Republican Senators Propose Bill to Restrict Parole for Potential National Security Threats

A coalition of Republican senators, led by Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), has introduced the Safeguarding Americans From Extremist Risk at the Border Act, aimed at preventing federal border authorities from paroling illegal immigrants deemed potential national security threats. The legislation, unveiled on Monday, specifically targets individuals on the FBI terrorist watchlist and those classified as “special interest” individuals, asserting that the Biden administration's border policies have compromised national security. Daines criticized the current administration, stating, “Joe Biden and Senate Democrats’ refusal to secure the southern border has resulted in the loss of American lives.” He emphasized that allowing migrants with criminal records and potential terrorist ties into the country poses a significant risk. The bill is co-sponsored by eight other Republican senators, including Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), who have previously expressed concerns over the admission of individuals linked to extremist groups. The proposal follows revelations that eight immigrants associated with the Islamic State were admitted into the U.S., raising alarms among Republican lawmakers. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) maintains that all immigrants are screened against available federal law enforcement information, but critics argue that the Biden administration's parole process has led to the admission of a substantial number of non-U.S. citizens without adequate vetting. In the past three and a half years, the Biden administration has reportedly paroled around one million non-citizens into the U.S., separate from the five million illegal immigrants released at the border. The new bill seeks to tighten these protocols, reflecting ongoing tensions over immigration policy and national security.