little public data on the number of people who have actually been released into the United States under these programs, whether they are making asylum claims, or whether their claims were being evaluated in any way before they are being released, or whether they ever leave the country or remain indefinitely.

The administration has gone to great lengths to hide the ball when it comes to levels of illegal immigration. But the American people deserve to know exactly how many migrants are being released into the country and exactly on what terms.

That is why I led the Southern Border Transparency Act, which would shine a bright light on the catch-and-release policies of the administration by requiring the Department of Homeland Security to fully report on how it handles migrants encountered at the southern border.

This is the most basic of transparency measures--just the facts, that is all we are looking for. And anyone who supports securing the southern border can support this legislation.

I appreciate Senator Grassley's leadership on this issue, and I hope the Senate can advance this bill today.

3187 and that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
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