Senate Republicans reveal border security demands to handle migration surge

A group of key Senate Republicans on Monday unveiled a list of border security reforms to tackle an unprecedented surge in illegal border crossings and mounting concerns of terrorist entries into the U.S.

Led by GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham, S.C., Tom Cotton, Ark., and James Lankford, Okla., the group of upper chamber lawmakers highlighted the ongoing security crises and suggested bolstering a litany of existing security mechanisms to stem the problem.

"The crisis at the southern border is a direct result of failed policies. The Senate Republican Working Group is presenting solutions to fix these failed policies, instead of simply throwing more money at the ever-worsening problem," the group wrote in a one-page list of demands.

Specifically, they called on the Department of Homeland Security to resume construction of a border wall on the nation's frontier with Mexico and to work toward "operational control" of the border. Moreover, they seek to tighten U.S. asylum law by imposing "safe third country" requirements that would render individuals seeking asylum ineligible for such status if they did not seek it in another country through which they traveled to reach the U.S.

They would also raise the "credible fear standard" in which an applicant must show the likeliness of persecution should they return home. Their reforms would also require would-be asylees to make their requests at U.S. ports of entry exclusively.

"We must make policy changes to reduce the flow of immigration," Graham said. "The world is on fire and threats to our homeland are at an all-time high. President Biden’s border policies are not working and it’s time to change course. Our proposal makes the necessary changes that our country needs at this critical time."

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