Central OC Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On May 9, Representative Lou Correa (CA-46), Ranking Member of the House Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee, introduced six amendments to House Republicans’ anti-immigration proposal, the so-called Secure the Border Act of 2023, that is slated for immediate consideration on the House floor, to protect asylum seekers, keep migrant families together, support CBP officers, and counter overseas smuggling of narcotics.

In an earlier statement, Ranking Member Correa described this anti-immigration proposal as “not only morally bankrupt, but also economically misguided,” continuing that “it would also weaken our workforce, restrain our nation’s economic recovery and overall hinder our efforts to undo the damage from the previous administration,” and urging that his colleagues “begin legislating in good faith and consider immigration reform that is rooted in compassion and American economic prosperity—not in punitive measures that have consistently failed.”

In response, Rep. Correa introduced the below amendments to the House Rules Committee:

Amendment #1 – Special Pay Rate

• Requires OPM to establish a special rate in geographic areas to address recruiting and retention issues.

Amendment #2 – New Entry Pay Rate

• Establishing the minimum rate of basic pay for any individual appointed to a CBP position to level GS-7 of the General Schedule.

Amendment #3 – Child Care for CBP Officers

• Expand childcare services for CBP agents and officers.

Amendment #4 – Countering Overseas Smuggling of Narcotics

• Expands bilateral cooperation with Mexican and Central American law enforcement to identify and disrupt human smuggling and drug trafficking operations.

Amendment #5 – Remove Retroactive Detention

• This amendment would have eliminated provisions of the bill that would automatically and indefinitely detain all asylum seeking families coming to the border, including its retroactive applicability to families living and working in the United States for years with legal work authorization while awaiting their asylum hearing(s).

Amendment #6 – Immigrant Veterans and their Families

• Codifies the current military parole program that has existed since the Obama Administration and was continued by the Trump Administration that is available to undocumented service members, veterans and their families

Each of Rep. Correa’s Republican colleagues on the House Rules Committee voted against these amendments.

You can download copies of these amendments HERE.

Original source can be found here.