House Republicans are considering reviving their signature hardline border and immigration bill from the last Congress following the August recess.
Both the House Judiciary and the Homeland Security committees are having internal discussions about rewriting and reintroducing the border security bill, best known as H.R. 2. The bill proposes new restrictions on asylum, limits on parole authority and tougher enforcement on illegal border crossings.
House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said his committee is having staff level discussions at the White House on what to prioritize in the bill.
“We’re rewriting some of the law to make sure if we ever get another Biden-type president he can’t just do what he did for four years,” Jordan said. “We’re working with the White House to see when it makes sense [to take up.]”
President Donald Trump has issued numerous executive orders related to restricting both illegal and legal immigration and tightening border security, leading to controversial crackdowns across the country.
But House Republicans are itching to codify the Trump administration’s hardline policies to prevent a future Democratic administration from simply reversing his executive orders.
Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.), a contender to become the next Homeland Security Committee Chair, said he believes there will be an effort “between now and the end of the year” to move forward with a new version of H.R. 2.
The One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law by Trump on July 4, provided more than $70 billion in supplemental funding for border security across four years, including construction of new border wall and Customs and Border Protection facilities and capabilities.
Trump back up. House Republicans are poised to take up a series of other immigration bills in coming weeks.
The Rules Committee is scheduled to consider Rep. Stephanie Bice’s (R-Okla.) “Stop Illegal Reentry Act” on Monday. That bill would increase penalties for undocumented immigrants who illegally reenter the country after being removed.
Rep. Brad Knott (R-N.C.) has another bill that’s garnering significant interest among House Republicans and the Trump administration. Knott’s bill, dubbed “Punishing Illegal Immigrant Felons Act” of 2025, would heighten punishments for undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes.
Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) also told us he’s working on legislation related to cracking down on sanctuary cities and is socializing ideas with colleagues.
The California Republican said Congress must “absolutely” aid Trump’s border agenda by codifying his policies.
“The doctrine of nullification died with the Confederacy,” McClintock said.
Alternative avenues. Some House Republicans, especially those in centrist districts, could be hesitant to support these hardline immigration bills.
Illegal border crossings are at the lowest levels in decades but Trump’s approval ratings on the issue has sharply declined.
“It’s a different age. We should probably review it,” Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio) said of the legislation.
Ten House Republicans, including several in blue districts, signed on to Reps. Maria Salazar (R-Fla.) and Veronica Escobar’s (D-Texas) bipartisan “Dignity Act,” which would offer pathways to legal status for longtime immigrants living in the country.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), who is co-sponsoring the bill but not running for reelection, said he wants to be remembered as being “on the right side of history.”
