S. 5371

119 S5371 IS: Stopping Border Surges Act
 U.S. Senate
 2026-08-07
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 5371  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   August 7, 2026   Mr. Lee  (for himself,  Mr. Tuberville ,  Mrs. Britt ,  Mr. Cruz ,  Mr. Scott of Florida , and  Mr. Banks ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on the Judiciary    A BILL
To close loopholes in the immigration laws that serve as incentives to aliens to attempt to enter the United States unlawfully, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title; table of contents
(a)
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Stopping Border Surges Act  .
(b)
Table of contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I—Unaccompanied Alien Children
Sec. 101. Repatriation of unaccompanied alien children.
Sec. 102. Clarification of standards for family detention.
Sec. 103. Special immigrant juvenile status for immigrants unable to reunite with either parent.
TITLE II—Asylum Reform
Sec. 201. Clarification of asylum eligibility.
Sec. 202. Safe third country.
Sec. 203. Application timing.
Sec. 204. Clarification of burden of proof.
Sec. 205. Anti-fraud investigative work product.
Sec. 206. Additional exception.
Sec. 207. Jurisdiction of asylum applications.
Sec. 208. Renunciation of asylum status pursuant to return to home country.
Sec. 209. Clarification regarding employment eligibility.
Sec. 210. Notice concerning frivolous asylum applications.
Sec. 211. Credible fear interviews.
Sec. 212. Recording expedited removal and credible fear interviews.
Sec. 213. Penalties for asylum fraud.
Sec. 214. Statute of limitations for asylum fraud.
Sec. 215. Technical amendments.
I
Unaccompanied Alien Children
101.
Repatriation of unaccompanied alien children
(a)
In general
Section 235 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 ( 8 U.S.C. 1232 ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
by amending the paragraph heading to read as follows:
Rules for unaccompanied alien children.—  ;
(ii)
in subparagraph (A)—
(I)
in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking  who is a national or habitual resident of a country that is contiguous with the United States ;
(II)
in clause (i), by inserting  and  at the end;
(III)
in clause (ii), by striking  ; and  and inserting a period; and
(IV)
by striking clause (iii);
(iii)
in subparagraph (B)—
(I)
in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking  may ;
(II)
in clause (i), by inserting  may  before  permit ; and
(III)
in clause (ii), by inserting  shall  before  return ; and
(iv)
in subparagraph (C)—
(I)
by amending the subparagraph heading to read as follows:
Agreements with foreign countries.—  ; and
(II)
in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking  shall negotiate agreements between the United States and countries contiguous to the United States  and inserting  may negotiate agreements between the United States and any foreign country the Secretary determines appropriate ;
(B)
by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as paragraphs (4) through (6), respectively;
(C)
by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
(3)
Special rules for interviewing unaccompanied alien children
An unaccompanied alien child shall be interviewed by an immigration officer who has received specialized training in interviewing child trafficking victims.
 ; and
(D)
in paragraph (6)(D), as redesignated—
(i)
in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking  , except for an unaccompanied alien child from a contiguous country subject to exceptions under subsection (a)(2),   and inserting  who does not meet the criteria listed in paragraph (2)(A) ; and
(ii)
in clause (i), by inserting  , which shall include a hearing before an immigration judge not later than 14 days after being screened in accordance with paragraph (5)  before the semicolon at the end;
(2)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking  services  and inserting  Services ;
(ii)
in subparagraph (A), by inserting  who does not meet the criteria listed in subsection (a)(2)(A)  before the semicolon at the end; and
(iii)
in subparagraph (B), by inserting  and does not meet the criteria listed in subsection (a)(2)(A)  before the period at the end; and
(B)
in paragraph (3), by striking  an unaccompanied alien child in custody shall  and all that follows, and inserting the following:
an unaccompanied alien child in custody—
(A)
in the case of a child who does not meet the criteria listed in subsection (a)(2)(A), shall transfer the custody of such child to the Secretary of Health and Human Services not later than 30 days after determining such child is an unaccompanied alien child who does not meet such criteria; or
(B)
in the case of child who meets the criteria listed in subsection (a)(2)(A), may transfer the custody of such child to the Secretary of Health and Human Services after determining such child is an unaccompanied alien child who meets such criteria.
 ; and
(3)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following:
(D)
Information about individuals with whom children are placed
(i)
Information to be provided to the department of homeland security
Before placing an unaccompanied alien child with an individual, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide to the Secretary of Homeland Security the following information regarding the individual with whom the child will be placed:
(I)
The name of such individual.
(II)
The Social Security number of such individual, if available.
(III)
The date of birth of such individual.
(IV)
The location of such individual’s residence at which the child will be placed.
(V)
The immigration status of such individual, if known.
(VI)
Contact information for such individual.
(ii)
Special rule
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this subparagraph, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide to the Secretary of Homeland Security the information listed in clause (i) with respect to any unaccompanied alien child apprehended between January 1, 2021, and such date of enactment who the Secretary of Health and Human Services has placed with an individual.
(iii)
Activities of the secretary of homeland security
Not later than 30 days after receiving the information listed in clause (i), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall—
(I)
if the immigration status of an individual with whom a child is placed is unknown, investigate the immigration status of such individual; and
(II)
upon determining an individual with whom a child is placed is unlawfully present in the United States, initiate removal proceedings against such individual pursuant to chapter 4 of title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1221 et seq. )
 ; and
(B)
in paragraph (5)—
(i)
by inserting  (at no expense to the Government)  after  to the greatest extent practicable ; and
(ii)
by striking  have counsel to represent them  and inserting  have access to counsel to represent them .
(b)
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to any unaccompanied alien child apprehended on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
102.
Clarification of standards for family detention
(a)
In general
Section 235 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 ( 8 U.S.C. 1232 ) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (j) and moving it so as to appear after subsection (i); and
(2)
by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
(h)
Rule of construction
(1)
In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, judicial determination, consent decree, or settlement agreement—
(A)
the detention of any alien child who is not an unaccompanied alien child shall be governed by sections 217, 235, 236, and 241 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1187 , 1225, 1226, and 1231);
(B)
there is no presumption that an alien child who is not an unaccompanied alien child should not be detained; and
(C)
all determinations regarding the detention of such children shall be in the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security.
(2)
Release of minors other than unaccompanied aliens
An alien minor who is not an unaccompanied alien child may not be released by the Secretary of Homeland Security other than to a parent or legal guardian who is lawfully present in the United States.
(3)
Family detention
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall—
(A)
maintain the care and custody of an alien, during the period during which the charges described in clause (i) are pending, who—
(i)
is charged only with a misdemeanor offense under section 275(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1325(a) ); and
(ii)
entered the United States with the alien’s child who has not attained 18 years of age; and
(B)
detain the alien with the alien’s child.
 .
(b)
Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that the amendment made by subsection (a) is intended to satisfy the requirements of the Settlement Agreement in Flores v. Meese, No. 85–4544 (C.D. Cal) as approved by the court on January 28, 1997, with respect to its interpretation in Flores v. Johnson, 212 F. Supp. 3d 864 (C.D. Cal. 2015), that the agreement applies to accompanied minors.
(c)
Effective date
The amendment made by subsection (a)—
(1)
shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act; and
(2)
shall apply to all actions that occur before, on, or after such date of enactment.
(d)
Preemption of State licensing requirements
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, judicial determination, consent decree, or settlement agreement, no State may require that an immigration detention facility used to detain children who have not attained 18 years of age, or families consisting of 1 or more of such children and the parents or legal guardians of such children, that is located in such State, be licensed by the State or by any political subdivision of such State.
103.
Special immigrant juvenile status for immigrants unable to reunite with either parent
Section 101(a)(27)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(J) ) is amended—
(1)
by moving the subparagraph 2 ems to the left;
(2)
in clause (i), by striking  , and whose reunification with 1 or both of the immigrant's parents is not viable due to abuse, neglect, abandonment, or a similar basis found under State law ; and
(3)
in clause (iii)—
(A)
in subclause (I), by striking  and  at the end;
(B)
in subclause (II), by adding  and  at the end; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(III)
an alien may not be granted special immigrant juvenile status under this subparagraph if his or her reunification with any parent or legal guardian is not precluded by abuse, neglect, abandonment, or any similar cause under State law;
  .
II
Asylum Reform
201.
Clarification of asylum eligibility
(a)
Place of arrival
Section 208(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(a)(1) ) is amended by striking  or who arrives in the United States (whether or not at a designated port of arrival and including an alien who is brought to the United States after having been interdicted in international or United States waters),  and inserting  and has arrived in the United States at a port of entry, .
(b)
Eligibility
Section 208(b)(1)(A) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(1)(A) ) is amended by inserting  and is eligible to apply for asylum under subsection (a)  before the period at the end.
202.
Safe third country
Section 208(a)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(a)(2)(A) ) is amended to read as follows:
(A)
Safe third country
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien if the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General determines—
(i)
the alien may be removed to a country (other than the country of the alien's nationality or, in the case of an alien having no nationality, the country of the alien's last habitual residence) in which the alien's life or freedom would not be threatened on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, and where the alien would have access to a full and fair procedure for determining a claim to asylum or equivalent temporary protection, unless the Attorney General, on a case-by-case basis, finds that it is in the public interest for the alien to receive asylum in the United States; or
(ii)
the alien entered, attempted to enter, or arrived in the United States after transiting through at least one country outside the alien’s country of citizenship, nationality, or last lawful habitual residence en route to the United States, unless—
(I)
the alien demonstrates that he or she applied for protection from persecution or torture in at least one country outside the alien’s country of citizenship, nationality, or last lawful habitual residence through which the alien transited en route to the United States, and the alien received a final judgement denying the alien protection in each country;
(II)
the alien demonstrates that he or she was a victim of a severe form of trafficking in which a commercial sex act was induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act was younger than 18 years of age; or in which the trafficking included the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery, and was unable to apply for protection from persecution in all countries that alien transited en route to the United States as a result of such severe form of trafficking; or
(III)
the only countries through which the alien transited en route to the United States were, at the time of the transit, not parties to the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, or the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
 .
203.
Application timing
Section 208(a)(2)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(a)(2)(B) ) is amended by striking  1 year  and inserting  6 months .
204.
Clarification of burden of proof
Section 208(b)(1)(B)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(1)(B)(i) ) is amended by striking  at least one central reason  and inserting  the central reason .
205.
Anti-fraud investigative work product
(a)
Asylum credibility determinations
Section 208(b)(1)(B)(iii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(1)(B)(iii) ) is amended by inserting  , including statements made to, and investigative reports prepared by, immigration authorities and other government officials  after  all relevant factors .
(b)
Relief for removal credibility determinations
Section 240(c)(4)(C) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1229a(c)(4)(C) ) is amended by inserting  , including statements made to, and investigative reports prepared by, immigration authorities and other government officials  after  all relevant factors .
206.
Additional exception
Section 208(b)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(2)(A) ) is amended—
(1)
in clause (v), by striking  or  at the end;
(2)
in clause (vi), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; or ; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(vii)
there are reasonable grounds for concluding the alien could avoid persecution by relocating to another part of the alien’s country of nationality or, if stateless, another part of the alien’s country of last habitual residence.
 .
207.
Jurisdiction of asylum applications
Section 208(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158 ) is amended by striking subparagraph (C).
208.
Renunciation of asylum status pursuant to return to home country
(a)
In general
Section 208(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(c) ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(4)
Renunciation of status pursuant to return to home country
(A)
In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), any alien who has been granted asylum status under this Act shall have such status terminated if the alien—
(i)
applied for such status because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution in that country on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion; and
(ii)
absent changed country conditions, subsequently returns to the country of such alien’s nationality or, in the case of an alien having no nationality, returns to any country in which such alien last habitually resided.
(B)
Waiver
The Secretary has discretion to waive the application of subparagraph (A) if it is established, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, that the alien had a compelling reason for returning to his or her country of nationality or last habitual residence. Such waiver may be sought prior to departing from the United States or upon the alien's return to the United States.
 .
(b)
Conforming and technical amendments
Section 208(c)(3) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(c)(3) ) is amended—
(1)
by inserting  or (4)  after  paragraph (2) ; and
(2)
by striking  under section  and inserting  under sections .
209.
Clarification regarding employment eligibility
Section 208(d)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(2) ) is amended—
(1)
by striking  prior to 180 days  and inserting  before the date that is 1 year ; and
(2)
by inserting  and such authorization shall expire on the date that is 6 months after the date on which it is granted  before the period at the end.
210.
Notice concerning frivolous asylum applications
(a)
In general
Section 208(d)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(4) ) is amended—
(1)
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting  the Secretary of Homeland Security or  before  the Attorney General ;
(2)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  and of the consequences, under paragraph (6), of knowingly filing a frivolous application for asylum; and  and inserting a semicolon;
(3)
in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; and ; and
(4)
by adding at the end the following:
(C)
ensure that a written warning appears on the asylum application advising the alien of the consequences of filing a frivolous application and serving as notice to the alien of the consequence of filing a frivolous application.
 .
(b)
Conforming amendment
Section 208(d)(6) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(6) ) is amended to read as follows:
(6)
Frivolous applications
(A)
Consequence
If the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General determines an alien has knowingly made a frivolous application for asylum after receiving the written warning required under paragraph (4)(C), such alien shall be permanently ineligible for any benefits under this chapter, effective as of the date of the final determination of such application.
(B)
Determination
An application shall be considered frivolous if the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General determines, in accordance with subparagraph (C), that—
(i)
the application is so insufficient in substance that it is clear that the applicant knowingly filed the application solely or in part to delay removal from the United States, to seek employment authorization as an applicant for asylum pursuant to regulations issued pursuant to paragraph (2), or to seek issuance of a Notice to Appear in order to pursue Cancellation of Removal under section 240A(b); or
(ii)
any of the material elements are knowingly fabricated.
(C)
Opportunity to clarify claim
An application may not be considered frivolous under this paragraph unless the Secretary or the Attorney General are satisfied that the applicant, during the course of the proceedings, has had sufficient opportunity to clarify any discrepancies or implausible aspects of the applicant's claim.
(D)
Withholding of removal
A determination under this paragraph that an alien filed a frivolous asylum application shall not preclude such alien from seeking withholding of removal under section 241(b)(3) or protection pursuant to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, done at New York December 10, 1984.
 .
211.
Credible fear interviews
Section 235(b)(1)(B)(v) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(B)(v) ) is amended by striking  claim  and all that follows, and inserting  claim, as determined pursuant to section 208(b)(1)(B)(iii), and such other facts as are known to the officer, that the alien could establish eligibility for asylum under section 208, and it is more probable than not that the statements made by, and on behalf of, the alien in support of the alien’s claim are true. .
212.
Recording expedited removal and credible fear interviews
(a)
In general
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish quality assurance procedures and take steps to effectively ensure that—
(1)
questions by employees of the Department of Homeland Security exercising expedited removal authority under section 235(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1225(b) ) are asked in a uniform manner, to the extent possible; and
(2)
such questions and the answers provided in response to such questions are recorded in a uniform manner.
(b)
Credible fear interview checklists
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall—
(1)
provide a checklist of standard questions and concepts to be addressed in all interviews required under section 235(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1225(b) ) to immigration officers exercising decision-making authority in such interviews;
(2)
routinely update such checklist to include relevant changes to law and procedures; and
(3)
require all immigration officers utilizing such checklists to provide concise justifications of their decisions regardless of whether credible fear was or was not established by the alien.
(c)
Factors relating to sworn statements
To the extent practicable, any sworn or signed written statement taken from an alien as part of the record of a proceeding under section 235(b)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(A) ) shall be accompanied by a recording of the interview which served as the basis for such sworn statement.
(d)
Interpreters
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure the use of a competent interpreter who is not affiliated with the government of the country from which the alien may claim asylum if the interviewing officer does not speak a language understood by the alien.
(e)
Recordings in immigration proceedings
All interviews of aliens subject to expedited removal shall be recorded (either by audio or by audio visual). Such recordings shall be included in the record of proceeding and shall be considered as evidence in any further proceedings involving such aliens.
(f)
No private right of action
Nothing in this section may be construed to create—
(1)
any right, benefit, trust, or responsibility, whether substantive or procedural, enforceable in law or equity by a party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, entities, officers, employees, or agents, or any person; or
(2)
any right of review in any administrative, judicial, or other proceeding.
213.
Penalties for asylum fraud
Section 1001 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
(d)
Any person who, in any matter before the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General pertaining to asylum under section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158 ) or withholding of removal under section 241(b)(3) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1231(b)(3) ), knowingly and willfully—
(1)
makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or
(2)
makes or uses any false writings or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry,
 shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
 .
214.
Statute of limitations for asylum fraud
Section 3291 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
by inserting  and section 1546,  after  inclusive, ; and
(2)
by inserting  or within 10 years after the fraud is discovered  before the period at the end.
215.
Technical amendments
Section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by this title, is further amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in paragraph (2)(D), by inserting  Secretary of Homeland Security or the  before  Attorney General ; and
(B)
in paragraph (3), by inserting  Secretary of Homeland Security or the  before  Attorney General ;
(2)
in subsection (b)(2), by inserting  Secretary of Homeland Security or the  before  Attorney General  each place such term appears;
(3)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in paragraph (1), by striking  Attorney General  each place such term appears and inserting  Secretary of Homeland Security ;
(B)
in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting  Secretary of Homeland Security or the  before  Attorney General ; and
(C)
in paragraph (3), by inserting  Secretary of Homeland Security or the  before  Attorney General ; and
(4)
in subsection (d)—
(A)
in paragraph (1), by inserting  Secretary of Homeland Security or the  before  Attorney General  each place such term appears;
(B)
in paragraph (2), by striking  Attorney General  and inserting  Secretary of Homeland Security ; and
(C)
in paragraph (5)—
(i)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  Attorney General  and inserting  Secretary of Homeland Security ; and
(ii)
in subparagraph (B), by inserting  the Secretary of Homeland Security or  before  the Attorney General .