Blackburn, Cornyn, GOP Colleagues Introduce Bill Forcing Biden Admin to Make Catch-and-Release Data Public

November 3, 2023

NASHVILLE, TENN. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and 24 of their Senate Republican colleagues introduced the Southern Border Transparency Act, which would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to accurately report how it is handling migrants encountered at the border and ensure the American people have a full accounting of the number of migrants being released into the United States by the Biden administration along with information detailing where they are coming from.

“No amount of coverup from the Biden administration will hide the fact that they have created the worst border crisis in history,” said Senator Blackburn. “Americans deserve the full truth about what’s happening, including how many illegal immigrants are being unlawfully released all over our country and often on the taxpayer’s dime.”

 “The Biden administration has gone to great lengths to hide record levels of illegal immigration at the southern border, but Americans deserve to know exactly how many migrants are being released into our country,” said Senator Cornyn. “This legislation would shine a bright light on President Biden’s catch-and-release practices and reveal the devastating consequences of this administration’s unlawful actions.”

ADDITIONAL CO-SPONSORS:

  •  This legislation is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Lee (R-UT), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.).

BACKGROUND:  

  • The Southern Border Transparency Act would require the DHS to report on the: 
    • Number of migrants paroled at each port of entry (POE), broken down by nationality and demographics.
    • Number of migrants paroled in each Border Patrol sector, broken down by nationality and demographics.
    • Number of migrants apprehended at each POE.
    • Number of migrants apprehended in each Border Patrol sector.
    • Number of petitions for parole received and granted by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the total number of aliens paroled into the U.S., broken down by nationality and demographics.

 

Click here for bill text.