SLC Times

Senator Lee has released a list of what he refers to as the "Dirty Dozen" disasters in the so-called "Border Deal" proposed by the government. According to the Senator, the deal will not effectively secure the border and may even worsen the existing border crisis.

One of the major concerns raised by Senator Lee is that the proposed deal codifies catch and release policies. Under this provision, the Secretary of Homeland Security would have unchecked authority to release aliens into the United States under ineffective "alternatives to detention." This means that individuals would only need to express a "credible fear" of persecution or the intent to apply for "protection determination" in order to be released.

Another issue highlighted by Senator Lee is the lack of restrictions on the number of illegal aliens allowed to enter before temporarily closing parts of the border. The Secretary of Homeland Security would only be required to shut down the border if there are 5,000 average illegal crossings over a consecutive seven-day period or 8,500 in a single day. Even during a border emergency, the bill mandates the administration to process a minimum of 1,400 illegal immigrants a day, which is more than what was considered a crisis in 2019.

The proposed deal also includes several loopholes that undermine its effectiveness. For instance, it does not count unaccompanied alien children from non-contiguous countries, suspected trafficking victims, or aliens who are determined "exempted" based on decisions by ICE. Additionally, the bill allows the reopening of the border once encounters are at 75% of the number that caused the shutdown, making it easier to resume the influx of illegal immigrants.

Furthermore, the deal has limited duration, with the number of days each year where the authority to shut down the border can be in place gradually decreasing over three years. This raises concerns about the long-term effectiveness of the proposed measures.

Senator Lee also raises concerns about the discretionary powers given to the President to reopen the border in the name of national interest for up to 45 days. This provision could potentially undermine the purpose of border emergency authority.

The proposed deal also allocates significant funds to sanctuary cities and NGOs that provide services to illegal aliens. This includes $1.4 billion for FEMA grants and $2.3 billion to HHS for Refugee Entrant And Assistance, which Senator Lee refers to as a "slush fund."

Another issue highlighted by Senator Lee is the subsidization of free, taxpayer-funded legal counsel to illegal aliens. The bill mandates that all unaccompanied alien children in the custody of the Secretary of Health and Human Services or the Secretary of Homeland Security have legal representation. It also provides free legal counsel for any illegal alien who a judge determines is mentally "incompetent."

The proposed deal also expands parole instead of limiting it, potentially allowing for the abuse of parole by the current administration. It also increases green cards by 50,000 per year for five years, which Senator Lee argues would hurt American workers by importing cheap foreign labor.

Senator Lee also criticizes the provision that provides work permits for adult children of H-1B visa holders, arguing that it would compete with recent college graduates for jobs and further harm American workers.

Additionally, the proposed deal allows for immediate work permits for every illegal immigrant released from custody after passing an initial screening, bypassing the current waiting period required by law.

One major concern raised by Senator Lee is that the proposed deal does not require the deportation of any illegal immigrants. This omission raises questions about the effectiveness of the deal in addressing the issue of illegal immigration.

Lastly, the bill includes the Afghan Adjustment Act, which creates a pathway to citizenship for over 60,000 Afghans who were brought to the country due to President Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan. Senator Lee criticizes this provision, highlighting concerns about the vetting process for these individuals.

It is important to note that the proposed deal also weakens asylum screening by codifying Biden's asylum officer regulation, potentially leading to significantly higher approval rates without review by an Immigration Judge.

Lastly, the proposed deal does not provide immediate funding for the border wall, but rather reallocates existing funds to be used at a later date, potentially delaying the construction of the wall.

In conclusion, Senator Lee has raised several concerns about the proposed border deal, highlighting what he refers to as the "Dirty Dozen" disasters in the bill. According to Senator Lee, the deal fails to effectively secure the border and may worsen the existing border crisis.