2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor against increasing chain migration.
Sen. Cornyn voted against a second motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639, which would increase chain migration by approximately 251,000 per year. The motion to invoke cloture would have limited further debate on the bill and moved it to a final vote. A vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 46 to 53.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor against increasing chain migration.
Sen. Cornyn voted against a motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639, which would increase chain migration by approximately 251,000 per year. The motion to invoke cloture was a move to initiate debate on the proposal and limit further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture passed by a vote of 64 to 35.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor against increasing chain migration.
Sen. Cornyn voted against a motion to invoke cloture on the substitute amendment (SA 1150) to S. 1348, a bill to increase chain migration by approximately 251,000 per year. The motion to invoke cloture would have ended debate on the proposal and limited further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 45 to 50.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment to increase chain migration.
Sen. Cornyn voted against the Menendez Amendment (SA 1194) to S. 1348 to increase near-term legal immigration by more than 100,000 each year by changing the cut-off date for reducing the backlog of family-sponsored immigration applicants from May 1, 2005, to January 1, 2007. The Menendez Amendment failed by a vote of 53 to 44.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment to expand chain migration.
Sen. Cornyn voted against the Clinton Amendment (SA 1183) to S. 1348 to significantly increase legal immigration by adding an unlimited number of spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents to the uncapped immediate relative category that currently is for the spouses, minor children and parents of U.S. citizens only. The spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents currently are allocated some 87,000 visas each year. The Clinton Amendment failed by a vote of 44 to 53.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to increase chain migration.
Sen. Cornyn voted in favor of the Akaka Amendment to S. 1348 to increase chain migration by exempting children of Filipino World War II veterans naturalized pursuant to the Immigration Act of 1990 from numerical limits on worldwide immigration. The Akaka Amendment passed by a vote of 87 to 9.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor against increasing foreign worker importation.
Sen. Cornyn voted against a second motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639, which would increase the importation of both temporary and permanent foreign workers. S. 1639 would increase the importation of temporary foreign workers by 340,000 year and also add 106,877 permanent workers a year for 5 years. The motion to invoke cloture would have limited further debate on the bill and moved it to a final vote. A vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 46 to 53.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor against increasing foreign worker visas.
Sen. Cornyn voted against a motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639, which would increase importation of temporary and permanent foreign workers. The motion to invoke cloture was a move to initiate debate on the proposal and limit further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture passed by a vote of 64 to 35.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor in favor reducing foreign worker importation.
Sen. Cornyn voted against a motion to invoke cloture on the substitute amendment (SA 1150) to S. 1348, a bill to increase importation of temporary and permanent foreign workers. The motion to invoke cloture would have ended debate on the proposal and limited further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 45 to 50.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment to sunset guestworker provisions of a bill.
Sen. Cornyn voted against the Dorgan Amendment (SA 1316) to S. 1348 to sunset the guestworker provisions of the bill in five years. This was the second vote on the Dorgan Amendment which previously failed by a vote of 48 to 49. This time it passed by a vote of 49 to 48.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment to protect American workers.
Sen. Cornyn voted against the Durbin Amendment to S. 1348 to ensure that employers make efforts to recruit American workers before hiring foreign workers. The Durbin Amendment passed by a vote of 71 to 22.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment to increase fees on H-1B visas.
Sen. Cornyn voted against the Sanders Amendment to S. 1348 increase the fees employers who wish to import H-1B high-skill nonimmigrant workers from $1,500 to $10,000, with the funds going to scholarships for American high tech students. The Sanders Amendment passed by a vote of 59 to 35.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment to sunset guestworker provisions of a bill.
Sen. Cornyn voted against the Dorgan Amendment to S. 1348 to sunset the guestworker provisions of the bill in five years. The Dorgan Amendment failed by a vote of 48 to 49.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment that reduced a proposed guestworker program in a bill.
Sen. Cornyn voted against the Bingaman Amendment (SA 1169) to S. 1348. The Bingaman Amendment would reduce the annual importation of workers under the new guestworker programs proposed by S. 1348 from 400,000 to 200,000 workers per year. The Bingaman Amendment passed by a vote 74 of 24.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment to remove a proposed guestworker program in a bill.
Sen. Cornyn voted against the Dorgan Amendment to S. 1348 to delete the provisions of S. 1348 that would create a new guestworker program for up to 600,000 foreign workers annually. The Dorgan Amendment failed by a vote of 31 to 64.

2007-2008: Cosponsoring bill to increase high-tech worker importation (Cornyn).
Sen. Cornyn is a cosponsor of S. 1083, which increases the annual H-1B cap from 65,000 to 115,000 and then by 20% in any following year in which the cap is met. As well, S. 1083 would increase the annual worldwide level of employment-based (EB) immigrants by 150,000 plus 340,000 spouses and minor children of EB immigrants who are exempt from the cap. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is the main sponsor of this bill.

2007-2008: Voted against DREAM Act amnesty for illegal aliens.
Sen. Cornyn voted against a motion to invoke cloture on S. 2205, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2007. S. 2205 would reward up to 2.1 million illegal aliens with amnesty. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 52 to 44.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor against rewarding illegal aliens with amnesty.
Sen. Cornyn voted against a second motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639, which would reward up to six million illegal aliens with amnesty. The motion to invoke cloture would have limited further debate on the bill and moved it to a final vote. A vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 46 to 53.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor against amnesty for illegal aliens.
Sen. Cornyn voted against a motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639, which would reward illegal aliens with amnesty. The motion to invoke cloture was a move to initiate debate on the proposal and limit further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture passed by a vote of 64 to 35.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor in favor of reducing amnesties for illegal aliens.
Sen. Cornyn voted against a motion to invoke cloture on the substitute amendment (SA 1150) to S. 1348, a bill to reward illegal aliens with amnesty. The motion to invoke cloture would have ended debate on the proposal and limited further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 45 to 50.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to bar certain criminals from amnesty.
Sen. Cornyn voted in favor of the Cornyn Amendment (SA 1184) to S. 1385 to bar criminal aliens from receiving amnesty. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff has estimated that 15% of illegal aliens are criminals. The Cornyn Amendment failed by a vote of 46 to 51.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment to strip amnesty provisions from a bill.
Sen. Cornyn voted against the Vitter Amendment to strip the amnesty provisions from S. 1348. The Vitter Amendment failed by a vote of 29 to 66..

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to create a disincentive to apply for amnesty.
Sen. Cornyn voted in favor of the Cornyn Amendment (SA 1250) to S. 1348 to discourage applicants from applying for amnesty by eliminating the provisions protecting the confidentiality of the information contained in amnesty applications and, instead, requires the sharing of application-related information upon the request of a law enforcement agency, intelligence, or national security agency, or DHS component when requested in connection with a duly-authorized investigation of a civil violation. The Cornyn Amendment passed by a vote of 57 to 39.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to eliminate rewards for illegal immigration.
Sen. Cornyn voted in favor of the Coburn Amendment (SA 1311) to S. 1348 to prohibit in-state tuition for illegal aliens and sanctuary cities for illegal aliens. The Coburn Amendment failed by a vote of 42 to 54.

2008: Voted for an amendment to increase border security funding and enforcement.
Sen. Cornyn voted in favor of the Sessions Amendment to S CON RES 70. This amendment would increase funding for border security, guarantee 700 miles of fencing, place 6,000 National Guardsmen on the border, and reimburse state and local law enforcement. The amendment passed 61 to 37.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to increase border control.
Sen. Cornyn voted in favor of the Coburn Amendment (SA 1311) to S. 1348 to increase border control by requiring construction of the border fence, implementation of US VISIT (entry-exit system), and biometric identification documents. The Coburn Amendment failed by a vote of 42 to 54.

2007-2008: Cosponsored a bill to increase the number of Border Patrol agents (Domenci).
Sen. Cornyn cosponsored S. 575, the Border Infrastructure and Technology Modernization Act of 2007. This bill would have increased the numbers of full-time agents Immigration and Customs agents and full-time Customs and Border Protection inspectors, requiring both to complete the appropriate training programs. It also would have required the Department of Homeland Security to put into place plans that improved border and trade security, respective to each organization. Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) was the measures main sponsor.

2007-2008: Cosponsored a bill to encourage illegal immigration (Cornyn).
Sen. Cornyn cosponsored S. 422, the Secure Border Crossing Card Entry Act of 2007. This bill would have established parity between Mexican nationals visiting the United States who possessed a valid biometric Border Crossing Card (BCC, also known as a laser visa) and have completed the necessary security checks, and Canadian visitors by allowing BCC bearers to remain in the United States for six months (Mexican nationals with BCCs may only stay in the United States for 30 days, while Canadians possessing tourist visas may stay up to one year). It also would have retained DHSs authority to set the length of time those with BCCs may remain in the United States, would have authorized that agency to modify the length of admission on a case-by-case basis if good cause exists, and it would have made a Mexican national inadmissible for the BCC admission period if: (1) he/she was inadmissible as a nonimmigrant; (2) he/she had previously violated his/her nonimmigrant status; or (3) the BCC was not processed through a machine reader at the U.S. port of entry. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) was the measures main sponsor.

2008: Voted for an amendment to increase border security funding and enforcement.
Sen. Cornyn voted in favor of the Sessions Amendment to S CON RES 70. This amendment would increase funding for border security, guarantee 700 miles of fencing, place 6,000 National Guardsmen on the border, and reimburse state and local law enforcement. The amendment passed 61 to 37.

2008: Voted against sanctuary policies for illegal aliens.
Sen. Cornyn voted against tabling the Vitter Amendment to S. Con. Res. 70, a concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2009. The Vitter Amendment would have created a reserve fund to ensure that Federal assistance does not go to sanctuary cities which ignore the immigration laws of the United States and create safe havens for illegal aliens and potential terrorists. The vote to table the Vitter Amendment passed 58 to 40, effectively killing the amendment.

2007-2008: Voted for increasing interior enforcement by funding state and local law enforcement assistance in enforcing federal immigration laws.
Sen. Cornyn voted against tabling the Dole Amendment to H.R. 3093, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008. The Dole Amendment would have appropriated $75 million to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for general support of state and local law enforcements assistance in the enforcement of Federal immigration laws. The vote to table the amendment passed by a vote of 50 to 42, effectively killing the amendment.

2007-2008: Voted against sanctuary policies for illegal aliens.
Sen. Cornyn voted against tabling the Vitter Amendment to H.R. 3093, the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) spending bill. The Vitter Amendment would have denied Federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) funding to state and local governments who refuse to share information with Federal immigration authorities. The vote to table the Vitter Amendment passed 52 to 42, effectively killing the amendment.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to increase interior enforcement.
Sen. Cornyn voted in favor of the Coburn Amendment (SA 1311) to S. 1348 to increase interior enforcement by requiring implementation of US VISIT (entry-exit system) and biometric identification documents. The Coburn Amendment failed by a vote of 42 to 54.

2007-2008: Cosponsored a bill to prevent Social Security fraud (Allard).
Sen. Cornyn cosponsored S. 699, the Social Security Number Fraud and Identity Theft Prevention Act. This bill would have authorized DHS, the Labor Department, and the Attorney General to require individuals to provide their Social Security numbers (SSNs) for inclusion in records or on forms required by immigration laws; would have required the Social Security Administration (SSA) to notify DHS if earnings are reported on a SSN issued to an illegal alien; would have required SSA to report information to DHS concerning the names, address, etc., of the alien (or aliens if the SSN was used in relation to multiple names); and would have prohibited DHS from using this information for purposes other than enforcement of immigration laws. Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) was the measures main sponsor.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment that deters employers from hiring illegal aliens.
Sen. Cornyn voted in favor of the Sessions Amendment to H.R. 2, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. The Sessions Amendment would prohibit employers who hire illegal aliens from receiving government contracts. The Sessions Amendment passed by a vote of 94-0.