Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC - This week, the House Judiciary Committee approved legislation led by Congressman David Rouzer (NC-07) to crack down on those who abuse the current asylum law.  H.R. 3591, the Asylum Accountability Act improves the integrity of the asylum system by significantly sharpening the penalty for those who fail to appear at their immigration court hearing.

“Criminals, cartels, and human traffickers have taken advantage of the Biden Administration’s open-border policies and turned the asylum process into a get-out-of-jail free card," said Congressman Rouzer.  "I thank the Judiciary Committee for passing the Asylum Accountability Act, which would help deter asylum abuse by permanently barring legal status for work, permanent residence status, or citizenship for anyone who fails to show up in court for their asylum hearing."

Background:

The current surge of crossings at the U.S. southern border is driven by the Biden Administration’s policies that incentivize illegal immigration.  With the mass influx of individuals coming across, cartels and smugglers are exploiting our asylum laws to facilitate illegal entry. 

Under current law, an illegal immigrant who fails to appear for their immigration court hearing is deportable and banned from immigration benefits for ten years.  According to a recent Government Accountability Office study, nine percent of all illegal immigrants enrolled in Alternatives to Detention ultimately absconded.

The Asylum Accountability Act amends the penalty for absconding from an immigration court hearing to a permanent ban of benefits, including legal status or citizenship, under the Immigration and Nationality Act. 

Text of H.R. 3591 can be found here.