14 GOP Senators, Including Britt and Tuberville, Push for Closing Immigration Loopholes

Alabama Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville are part of a group of 14 Republican senators who have introduced a new bill. This bill, called the "Visa Integrity Prevention Act," aims to close what they consider a loophole in immigration law. According to these senators, the current law allows immigrants who have overstayed their visas or entered the U.S. illegally to stay in the country without proper consequences.

The Republican senators argue that the Biden-Harris administration is exploiting this loophole to provide amnesty to these individuals. Britt has strongly criticized the policy, calling it an abuse of the system that puts American safety at risk. Tuberville also condemned the policy, stating, "Bad policies lead to bad outcomes."

He further explained that the current administration’s approach creates incentives for more people to illegally enter the U.S., worsening the immigration situation.

The group of senators sponsoring this bill includes notable figures like John Cornyn and Ted Cruz from Texas, Thom Tillis from North Carolina, Jim Risch from Idaho, and several others from across the country.

This bill seems to target a Biden Administration policy introduced in June. That policy aimed to keep families of U.S. citizens and non-citizens together. It allows certain noncitizen spouses and children to apply for legal residency without leaving the U.S. To qualify, the applicants must have lived in the country for at least 10 years and be married to a U.S. citizen, among other requirements. According to the White House, most of these individuals have lived in the U.S. for over 20 years.

Current immigration law prevents those who overstay their visa from reentering the U.S. for up to 10 years if they leave. The new program also bypasses the usual requirement for a visa interview at a U.S. consulate abroad.

Supporters of the bill argue that this waiver undermines Congress's authority. The proposed bill would make it mandatory for anyone who has overstayed a visa or entered illegally to leave the U.S. for a visa interview. Only after that interview could they re-enter the country.

This act, if passed, would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to reinforce that all visa applicants must complete an in-person interview at a consulate abroad, closing the perceived loophole.