The House passed HR 2, The Secure the Border Act, on Thursday, May 11, 2023, with no Democratic support and with two Republican votes against the bill. HR 2 would require millions of dollars of funds to beef up security at the border, place restrictions on asylum, and restart construction on the controversial wall at the southern border.
This bill has no chance of passing the Senate in its current form, as Democratic lawmakers and advocates have made clear that they won’t support several of the provisions, but it’s being seen as a starting point for bipartisan negotiations about immigration reform, especially as the Title 42 pandemic-era policy that restricted asylum claims has come to an end. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed concern about the end of Title 42; in particular, vulnerable Democrats who are up for reelection in 2024 are worried about immigration issues being a focus point for the upcoming election cycle.
