Congressional Votes - The Paul amendment would make immigration reform contingent on
Congress voting to certify that the border is secure by annual votes of both the House and the Senate.
• Triggers - Triggers require Congress to vote on every year whether the border is secure as measured
by specific criteria, such as:
o Requiring a double-layered fence be completed in five years and that every year sufficient
progress is made to complete that promise, with specific miles-per-year requirements;
o Completion of an effective exit and entry program at all points of entry that tracks visa
holders;
o Progress on reaching the goal of 95% effective capture of illegal entrants; and,
o 100% incarceration until trial for newly-captured illegal entrants and overstays.
o New undocumented immigrant numbers have been reduced to a negligible level as measured
by the U.S. Census and the Department of Homeland Security.
• Report - The Department of Homeland Security must produce an annual report on border security
and progress toward completion of the double layered fence, as well as verifiable metrics. This report
will trigger the annual Congressional vote. The Inspector General’s office will review report and
provide analysis to Congress.
• Border States - Governors of Border States are allowed and encouraged to submit a report and testify
about improvements to border security.
• Immigration Conditional on Secure Border - Makes immigration status dependent on
congressional votes on the border being increasingly secure. Only 2 million RPI applications may be
approved in a given year provided that passage of a Joint Resolution verifying that the border is
secure. If a Joint Resolution is not passed, then no more RPI applications shall be approved.
• Added Border Security Protections – Additional provisions to strengthen security:
o A Student Visa National Security Registration system is created to add increased security
screening of students coming from countries known to be incubators of extremism and
exporters of international terrorism.
o Enhanced checks of status, location, and activities of students here on visas.
o Enhanced screening of individuals petitioning for asylum and refugee status.