A new budget proposal from the Republican Study Committee (RSC) outlines significant changes to U.S. border and immigration policy. The plan, which aims to cut government spending and reduce taxes, also prioritizes addressing the situation at the southern border. The RSC emphasizes four core principles: protecting Americans from national security threats, boosting economic opportunities for American workers and legal immigrants, upholding the rule of law, and promoting assimilation of legal immigrants.
The RSC criticizes the Biden administration's border policies, arguing they have fueled a historic border crisis and neglected the executive branch's responsibility to control the southern border. The committee's budget supports several legislative initiatives, including completing the border wall, reinstating the Remain-in-Mexico policy, and raising the "credible fear" threshold for asylum seekers.
The RSC's budget also advocates for taxing remittances to fund border security, defunding sanctuary cities, and enabling federal authorities to detain undocumented immigrants until ICE can process them. Further proposals include ending birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants, eliminating the diversity visa lottery program, and restricting chain migration to spouses and children of citizens and green card holders. The RSC endorses legislation to prohibit settlement payments to undocumented immigrants related to their entry, prevent funding for U.N. agencies that allegedly encourage illegal migration, and bar non-citizens from voting in D.C. local elections.
These proposals are part of a larger Republican effort to strengthen border security and implement broader immigration reforms. A House-passed package would increase border resources, including Border Patrol agents, and modify laws concerning unaccompanied minors and humanitarian parole. Additionally, prominent 2024 Republican presidential candidates have committed to reinstating the Remain-in-Mexico policy.
