GOP moves closer to funding immigration enforcement

The House of Representatives approved a Senate-passed budget resolution this week, establishing the framework to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for the next three years. The House also passed a Senate appropriations bill providing funding for the remainder of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through September.

President Trump signed the DHS appropriations measure last night, mostly ending an 11-week shutdown of DHS. Remember, the showdown began back in February when Democrats demanded that ten ICE “reforms” be included in the full DHS spending bill. Those reforms would have essentially ended immigration enforcement altogether.

The Immigration Accountability Project was instrumental during this period, successfully encouraging Congressional Republicans to maintain their opposition to the Democrats' demands. 

With DHS now reopened except for ICE and Border Patrol operations (part of CBP), the focus shifts toward the June 1st deadline set by Pres. Trump to approve the final budget reconciliation bill to fund immigration enforcement. Although the House and Senate are currently in recess until May 11th, and will only be in session for two weeks before Memorial Day, Republicans must now prioritize drafting and passing the reconciliation legislation required to fund ICE and CBP based on the recently approved budget resolution framework.

IAP hosts reception for Mass Deportation Coalition

IAP's Rosemary Jenks spoke during our reception for the Mass Deportation Coalition.

This week, the Immigration Accountability Project hosted a reception for Members of Congress and the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Mass Deportation Coalition. It was a great opportunity to explain, in person, that the Coalition’s goal is to assist the Trump Administration in delivering on President Trump’s campaign promise to “conduct the largest mass deportation operation” in American history.

On April 1st, the Coalition released its Playbook that provides the policy framework for deporting at least one million illegal aliens in 2026. IAP is leading the Coalition’s government relations effort and has been delivering the Playbook to Members of Congress and administration officials. You can read the Playbook at MassDeportation.com.

Big move in Immigration Rankings

Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) made a massive move in IAP Action's Congressional Immigration Rankings this week, climbing 106 spots to No. 66 overall in the House. Rep. Griffith cosponsored seven immigration bills this week, including four that IAP Action has identified as Key Legislation.

Rep. Griffith cosponsored H.R. 318, the Border Safety and Security Act, which would require DHS to close the border if it’s unable to detain all arriving inadmissible aliens, H.R. 1231, the SAFE for America Act, which would end the visa lottery, H.R. 2315, the Fairness for High Skilled Americans Act, which would end the Optional Practical Training program, and H.R. 2705, the Nuclear Family Priority Act, which would end chain migration. He also cosponsored H.R. 273, the REMAIN in Mexico Act, and H.R. 5005, the Sanctuary Penalty and Public Protection Act.

Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL) moved into the top 10 this week after moving up 15 spots. He cosponsored H.R. 251, the Legal Workforce Act, which would require all employers to use E-Verify, and H.R. 1241, the SAFE for America Act.

Rep. Rob Menendez (D-NJ) had the worst week, sliding six spots to No. 402 overall in the House. Rep. Menendez cosponsored H.R. 7986, the Save the World Cup Act, which would bar immigration enforcement within one mile of any World Cup events.

You can view the full Immigration Rankings at IAPAction.com.

Immigration Articles

Daily Wire: EXCLUSIVE: Agents Pulled Nationwide As ‘Gotaways’ Surge In Border Town

Hundreds of Border Patrol agents are being reassigned from across the country to Laredo, Texas, to combat a surge in "gotaways" resulting from a lack of natural barriers and shifting smuggling routes.

NBC News: Federal agents conduct raids tied to investigation of welfare fraud allegations in Minnesota

Federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and DHS, conducted at least 22 raids across Minnesota on Tuesday morning as part of a massive investigation into alleged welfare and “autism center” fraud.

American Intelligence: The Cheap Foreign Labor Regime Blocking Agricultural Intelligence

This article, written by our friend RJ Hauman of the National Immigration Center for Enforcement, argues that federal policies favoring illegal alien labor and expanding the H-2A guestworker program effectively subsidize a cheap-labor model that prevents American agriculture from adopting AI and robotics.

Next Week

With all but the immigration enforcement parts of DHS funded, the House and Senate are both on a one-week recess next week. They will be back the week of May 11.