House Republicans unveil plan to strengthen border and reform asylum system

House Republicans released a plan to tighten security at the southern border and restrict the issuance of asylum to would-be migrants on Thursday.

House Republican leaders indicated that they would bring the bill up for a vote in early May, to coincide with the expiration of the COVID-19 pandemic-era Title 42 rule, The Hill reported. Title 42 allows for the swift deportation of border migrants should they hail from a region known to host a communicable disease.

"And when we return in May, the same week that Title 42 expires, we’re going to bring a border security package and pass it through this House of Representatives," said Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. The measure is likely to struggle in the Democratic-led Senate, but Scalise was optimistic that Republicans had the votes to pass the legislation in the House.

"Our members have been very interested in having us bring a border security package to the floor, since we ran on this last year. So now that we have all the bills out, we’re going to get that information to our members. I’m very confident we’re going to pass it when we return in May," he asserted.

The Republican package includes efforts from the House Judiciary Committee to restrict asylum applications. Specifically, the measure would permit the Department of Homeland Security to bar the entry of would-be migrants thought to pose a public health threat until it had achieved "operational control" of the border.

The strict definition of that term requires there be no unlawful arrivals at the border or any smuggling efforts, The Hill noted. Moreover, it would require the detention of asylum seekers for the duration of the application process.

The GOP-led reform package also includes a plan from the Homeland Committee to restrict the use of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection app through which the Biden administration currently allows foreign nationals to apply for temporary entrance to the U.S. The package would limit that app's use to commercial purposes only.

Republicans further seek to allocate resources for border enforcement agencies to maintain minimum personnel levels and to retain experienced agents.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.