Meuser Introduces Bill to Demand Transparency for Illegal Immigrant Transit in the United States

Statement

Today, Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09), joined by over 30 of his Republican colleagues, introduced the Immigration Transparency and Transit Notification Act, which requires the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Health and Human Services (HHS) to notify the relevant federal, state, and local officials about the transportation, by bus or plane, and placement of illegal immigrants or unaccompanied alien children (UAC) in their state.

Representative Meuser is joined by original cosponsors, Representatives, Brian Babin (TX-36), Andy Barr (KY-06), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Tim Burchett (TN-02), Michael Burgess (TX-26), Ben Cline (VA-06), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Warren Davidson (OH-08), Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Andy Harris (MD-01), Kevin Hern (OK-01), Darrell Issa (CA-50), Mike Johnson (LA-04), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Fred Keller (PA-12), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Doug Lamborn (CO-05), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Tracey Mann (TX-19), David B. McKinley, P.E. (WV-01), Mary Miller (IL-15), Barry Moore (AL-02), Scott Perry (PA-10), August Pfluger (TX-11), John Rose (TN-06), Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Glenn Thompson (PA-15), Tom Tiffany (WI-07), William Timmons (SC-04), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Randy Weber (TX-14), and Joe Wilson (SC-02).

"The Biden administration has created an unmitigated disaster at our southern border and it is directly impacting communities across the United States. Their open-border policies have incentivized illegal immigrants to flood our border by the thousands, and Biden's DHS and HHS are now secretly flying these immigrants across the country in the dead of night to be resettled in American communities. Giving no notice to federal, state, or local officials of who they are or where they are going. This must change. My legislation will bring transparency to the process and ensure that states have a say in the matter while bringing awareness to the local communities." -Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09)

"President Biden's open border policies have made every state a border state, and it is unbelievable that the Biden Administration is flying unaccompanied alien children from the Southern Border to New York State under the cover of night. I'm proud to join Congressman Meuser in this effort to require DHS and HHS to notify the proper officials about the transportation of illegal immigrants and unaccompanied alien children in their state. Americans deserve to know the truth regarding illegal aliens in their communities."-Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, House Republican Conference Chair (NY-21)

"President Biden has single-handily created the worst border crisis in history. Instead of fixing it, he has repeatedly tried to hide taxpayer-funded, privately chartered flights to move unvetted, untested illegal aliens across the country. He is knowingly endangering American lives and doesn't care. I'm proud to support Rep. Meuser's commonsense legislation to ensure federal, state, and local officials are fully informed of this administration's plans before countless illegals are forced upon them in the dead of night." -- Congressman Brian Babin, Chairman of the House Border Security Caucus (TX-36)

"If the Administration remains committed to refusing to enforce the law at our physical borders, transparency is the bare minimum that DHS should provide before plane loads of illegal aliens are dropped off in communities throughout the nation. If they oppose the simple requirements in the Immigration Transparency & Transit Notification Act, it's unquestionable their intent is to continue to hide the reality and impact resulting from their disastrous border crisis." - Mark Morgan, The Heritage Foundation and Former Acting Commissioner of United States Customs & Border Protection

"Local communities are being saddled with the consequences of President Biden's open border policies and it must stop. It is unacceptable for thousands of illegal aliens to be transported and released, in the middle of the night, into towns across our country. This is yet another example of a failed approach to border and immigration enforcement. The America First Policy Institute supports policies that bring accountability, oversight, and local input into immigration matters affecting their communities." -- The Honorable Chad Wolf -- America First Policy Institute Executive Director, Chief Strategy Officer & Chair, Center for Homeland Security & Immigration, former Acting United States Secretary of Homeland Security

THIS BILL WILL:

Require the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Health & Human Services (HHS) to notify the relevant Federal, State, and Local officials about the transportation, by bus or plane, and placement of illegal immigrants or unaccompanied alien children (UAC) in their state no later than 7 days before the process begins.
Give Governors an opportunity to evaluate the placement of illegal immigrants in their state.
Ensure the safety of UACs from human trafficking by requiring the agencies to provide information about their sponsors and final destinations.
Require DHS and HHS to provide Congress with a quarterly report that includes information on the illegals and their placement as well as identifying third-party private entities that pay all or part of the costs of the transportation.

BACKGROUND:

In December 2021, Congressman Meuser was notified, by civilian airport employees, that chartered flights carrying hundreds of illegal immigrants were landing at multiple airports throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. These flights landed in the dead of night, with no proper notice provided to state, local, or federal officials, and illegal immigrant passengers were put on buses to undisclosed locations. There are many documented cases of similar situations in New York, Florida, Texas, and Tennessee. Thanks to the Biden Administration's open-border policies, every state is now a border state.

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