HYDE-SMITH COSPONSORS BILL TO COMPLETE WALL ON U.S.-MEXICO BORDER
‘The WALL Act’ Offsets Wall Costs by Ending Benefits that Serve as Incentives for Illegal Immigration
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) this week cosponsored legislation to fully fund completion of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, while making important reforms to tax and welfare benefits that can serve as added incentive to enter the United States illegally.
Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, is supporting the WALL Act of 2021 (S.3146), which would make $25 billion available to construct the southern border wall. The legislation identifies offsets that would more than pay for border security initiative.
“It’s evident President Biden doesn’t have any intention of enforcing our immigration laws and is instead signaling that the border is open,” Hyde-Smith said. “We need the WALL Act to begin to get U.S. border security back on track. The fact that this bill is fully offset by clamping down on the abuse of benefits programs that shouldn’t go to those who are here illegally.”
To pay for the wall, the legislation would end federal funds currently spent for entitlement benefits and tax credits for illegal immigrants. It would also levy a $3,000 minimum fine on every illegal entry into the United States and a $300 fee on every illegal immigrant working and filing taxes in this country.
The Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) has projected this legislation would result in savings of more than $33 billion, offsets that are more than enough to cover the $25 billion cost of the wall.
Introduced by U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), S.3146 has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee, where it awaits further action.
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