Published by
Joe Jenkins
On December 16, 2005 – twenty years ago today – the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005, by a vote of 239-182. The legislation included mandatory use of the E-Verify system (phased in over two years), construction of 700 miles of reinforced border fencing, and elimination of the visa diversity lottery that randomly awards 55,000 green cards each year regardless of skills, education, or job prospects. The bill received bipartisan support, with 36 Democrats joining 203 Republicans in voting for final passage. It was the last time the House voted to reduce legal immigration.
H.R. 4437 also defined “operational control” of the border as “the prevention of all unlawful entries,” including terrorists, illegal aliens, narcotics, and other contraband – a standard that remains relevant today. The bill mandated detention for aliens apprehended at or between ports of entry and included provisions to combat alien smuggling, document fraud, and immigration benefits fraud.
Despite bipartisan passage in the House, H.R. 4437 never made it out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The 2024 election sent a decisive message: Americans want an end to illegal immigration and a reduction in mass immigration. Voters made clear that controlling the border and protecting American workers are top priorities. In the current 119th Congress, H.R. 1241, the SAFE for America Act, would eliminate the visa lottery program that H.R. 4437 addressed in 2005; Rep. Mike Collins’ bill currently has over 30 cosponsors. H.R. 251, the Legal Workforce Act, would mandate E-Verify for all employers, removing the jobs magnet that attracts illegal labor; Rep. Ken Calvert’s bill has 15 cosponsors, including one Democrat.
After twenty years – and the largest wave of total immigration in American history – it’s time for the House to vote to lower the numbers.
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