Permanent Trump Secure Border Act

Key Points

• The bill makes asylum much harder to get. Most migrants would be barred unless they first applied for protection in a country they passed through on the way to the US, and it raises the credible fear screening standard so people must show they are more likely than not to qualify.
• Asylum seekers must arrive at an official port of entry to be eligible. Crossing between ports of entry would disqualify someone from asylum and from work authorization.
• Staying past a visa deadline becomes a federal crime. A first overstay of 10 days or more could mean up to 6 months in jail, and repeat offenses up to 2 years, plus civil fines of $500 to $1,000.
• The government can detain families together with their children while removal is decided, with no presumption against detaining a child, and states cannot require these detention centers to be licensed.
• If an unaccompanied child is placed with a sponsor who is in the country unlawfully, DHS must begin removing that sponsor within 30 days of getting their information.
• Immigration parole is sharply limited to narrow case-by-case reasons like life-threatening medical emergencies, organ donation, funerals, or helping law enforcement, ending large class-based parole programs.