Border: H.R. 15 Sponsors (2013)

H.R. 15, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, a massive comprehensive amnesty bill introduced by Rep. Joe Garcia (D-Fla.) as the House companion to the Gang of 8 amnesty, would weaken border security. The bill replaced the original language from the Gang of 8 amnesty, S. 744, and the Corker-Hoeven amendment with Rep. Michael McCaul's (R-Texas) H.R. 1417 that would actually weaken existing immigration law. The McCaul bill addresses border security, but does little to guarantee an actual border security results. Rather than require the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to gain control of U.S. Borders, this act merely requires the Secretary to submit a plan to gain operational control of only the southern borders within 5 years. Operational control is met when the DHS determines that it has apprehended and turned back at least 90% of those who try to enter the U.S. illegally.