Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) announced today that he is cosponsoring H.R. 4760, the Securing America’s Future Act, which significantly bolsters enforcement of existing immigration law, mandates a very strict legislative solution to force accountability of illegal immigrants subject to the DACA program, and greatly enhances border security.
The bill includes major portions of the Border Security for America Act, a bill that Congressman Higgins helped author and pass through the House Homeland Security Committee in October of 2017.
Key Points of the Securing America’s Future Act:
- Authorizes Border Wall – provides funding for the deployment and construction of tactical infrastructure and technology, including a wall and other barriers, air assets, maritime patrol, ground sensors, tunnel detection, and other surveillance technology.
- Ends Chain Migration & the Visa Lottery Program – eliminates the visa lottery green card program, creating a skills-based immigration system that prioritizes merit. Eliminates green card programs for relatives other than spouses and minor children.
- Creates a Solution for Agricultural Workers – creates a workable guest worker program that grows our economy and addresses the needs of Louisiana’s agricultural and seafood processing industries.
- Puts More Boots on the Ground – allows the hiring of an additional 5,000 Border Patrol Agents and 5,000 Customs & Border Protection Officers to secure our borders.
- Secures Ports of Entry – targets illegal immigration, human trafficking, and drug trafficking at our ports, while also targeting visa overstays through full deployment of a Biometric Entry-Exit System at all air, land, and sea ports of entry.
- Cracks Down on Sanctuary Cities – withholds federal funding from sanctuary cities and enhances criminal penalties for deported criminals that illegally return to the United States.
- Mandates Accountability for DACA Illegal Immigrants – implements stringent measures to disqualify and remove convicted criminals, gang members, fraudulent claims, or those who fail to pay taxes.
The new eligibility requirements eliminate and deport any DACA participants that fail to meet general age and educational requirements, have been convicted of a felony, have refused to comply with any removal order, or have failed to pay any Federal, State, or local taxes. In addition to felony charges, misdemeanors including domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, crimes of violence, violation of a protection order, driving under the influence, and drug offenses will also result in deportation.
Congressman Higgins issued the following statement:
“Many of the problems we face come from the complete failure of the previous administration to enforce existing immigration law. We have a duty as a nation to enforce the law and secure our borders. That is the foundation of this bill, which makes much-needed changes to combat illegal immigration, crack down on sanctuary cities, and provide frontline defenders with the resources they need to secure our borders. We are also working to provide a mandate for accountability for DACA participants that puts American citizens first and prioritizes safety.”
View an executive summary of the Securing America’s Future Act here.
