Washington D.C. – U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas) have introduced the Visa Integrity Preservation Act. This bill aims to close a “loophole” in immigration law that the Biden-Harris administration is accused of using to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants who entered the U.S. without inspection or overstayed their visas.
Senator Britt, who is the ranking member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, criticized the administration’s immigration policies. She claimed these policies put Americans at risk. “The Biden-Harris Administration’s mass amnesty agenda and misuse of parole is wrong, irresponsible, and threatens the safety of all Americans,” Britt stated. She said the bill would stop the misuse of nonimmigrant visas as a way to grant amnesty, which worsens the border crisis.
Senator Tuberville shared these concerns, saying, “Horrible policies yield horrible results. The Biden-Harris administration has repeatedly shown a lack of respect for the rule of law.” He noted that current policies encourage more illegal immigration and expressed hope that the Senate would take action to secure the border.
Senator Cornyn added that the Biden administration’s approach has created unlawful programs allowing individuals to enter and stay in the U.S., regardless of their legal status. He said, “By strengthening existing laws, our legislation would eliminate this major incentive while preserving the integrity of our employment-based nonimmigrant visa program.”
The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.).
Under current U.S. immigration laws, individuals who overstay their visas or enter the country illegally face serious penalties. Visa overstayers may be barred from reentering the U.S. for up to ten years, while those who cross the border illegally cannot return once they leave. Nonimmigrant visa applicants must also attend an interview at a U.S. consulate abroad to receive their visas.
The Visa Integrity Preservation Act aims to address a new initiative introduced by the Biden-Harris administration in June 2024. This initiative waived the consular interview requirement for certain nonimmigrant visas. Critics argue that this policy allows some illegal border crossers and visa overstayers to receive temporary work visas. They see it as an overreach of executive power and a way to bypass existing immigration laws.
If passed, the Visa Integrity Preservation Act would change the Immigration and Nationality Act. It would ensure that individuals who enter the U.S. illegally or overstay their visas cannot skip the in-person consular interview requirement. Instead, they would need to leave the U.S. and attend a consular interview before being granted a visa. This change aims to reinforce the penalties for violating immigration laws and to maintain proper immigration procedures.
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