Immigration & Border Security
We must take immediate action to secure our borders and to fix our broken immigration system. The people of Texas demand results, not more broken promises from Washington.
As the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s immigration subcommittee, which handles immigration and border security issues, Senator Cornyn is a leader on issues that affect the lives of Texans every day. He strongly believes that securing our southern border must be a top priority in dealing with our national security and our broken immigration system. Senator Cornyn believes commonsense reforms are needed to improve legal immigration and increase the flow of legitimate trade and travel through our ports of entry.
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Senator Cornyn's Legislative Efforts
- Introduced the Bipartisan Border Solutions Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to respond to the surge in migrants coming across our southern border. It would improve both the Department of Homeland Security’s and the Department of Justice’s capacity to manage migration influxes and adjudicate asylum claims in a timely manner, protect unaccompanied migrant children, reduce impact on local communities, ensure migrants are treated fairly and humanely, and ultimately deter those who do not have realistic asylum claims from placing themselves in danger by making the treacherous journey to our southern border. You can learn more about this legislation here.
- Authored the Building America’s Trust Act, which would enact a comprehensive strategy and sector-by-sector requirements for achieving operational control, persistent surveillance, and the prevention of illegal immigration on our nation’s borders. It focuses on three main pillars: increased resources at our border, increased trade through ports of entry, and strengthened enforcement of existing laws.
- Introduced the bipartisan HUMANE Act, legislation designed to help solve the ongoing humanitarian crisis at our southern border by reforming current laws dealing with unaccompanied alien children (UAC) and migrants taken into custody.
- Worked across the aisle to seek emergency funding or reimbursement for communities impacted by influxes of illegal immigrants along the southern border and continues to pursue these critical funds for border cities.
- Introduced the Securing America’s Ports of Entry Act to fully staff America’s airports, seaports and land ports of entry by requiring U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to hire no less than 600 additional officers a year until the agency’s staffing needs are met.
- Authored the Cross Border Trade Enhancement Act, which was signed into law in 2016 and reauthorized in 2021 to allow greater collaboration between private companies and Customs and Border Patrol and to facilitate more efficient trade and travel through our ports of entry.
Key Votes
- Voted for multiple pieces of legislation that have become law to bolster border security, including physical barriers, technology, and additional personnel.
- Championed a provision in the five-year highway authorization allowing Texas to invest millions in border infrastructure.
- Voted for the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect America Act, which would have required the enforcement of federal immigration laws against criminals.
- Voted for and championed language in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, allowing border states like Texas to reserve highway funds for border infrastructure projects.